Grand Canyon University SOC 101 Exam 2 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Q&A |
Sociology
1. A _____ is a collection of people who share a common identity and interact
regularly, while a _____ is a collection of people who share a common
characteristic but do not necessarily interact.
A) Primary group; Secondary group
B) Category; Aggregate
C) Group; Category
D) Aggregate; Group
Correct Answer: Group; Category
Rationale: In sociology, a group is defined as two or more people who
interact regularly and share a common identity, while a category refers to
people who share a similar characteristic (like age or race) but do not
necessarily interact. An aggregate is simply people who happen to be in the
same place at the same time.
2. Groups that are often large, impersonal, and task-focused are known as:
A) Primary groups
B) Secondary groups
C) Reference groups
D) In-groups
Correct Answer: Secondary groups
Rationale: Secondary groups are typically large, impersonal, and goal or
task-oriented. They serve an instrumental function rather than an expressive
one. Examples include a classroom or an office.
,3. Small groups that are characterized by intimate, face-to-face interaction,
emotional ties, and long-term relationships are known as:
A) Secondary groups
B) Reference groups
C) Primary groups
D) Out-groups
Correct Answer: Primary groups
Rationale: Primary groups are typically small, characterized by face-to-face
interaction, emotional intimacy, and a long-term, cohesive nature. The family
is the classic example of a primary group.
4. The tension and rivalry between the "Democrats" and "Republicans" can
be understood using the sociological concepts of:
A) Primary and secondary groups
B) In-groups and out-groups
C) Reference and peer groups
D) Categories and aggregates
Correct Answer: In-groups and out-groups
Rationale: An in-group is a group to which a person belongs and feels a sense
of loyalty. An out-group is a group to which a person does not belong and
may even feel a sense of rivalry or opposition toward.
5. When a group member is insulted, leaders from each group negotiate to
handle the conflict. This situation demonstrates how:
A) Primary groups are more cohesive than secondary groups
,B) Individual conflicts often take on a group meaning
C) Reference groups define our social identity
D) Secondary groups are inherently unstable
Correct Answer: Individual conflicts often take on a group meaning
Rationale: Sociologists observe that individual conflicts often take on a group
meaning, escalating into intergroup conflicts that involve group identity and
loyalty.
6. The tendency for people to be more loyal to their smaller groups due to a
mental distance between members in different subgroups is an example of:
A) The Hawthorne effect
B) The Peter Principle
C) In-group/out-group dynamics
D) The Matthew effect
Correct Answer: In-group/out-group dynamics
Rationale: People tend to be more loyal to their smaller groups (in-groups)
and often create mental distance from members of other subgroups (out-
groups).
7. According to the study guide, which of the following is the first step
towards hierarchy in a group?
A) The emergence of a leader
B) The division of labor
C) The establishment of formal rules
D) The use of force
, Correct Answer: The emergence of a leader
Rationale: The emergence of a leader is considered the first step towards
hierarchy within a group.
8. The process by which individuals internalize the values, beliefs, and norms
of a given society and learn to function as members of that society is called:
A) Social stratification
B) Social interaction
C) Socialization
D) Social control
Correct Answer: Socialization
Rationale: Socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals learn
and internalize the culture, norms, and values of their society.
9. According to George Herbert Mead, the "I" and the "Me" are components
of:
A) The mind
B) The self
C) The unconscious
D) The personality
Correct Answer: The self
Sociology
1. A _____ is a collection of people who share a common identity and interact
regularly, while a _____ is a collection of people who share a common
characteristic but do not necessarily interact.
A) Primary group; Secondary group
B) Category; Aggregate
C) Group; Category
D) Aggregate; Group
Correct Answer: Group; Category
Rationale: In sociology, a group is defined as two or more people who
interact regularly and share a common identity, while a category refers to
people who share a similar characteristic (like age or race) but do not
necessarily interact. An aggregate is simply people who happen to be in the
same place at the same time.
2. Groups that are often large, impersonal, and task-focused are known as:
A) Primary groups
B) Secondary groups
C) Reference groups
D) In-groups
Correct Answer: Secondary groups
Rationale: Secondary groups are typically large, impersonal, and goal or
task-oriented. They serve an instrumental function rather than an expressive
one. Examples include a classroom or an office.
,3. Small groups that are characterized by intimate, face-to-face interaction,
emotional ties, and long-term relationships are known as:
A) Secondary groups
B) Reference groups
C) Primary groups
D) Out-groups
Correct Answer: Primary groups
Rationale: Primary groups are typically small, characterized by face-to-face
interaction, emotional intimacy, and a long-term, cohesive nature. The family
is the classic example of a primary group.
4. The tension and rivalry between the "Democrats" and "Republicans" can
be understood using the sociological concepts of:
A) Primary and secondary groups
B) In-groups and out-groups
C) Reference and peer groups
D) Categories and aggregates
Correct Answer: In-groups and out-groups
Rationale: An in-group is a group to which a person belongs and feels a sense
of loyalty. An out-group is a group to which a person does not belong and
may even feel a sense of rivalry or opposition toward.
5. When a group member is insulted, leaders from each group negotiate to
handle the conflict. This situation demonstrates how:
A) Primary groups are more cohesive than secondary groups
,B) Individual conflicts often take on a group meaning
C) Reference groups define our social identity
D) Secondary groups are inherently unstable
Correct Answer: Individual conflicts often take on a group meaning
Rationale: Sociologists observe that individual conflicts often take on a group
meaning, escalating into intergroup conflicts that involve group identity and
loyalty.
6. The tendency for people to be more loyal to their smaller groups due to a
mental distance between members in different subgroups is an example of:
A) The Hawthorne effect
B) The Peter Principle
C) In-group/out-group dynamics
D) The Matthew effect
Correct Answer: In-group/out-group dynamics
Rationale: People tend to be more loyal to their smaller groups (in-groups)
and often create mental distance from members of other subgroups (out-
groups).
7. According to the study guide, which of the following is the first step
towards hierarchy in a group?
A) The emergence of a leader
B) The division of labor
C) The establishment of formal rules
D) The use of force
, Correct Answer: The emergence of a leader
Rationale: The emergence of a leader is considered the first step towards
hierarchy within a group.
8. The process by which individuals internalize the values, beliefs, and norms
of a given society and learn to function as members of that society is called:
A) Social stratification
B) Social interaction
C) Socialization
D) Social control
Correct Answer: Socialization
Rationale: Socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals learn
and internalize the culture, norms, and values of their society.
9. According to George Herbert Mead, the "I" and the "Me" are components
of:
A) The mind
B) The self
C) The unconscious
D) The personality
Correct Answer: The self
