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CHAPTER 2—Studying Marriages and Families
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. As of 2012, _____ of U.S. households had television sets.
a. 100%
b. 99%
c. 97%
d. 90%
ANS: C REF: 33 OBJ: 2
2. The portrayal of family life that results from soap opera families and daytime talk shows is:
a. realistic and highly negative.
b. realistic and highly positive.
c. unrealistic and highly negative.
d. unrealistic and highly positive.
ANS: C REF: 33 OBJ: 2
3. The rules of critical thinking call for:
a. personal experience.
b. objectivity.
c. values.
d. opinions.
ANS: B REF: 35 OBJ: 2
4. A statement such as “everyone should get married” is an example of:
a. a value judgment.
b. an objective statement.
c. an ethnocentric fallacy.
d. a stereotype.
ANS: A REF: 35 OBJ: 2
5. Mistaken beliefs that everyone has the same experiences and values as oneself and therefore
should think the same way one does are called:
a. ethnocentric fallacies.
b. egocentric fallacies.
c. egotistical fallacies.
d. ethnologic fallacies.
ANS: B REF: 37 OBJ: 2
6. Which of the following is a common stereotype related to marriage and family?
a. People who divorce are selfless.
b. Stepfamilies are extremely happy.
c. Children raised in single-parent homes are advantaged compared to children raised
in two-parent homes.
d. Women are instinctively nurturing.
ANS: D REF: 37 OBJ: 2
7. Jeff is surprised anytime someone disagrees with his opinion on an important topic because on
some level he expects everyone to have the same values he has. Jeff’s belief illustrates:
a. ethnomania.
b. egocentric fallacy.
c. ethnocentric fallacy.
d. egomania.
ANS: B REF: 36 OBJ: 2
8. The concept “marital happiness” is transformed from a concept to something measurable such
as “a score of 80 or above on the Spousal Satisfaction Scale” in a process called:
a. deductive research
b. inductive research
c. conceptualization
d. operationalization
ANS: D REF: 38 OBJ: 3
9. Kate has not seen or heard from her mother since Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana town
where her mother lived. She does not know for sure if her mother is dead or alive. Kate feels
her mother’s psychological presence even though she is not physically with her. Pauline Boss
uses the term _____ to describe what Kate is feeling.
a. mental illness
b. delusional affect
c. ambiguous loss
d. trauma-induced psychosis
ANS: C REF: 40 OBJ: 3
10. The core concepts in ecological theory include:
a. environment and adaptation.
b. environment and socialization.
c. mesosystem and exosystem.
d. microsystem and macrosystem.
ANS: A REF: 40 OBJ: 5
11. In Bronfenbrenner’s ecologically based theory, the _____ contains the most immediate
influences with whom individuals have frequent contact.
a. microsystem
b. mesosystem
c. exosystem
d. macrosystem
ANS: A REF: 41 OBJ: 5
12. Symbolic interaction theory:
a. examines how people interact with each other.
b. looks at how each individual functions within the family unit.
c. examines resources and power.
d. focuses on the exchange between people who love each other.
ANS: A REF: 47 OBJ: 5
13. Examining how the sense of self is maintained in the process of acquiring social roles is
fundamental to:
a. social exchange theory.
b. family development theory.
c. symbolic interaction theory.
d. structural functionalism.
ANS: C REF: 47 OBJ: 5
14. Which of the following is a criticism of symbolic interaction theory?
a. It places too much emphasis on the role of power in relationships.
b. It does not fully account for the psychological aspects of human life.
c. It places too much importance on duty, responsibility, and other family values.
d. It overemphasizes the effects of outside forces such as economic discrimination.
ANS: B REF: 48 OBJ: 5
15. According to __________ theory, when the emotional costs of a relationship outweigh its
benefits, we are likely to feel uncomfortable, angry, or distressed.
a. social exchange
b. structural functionalism
c. symbolic interaction
d. family systems
ANS: A REF: 49 OBJ: 5
16. Equity is a key component of ____________ theory.
a. symbolic interaction
b. structural functionalism
c. social exchange
d. family systems
ANS: C REF: 49 OBJ: 5
17. Maria believes the costs of her marriage exceed her rewards. According to exchange theory,
Maria is likely to:
a. stay married as long as her husband’s costs are greater than his rewards too.
b. stay married as long as she perceives her rewards are greater than her husband’s
rewards.
c. get a divorce no matter what.
d. get a divorce if she perceives greater rewards in some alternative and the costs of
leaving are not too great.
ANS: D REF: 49 OBJ: 5
18. Exchange theory predicts that we will stay in an unhappy marriage when:
a. the costs of leaving are equal to the costs of staying.
b. the costs of leaving are greater than the rewards of leaving and/or the costs of
staying.
c. the costs of leaving are equal to the rewards of leaving.
d. none of the above, exchange theory predicts we will always leave an unhappy
marriage.
ANS: B REF: 49 OBJ: 5
19. Social exchange theory has been criticized for:
a. assuming that we are all rational, calculating individuals.
b. assuming that we are all irrational individuals.
c. not recognizing that exchanges can be cooperative
d. not recognizing that exchanges can be competitive.
ANS: A REF: 50 OBJ: 5
20. Which of the following is NOT a true statement regarding social exchange theory?
a. We consciously measure most of our actions and relationships.
b. We use a cost-benefit analysis in our relationships.
c. Exchanges between people have to balance out or the relationship is likely to end.
d. Cooperation is necessary for stability.
ANS: A REF: 49 OBJ: 5
21. The most recent idea used to examine the dynamic nature of the family by family
development theorists is the:
a. individual development of each family member.
b. family life cycle.
c. family career.
d. family life course.
ANS: D REF: 51 OBJ: 5
22. Family development theory has been criticized for:
a. assuming the sequential processes of intact, nuclear families.
b. placing too much emphasis on diversity.
c. being too complex.
d. ignoring the contribution of children to family processes.
ANS: A REF: 51 OBJ: 5
23. Examining the needs a family meets for its individual members is an aspect of:
a. conflict theory.
b. structural functionalism.
c. social exchange theory.
d. the feminist perspective.
ANS: B REF: 42 OBJ: 5
24. Traits that encourage competitiveness, coolness, self-confidence, and rationality are:
a. structural.
b. dysfunctional.
c. expressive.
d. instrumental.
ANS: D REF: 43 OBJ: 5
25. Conflict theory assumes that:
a. differences lead to conflict.
b. only certain people in the family have power.
c. conflict is abnormal.
d. money is the only source of power in the family.
ANS: A REF: 44 OBJ: 5
26. Dr. Walker believes that life involves discord and competition. Dr. Walker is a _____ theorist.
a. social exchange
b. structural functionalism
c. conflict
d. family systems
ANS: C REF: 44 OBJ: 5
27. Conflict theory has been criticized for:
a. assuming behavior is characterized by self-sacrifice.
b. assuming behavior is characterized by cooperation.
c. putting too much emphasis on the power of love.
d. assuming that differences lead to conflict.
ANS: D REF: 45 OBJ: 5
28. Four important sources of power in relationships are:
a. love, money, education, and age.
b. legitimacy, money, physical coercion, and love.
c. physical strength, money, beauty, and gender.
d. physical coercion, education, age, and status.
ANS: B REF: 45 OBJ: 5
29. Family systems theory is a combination of:
a. structural functionalism and symbolic interaction theory.
b. structural functionalism and social exchange theory.
c. social exchange theory and symbolic interaction theory.
d. family development theory and structural functionalism.
ANS: A REF: 52 OBJ: 5
30. Family systems theorists:
a. focus on the patterns of interaction between various family members.
b. compare the family to the solar system.
c. see subsystems with blurred boundaries as functional.
d. focus on how a couple reacts to cultural influences.
ANS: A REF: 52 OBJ: 5
31. Which of the following is NOT believed by family systems theorists?
a. Interactions must be studied in the context of the family system.
b. The family has a structure that can be seen only in its interactions.
c. The family is a purposeful system; it has a goal.
d. Each family system stays the same over time.
ANS: D REF: 52 OBJ: 5
32. According to _____, the family experience is shaped by gender.
a. the masculine perspective
b. the feminist perspective
c. family systems theory
d. family development theory
ANS: B REF: 45 OBJ: 5
33. The feminist agenda is to:
a. get equal pay for equal work.
b. minimize the contributions of men in family systems.
c. raise society’s level of awareness regarding the oppression of women and all other
disadvantaged groups.
d. raise society’s level of awareness regarding the oppression of women only.
ANS: C REF: 46 OBJ: 5
34. The feminist perspective maintains that traditional gender roles are NOT:
a. socially constructed.
b. created oppressive conditions and barriers to opportunity.
c. the result of biological conditions.
d. created to maintain the power of men over women.
ANS: C REF: 46 OBJ: 5
35. The feminist perspective has been criticized because it:
a. is not a unified theory.
b. ignores other disadvantaged groups.
c. does not focus enough on power.
d. does not focus enough on economics.
ANS: A REF: 46 OBJ: 5
36. What method of research deals with large amounts of information that is analyzed and
presented statistically?
a. qualitative
b. comparative
c. quantitative
d. meta-study
ANS: C REF: 53 OBJ: 3
37. Dr. Gunter uses case studies in her research on strengths of single-parent families. She is
conducting:
a. quantitative research.
b. qualitative research.
c. an experiment.
d. a meta analysis.
ANS: B REF: 54 OBJ: 3
38. Case studies and in-depth interviews are examples of:
a. qualitative research.
b. quantitative research.
c. secondary data analysis.
d. triangulation.
ANS: A REF: 54 OBJ: 3
39. Which of the following statements is true of surveys?
a. They are the most popular data gathering tool in marriage and family studies.
b. They can only be conducted through written questionnaires.
c. They cannot offer complete anonymity.
d. They gather information from a large population and infer conclusions valid for a
small representative group of people.
ANS: C REF: 55 OBJ: 3
40. Dr. Williams uses data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in her research on families. This
research method is called:
a. survey method.
b. borrowed data technique.
c. recycled data utilization.
d. secondary data analysis.
ANS: D REF: 54 OBJ: 3
41. The research method that is most popular in marriage and family studies is the:
a. interview method.
b. survey method.
c. clinical experiment method.
d. covert observation method.
ANS: B REF: 55 OBJ: 3
42. Which of the following is NOT a major problem in using the survey method in family
research?
a. Research participants may under-report undesirable behavior.
b. The sample may not be representative.
c. Research participants may not understand their own behavior.
d. Questionnaires are one of the most expensive and difficult research methods.
ANS: D REF: 55 OBJ: 4
43. Interviews can be advantageous compared to surveys because they:
a. enable cause and effect relationships to be determined.
b. minimize the effects of bias in interpretation of responses.
c. permit probes of greater depth and can follow paths suggested by the interviewee.
d. elicit more honest responses.
ANS: C REF: 54 OBJ: 4
44. Clinical research examines:
a. people randomly selected from a large population.
b. large groups.
c. only patients who are hospitalized.
d. people who come to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker.
ANS: D REF: 57 OBJ: 3
45. Clinical studies have been very beneficial in:
a. providing a model of the normal family.
b. developing insights into family processes.
c. making inferences to the population in general.
d. proving the cause of family dysfunctions.
ANS: B REF: 57 OBJ: 4
46. Combining observational data with data obtained through other methods such as surveys or
secondary analysis is a process referred to as:
a. data expansion.
b. triangulation.
c. operationalization.
d. conceptualization.
ANS: B REF: 55 OBJ: 4
47. Based on what is known about the media’s portrayal of the family life, the best advice if
looking for accuracy is to:
a. watch soap operas.
b. watch daytime talk shows.
c. watch reality television.
d. turn off the television.
ANS: D REF: 33 OBJ: 1
48. In the hypothesis “race influences marital status,” marital status is the:
a. independent variable.
b. dependent variable.
c. intervening variable.
d. dummy variable.
ANS: B REF: 38 OBJ: 3
49. A scientist wants to conduct research to determine if change in a certain variable causes
predicable change another variable. Which method should the scientist use?
a. clinical
b. correlational
c. survey
d. experimental
ANS: D REF: 59 OBJ: 4
50. Dr. Byron is conducting research in order to find out if a new parenting program being used at
an agency is effective. This best illustrates:
a. basic research.
b. deductive research.
c. applied research.
d. grounded theory.
ANS: C REF: 61 OBJ: 6
TRUE/FALSE
1. Grounded theory is inductive.
ANS: T REF: 39 OBJ: 3
2. Popular culture is a key source of accurate information on families.
ANS: F REF: 36 OBJ: 1
3. Stereotypes are fairly resistant to change.
ANS: T REF: 37 OBJ: 2
4. Biases are strong opinions that may create barriers to hearing anything that is contrary to our
opinion.
ANS: T REF: 37 OBJ: 2
5. Pauline Boss uses the term ambiguous loss to describe a loss that you feel both happy and sad
about.
ANS: F REF: 40 OBJ: 3
6. Ambiguous loss and post-traumatic stress disorder are not the same thing.
ANS: T REF: 40 OBJ: 3
7. The emphasis of family ecology theory is on how families are influenced by and in turn
influence the wider environment.
ANS: T REF: 40 OBJ: 5
8. In family ecology theory, the macrosystem consists of interconnections between
microsystems.
ANS: F REF: 41 OBJ: 5
9. Defining the family as a “unity of interacting personalities” is critical to conflict theory.
ANS: F REF: 47 OBJ: 5
10. Symbolic interactionists study how the sense of self is maintained in the process of acquiring
social roles.
ANS: T REF: 47 OBJ: 5
11. Most of us are consciously aware of calculating benefits and costs when making decisions in
our relationships.
ANS: F REF: 49 OBJ: 5
12. Social exchange theory addresses equity and fairness.
ANS: T REF: 49 OBJ: 5
13. Family development theory looks at the changes in the family that typically commence in the
formation of a series of stages.
ANS: T REF: 51 OBJ: 5
14. Structural functionalists believe social stability is in the best interest of society.
ANS: T REF: 47 OBJ: 5
15. A family systems approach assumes that the family has a structure that can only be seen in its
interaction.
ANS: T REF: 52 OBJ: 5
16. According to family systems theorists, the family seeks homeostasis, which makes change
difficult.
ANS: T REF: 52 OBJ: 5
17. Feminists extend their concern for greater sensitivity to all disadvantaged groups, not just
women.
ANS: T REF: 45 OBJ: 5
18. The feminist perspective is a unified theory.
ANS: F REF: 45 OBJ: 5
19. Secondary data analysis involves interviewing the same person twice before analyzing the
data.
ANS: F REF: 57 OBJ: 3
20. The most popular data-gathering technique in marriage and family studies is the case study
method.
ANS: F REF: 55 OBJ: 4
21. Clinical studies are of value because we can use them to make inferences about the general
population.
ANS: F REF: 57 OBJ: 4
22. Experimental research involves isolating a single factor under controlled circumstances to
determine its influence.
ANS: T REF: 59 OBJ: 4
23. Applied research is used to measure the effectiveness of policies and programs.
ANS: T REF: 61 OBJ: 6
24. Reality television is more representative of familial reality than are daytime talk shows.
ANS: F REF: 34 OBJ: 1
25. Self-help and child-rearing books are typically value-free.
ANS: F REF: 35 OBJ: 1
ESSAY
1. Write an essay discussing families in the media. Include a discussion of how families are
portrayed by the media along with some specific examples. Also address the commonalities
amongst various programs in the advice/information genre and how you can evaluate
information the media presents to you.
ANS:
Not provided.
REF: 30-34
2. Explain the high rate of divorce in the United States using two different theoretical
perspectives discussed in the text.
ANS:
Not provided.
REF: 37-48
3. Discuss three of the four principal research methods discussed in the text. Describe each
method and discuss its major advantages and disadvantages.
ANS:
Not provided.
REF: 49-56
4. Discuss how you could study the relationship between level of education of spouses and
marital happiness using survey, experimental, and observational research design.
ANS:
Not provided.
REF: 55-61
