Families Across the Life Course
Life Course Analysis
2.1 Multiple Choice
1) In the social sciences, the principle way we answer "how" and "why" questions is through
A) experimentation
B) theoretical analysis
C) theoretical assumptions
D) philosophy
E) empirical analysis
Answer: B
2) Although various authors have detailed the general forms of social science theories, this text
abbreviates these to the following three sets of assumptions:
A) motivational, normative, macro historical theories
B) conflict, functional, symbolic interaction theories
C) micro, macro, structural theories
D) motivational, micro, macro theories
E) conflict, motivational, structural theories
Answer: A
3) Rational choice theory is based on ones decision to bring one
A) pleasure
B) the greatest rewards
C) satisfaction
D) cognitive superiority
E) none of the above
Answer: B
4) Critics of rational choice theory point out the worth of something is determined by
A) family norms
B) class
C) societal norms
D) ethnicity
E) all of the above
Answer: C
5) Some notable critics of rational choice theory argue that there is little logic in our choices
since we cannot
A) compute the costs and rewards of an action in a rational way
B) think clearly under pressure
C) disassociate ourselves from our familial way of thinking
D) ignore the emotional impact on our humanity.
E) none of the above
Answer: A
6) Your teacher expects all assignments to be handed in on time, otherwise you will be penalized
five percent per day late. This is an example of
A) informal norm
B) social expectation
C) personal preference
D) formal norm
E) all of the above
Answer: D
7) The expectation that you should not have children until you are married is a an example of a
A) age graded norm
B) timing norm
C) stage graded norm
D) event norm
E) moral norm
Answer: C
8) The major criticism of normative theories is that they fail to explain
A) how norms are formed and developed
B) cross-cultural differences
C) period effects
D) non-normative behavior
E) social change
9) Macro historical theories assume social norms are the result of macroscopic forces such as
A) historical dialectics
B) means of production
C) evolution
D) historical dialectics and evolution
E) historical dialects, evolution and means of production
Answer: D
10) The major problem with macro-historical theories is explaining _ in human behavior
A) altruism
B) evil
C) variation
D) motivation
E) praxis
Answer: C
11) This school of thought maintains that the family is a normative institution in all societies and
that the family is central in all societies to perform reproduction, control of sexuality, and
socialization of children.
A) functional theories
B) conflict theories
C) systems theories
D) rational choice theories
E) feminist theories
Answer: A
12) This school of thought maintains that the family is a central institution that reproduces social
roles and mechanisms that maintain patriarchal oppression.
A) functional theories
B) conflict theories
C) systems theories
D) rational choice theories
E) feminist theories
Answer: E
13) This framework focuses on individuals being constructed by their society. Society precedes
the individual.
A) functional theories
B) conflict theories
C) systems theories
D) symbolic interaction theories
E) feminist theories
Answer: D
14) This framework tends to think of the family as a social group that mirrors and is affected by
large scale forces such as historical dialectical materialism or a clash of cultures.
A) functional theories
B) conflict theories
C) systems theories
D) symbolic interaction theories
E) feminist theories
Answer: A, B
15) The fundamental difference between and event and a stage is
A) experience
B) duration of time
C) labels
D) categories
E) none of the above
Answer: B
16) Infancy, childhood, adolescence, middle age are examples of
A) events
B) transitions
C) historical markers
D) stages
E) all of the above
Answer: D
17) Stages are characterized by the following element(s)
A) all stages have a beginning point that is marked by an event
B) they have an ending or exit event that marks the end of the duration of the stage
C) for its duration, the stage is marked by a particular property that the stages before the
transition event did not have and the stages after the event will not have
D) all of the above
E) none of the above
Answer: D
18) Which of the following represent the major levels of analysis
A) individual, relationship, family, institution
B) individual, relationship, country, corporation
C) individual, relationship, university, country
D) individual, relationship, country, civilization
E) none of the above
Answer: A
19) When most people conform to a social norm the resulting stage for the institution is one in
which the frequency of the behavior is referred to in statistical terms
A) kurtosis
B) platykurtic
C) leptokurtotic
D) skewness
E) polylosis
Answer: C
20) Single, cohabiting, married, separated, are all examples of a
A) stage
B) event
C) process
D) norm
E) experience
Answer: A
21) The marriage contract (licence) is a _ that publicly acknowledges a monogamous
relationship between two adults.
A) informal norm
B) formal norm
C) consensual norm
D) governmental norm
E) none of the above
Answer: B
22) The statement "don't get married until you complete your education," is an example of a
A) timing norm
B) age graded norm
C) stage norm
D) social norm
E) sequencing norm
Answer: A, E
23) Havar has three children and has been married for twenty-two years. He is in school working
on a bachelor's degree. In the area of informal norms, this is an example of being
A) being off time
B) being too old
C) in sequence
D) regressive
E) none of the above
Answer: A
24) Hogan (1978), and later White (1991), demonstrated that getting out of normative life-course
sequences early in life is often associated with
A) higher likelihood of divorce
B) interrupted labour force participation
C) later life disruptions
D) delay in educational attainment
E) all of the above
Answer: E
25) Radha and Parth continue to argue about who should clean the house and who should clean
the meals. As a result, family and friends recommend that they don`t have children yet. This is
an example of not being successful in meeting a
A) developmental task
B) social norm
C) family expectation
D) conflict resolution maturity
E) parental prerequisites
Answer: A
26) Normative social expectations depend upon
A) age, period, duration
B) age, period, cohort
C) age, status, cohort
D) status, period, cohort
E) age, status, period
Answer: B
27) Anticipatory socialization can be achieved in which of the following roles
A) baby sitting
B) older sibling
C) camp counsellor
D) all of the above
E) none of the above
Answer: D
28) Historical dialectics is a dialectical process that moves from
A) thesis-antithesis
B) thesis-synthesis
C) thesis-synthesis-antithesis
D) antithesis-synthesis-thesis
E) thesis-antithesis-synthesis
Answer: E
29) In order to understand the concept of an event, a correct illustration would be
A) pregnancy is to stage as being pregnant is an to event
B) engagement is to stage as marriage is to event
C) being a student is to stage as graduation is to event
D) being unemployed is to stage as being laid off is to event
E) all of the above
Answer: E
30) Examples given in the text of the concept of social process include
A) cognitive consistency
B) agreement
C) coalitions
D) conformity
E) all of the above
Answer: E
2.2 True or False
1) Motivational theories assume that one chooses or determines what is important to study.
Answer: FALSE
2) Rational Choice Theory is based on macroeconomics.
Answer: FALSE
3) Normative theories assume that social norms predict behavior and action.
Answer: TRUE
4) A social norm is a person who exhibits average behavior in a society.
Answer: FALSE
5) Social norms are commonly divided into static and fluid norms.
Answer: FALSE
6) Life course theory is largely a normative theory.
Answer: TRUE
7) Developmental and life course theories focus on the concepts of stages and transitions.
Answer: TRUE
8) Questions of identity and change are central to developing a dynamic theory.
Answer: TRUE
9) Select organisms and social organizations experience transitions.
Answer: FALSE
10) Transitions can be studied more or less independently of stages.
Answer: TRUE
11) The life course can be conceptualized as a pathway through a maze of possibilities.
Answer: TRUE
12) A level of analysis is the theoretical and conceptual level on which we are conducting our
analysis or explanation.
Answer: TRUE
13) Most social change begins with deviance.
Answer: TRUE
14) There is a strong association between being off-time and being out of sequence.
Answer: TRUE
15) Development at any level of analysis (as measured by age or duration of a unit) can be
confounded with birth cohort or historical period.
Answer: TRUE
2.3 Short Answer
1) Define the three sets of assumptions used to group theories about families.
Answer: Refer to pages 3-5
2) Illustrate four of the eight major theoretical frameworks for studying families.
Answer: Refer to 5-7
Diff: 3
3) Using one family illustration, document the three defining elements of one life-course stage.
Answer: Refer to 10-11
4) What is the importance of taking into account different levels of analysis when studying the
family?
Answer: Refer to page 13.
5) Using the concepts of off time and out of sequence provide a life-course example that uses
both.
Answer: Refer to page 15
6) Discuss the interaction of age, period, and cohort when studying the family over time.
Answer: Refer to pages 18-19