Chapter 6 Families and Households
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following is FALSE regarding purchasing clothing for infants?
A) Gifts are a significant part of the market.
B) New mothers look to other mothers in deciding what to buy.
C) Collections and coordination are critical.
D) Comfort is important, durability less so.
E) Mothers want a special look for their baby that is different from other kids.
Answer: C Page: 195 Difficulty: moderate
2. What is the basic consumption unit for most consumer goods?
A) organization
B) household
C) individual
D) husband
E) wife
Answer: B Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
3. According to the Census Bureau, all the people who occupy a housing unit is defined
as a _____.
A) buying unit
B) blended family
C) family household
D) household
E) traditional family
Answer: D Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
4. Sarah and her three roommates share an apartment. According to the Census Bureau,
Sarah and her roommates constitute a _____.
A) family
B) nontraditional family
C) subculture
D) blended family
E) household
Answer: E Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
133
Chapter 6 Families and Households
5. A _____ has at least two members related by birth, marriage, or adoption, one of
whom is the householder (i.e., the one who owns or rents the residence).
A) family household
B) blended family household
C) consumption unit
D) household
E) nontraditional family household
Answer: A Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
6. John and Dawn have been married for over twenty years. They have lived in their
home in Northville, MI (a suburb of Detroit) with their three children for most of those
years. According to the Census Bureau, which type of household do they live in?
A) suburban household
B) urban household
C) rural household
D) blended family household
E) family household
Answer: E Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
7. According to the Census Bureau, a _____ household is a householder living alone or
exclusively with others to whom he or she is not related.
A) family
B) nonfamily
C) traditional
D) blended
E) consumption
Answer: B Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
8. Eric and Elizabeth live together in the same apartment but are not married. According
to the Census Bureau, which type of household do they represent?
A) family household
B) blended household
C) nonfamily household
D) nontraditional household
E) nonconformist household
Answer: C Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
134
Chapter 6 Families and Households
9. Which type of family consists of a couple, one or both of whom were previously
married, their children, and the children from the previous marriage of one or both
parents?
A) nontraditional family
B) traditional family
C) blended family
D) step family
E) combination family
Answer: C Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
10. Ashley and her husband just had their first child. Ashley was married previously, and
her two children from that marriage also live with Ashley and her current husband.
Which type of family is this?
A) nontraditional family
B) traditional family
C) blended family
D) secondary family
E) combination family
Answer: C Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
11. Which type of family consists of a married couple and their own or adopted children
living at home?
A) nontraditional family
B) traditional family
C) blended family
D) step family
E) combination family
Answer: B Page: 197 Difficulty: moderate
12. Barry and Laurie have been married for almost twenty years, and this is the first
marriage for both of them. They have two children living at home. Which type of
family is this?
A) nontraditional family
B) traditional family
C) blended family
D) step family
E) combination family
Answer: B Page: 197 Difficulty: moderate
135
Chapter 6 Families and Households
13. Which of the following is a household factor that influences purchase and
consumption behavior?
A) structure of household unit
B) stage of the household life cycle
C) household decision process
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c
Answer: E Page: 197 Difficulty: easy
14. Which of the following is a reason marketers rarely target unmarried couples?
A) it is illegal
B) it is not cost efficient
C) their purchasing power is minimal
D) they are not easy to identify and reach
E) they don't have different needs than married couples
Answer: D Page: 198 Difficulty: moderate
15. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the decline in traditional families?
A) an increase in single parent households as a result of divorce
B) an increase in single individuals as the median age of marriage is delayed
C) an increase in sole survivors as the percentage of the population over 65 has
grown significantly
D) a change in the way the Census Bureau has defined “traditional family”
E) all of the above are reasons for the decline in traditional families
Answer: D Page: 198 Difficulty: hard
16. Most families pass through an orderly progression of stages, each with its own
characteristics, financial situation, and purchasing patterns, which is the basic
assumption underlying the _____ approach.
A) household life cycle (HLC)
B) product life cycle (PLC)
C) brand life cycle (BLC)
D) inevitable cycle (IC)
E) predicable cycle (PC)
Answer: A Page: 199 Difficulty: easy
136
Chapter 6 Families and Households
17. Stages of the household life cycle are based on ____.
A) age of the adult members
B) marital status of the adult members
C) presence of children
D) age of children
E) all of the above
Answer: E Page: 199 Difficulty: easy
18. Which of the following is considered a “Younger” (i.e., < 35) stage of the household
life cycle?
A) Single parent II
B) Single II
C) Single III
D) Full nest I
E) Empty nest I
Answer: D Page: 200 Difficulty: moderate
19. Which of the following is NOT considered a “Middle-aged” (i.e., 35-64) stage of the
household life cycle?
A) Single II
B) Full nest II
C) Delayed full nest I
D) Single parent II
E) Empty nest II
Answer: E Page: 200 Difficulty: moderate
20. Which of the following is considered an “Older” (i.e., > 64) stage of the household life
cycle?
A) Single II
B) Delayed full nest I
C) Single III
D) Single parent II
E) Empty nest I
Answer: C Page: 200 Difficulty: moderate
137
Chapter 6 Families and Households
21. Which HLC group is basically the unmarried members of the younger Generation
Xers and older Generation Yers?
A) Single I
B) Single II
C) Single III
D) Single X/Y
E) Empty nest
Answer: A Page: 200 Difficulty: moderate
22. Half of females classified as “Single I” _____.
A) live alone
B) live with parent(s)
C) live with others
D) are divorced
E) are engaged to be married
Answer: C Page: 200 Difficulty: hard
23. Mike is 23 years old recent college graduate and is starting his career as a
pharmaceutical sales representative. He will be living in an extended-stay hotel in the
city where he will undergo training, but once he finishes that, he plans on renting a
nice apartment with a friend of his from college. He also wants to purchase a sports
car and save money for a ski vacation next year. To which stage of the household life
cycle does Mike belong?
A) Single I
B) Single II
C) Beginning
D) Introduction
E) Growth
Answer: A Page: 201 Difficulty: moderate
138
Chapter 6 Families and Households
24. Julie and Bart are both in their late 20s and recently married. They have no children
and are learning how to make joint decisions. Recent purchase/service decisions were
related to household furnishings, a washer and dryer, and insurance coverage. Which
stage of the household life cycle are they experiencing?
A) young married
B) full nest
C) empty nest
D) introduction
E) growth
Answer: A Page: 200-201 Difficulty: easy
25. When a couple has children, expenditures on which of the following does NOT
usually decrease?
A) alcoholic beverages
B) meals out
C) health care
D) personal care products
E) adult apparel
Answer: C Page: 203 Difficulty: hard
26. Stacy and Adam have just had their first child, and they hope to have two more. They
can expect expenditures on which of the following to increase?
A) meals out
B) education
C) personal care products
D) food at home
E) alcoholic beverages
Answer: D Page: 203 Difficulty: hard
27. Roughly what percentage of children are born to unmarried mothers, a percentage that
has been relatively stable since 1995?
A) one-tenth
B) one-quarter
C) one-third
D) one-half
E) two-thirds
Answer: C Page: 203-204 Difficulty: hard
139
Chapter 6 Families and Households
28. While roughly one-third of children are born to unmarried mothers, this may not be an
accurate representation of the situation. A more accurate representation of the
situation may be gained by looking at the percentage of American households that are
single-parent families. What is that percentage?
A) 2 percent
B) 5 percent
C) 9 percent
D) 14 percent
E) 21 percent
Answer: C Page: 204 Difficulty: hard
29. Which stage of the household life cycle is made up of people between the ages of 35
and 64 who have never married and those who are divorced and have no child-rearing
responsibilities?
A) middle-aged single (or single II)
B) middle-aged childless
C) empty nest I
D) empty nest II
E) single III
Answer: A Page: 204 Difficulty: moderate
30. Bobbie is 47 years old and has never been married and does not have any children of
her own. She lives alone and doesn't like to cook because most recipes feed more than
one person. She can only eat so many leftovers, and she usually forgets about it if she
freezes to eat at a later date. So she purchases frozen dinners and canned food that
come in single servings. To which stage of the household life cycle does Bobbie
belong?
A) middle-aged single (or single II)
B) middle-aged empty nest
C) empty nest I
D) empty nest II
E) single III
Answer: A Page: 204 Difficulty: moderate
140
Chapter 6 Families and Households
31. Which of the following is NOT a description of the household life cycle stage known
as “Empty Nest I: Middle-Aged with No Children”?
A) married couples who have never had children
B) second marriages in which children from a first marriage are not living with the
parent
C) married couples whose children have left home
D) married couples who have adopted children who are still living at home
E) all of the above are characteristics of this household life cycle stage
Answer: D Page: 204-205 Difficulty: hard
32. Tony and Katie are in their 50s, and both have careers that keep them very busy.
However, their children are grown, so they have more free time and money than they
used to have. Which type of product or service are they likely to spend LESS money
on than they have in the past?
A) food at home
B) expensive vacations
C) meals out
D) house-cleaning
E) luxury cars
Answer: A Page: 205 Difficulty: moderate
33. The trend toward later marriage and children has resulted in which of the following?
A) Over 80 percent of all married couples with children under 18 now fall into the
middle age HLC categories of delayed full nest I and full nest II.
B) Now, 69 percent of all married couples with children under 18 fall into the middle
age HLC categories of delayed full nest I and full nest II.
C) Now, the empty nest I HLC category does not begin until married couples are over
64 years old.
D) The stage of the HLC labeled empty nest I no longer exists.
E) Now, 69 percent of all married couples do not experience the empty nest II stage
of the HLC.
Answer: B Page: 205-206 Difficulty: hard
141
Chapter 6 Families and Households
34. What is a major difference between delayed full nest I and younger new parents?
A) the number of children
B) income
C) education
D) commitment
E) years married
Answer: B Page: 206 Difficulty: moderate
35. Sheila and Jim are both professionals in their late 30s and have two children under the
age of five. Which stage of the household life cycle are they in?
A) young married
B) full nest I
C) full nest II
D) delayed full nest I
E) laggards
Answer: D Page: 205-206 Difficulty: moderate
36. What is a major difference between the full nest II and delayed full nest I stages of the
household life cycle?
A) income
B) age of the parents
C) age of the children
D) number of children
E) years married
Answer: C Page: 206 Difficulty: moderate
37. Teresa and John are both in their 40s and have two children living at home. Their
daughter, Erin, is 14 years old, and their son, Stephen, is 11 years old. To which stage
of the household life cycle do they belong?
A) young married
B) full nest I
C) full nest II
D) delayed full nest I
E) laggards
Answer: C Page: 206 Difficulty: moderate
142
Chapter 6 Families and Households
38. Teri and Ed are in their 40s, are childless, and were married for 15 years but are now
divorced. However, Teri has always wanted children, so she adopted a daughter, who
is now two years old. To which stage of the household life cycle does Teri and her
daughter belong?
A) single parent I
B) divorced parent I
C) single parent II
D) full nest I
E) delayed full nest I
Answer: C Page: 206 Difficulty: moderate
39. Consumers in which stage of the household life cycle are over 64 years of age, are
either fully or partially retired, are healthy, active, and often financially well-off, and
are a big market for RVs, cruises, and second homes?
A) single I
B) single II
C) empty nest I
D) empty nest II
E) delayed empty nest
Answer: D Page: 206-207 Difficulty: moderate
40. Ray is retired, and he and his wife are both in their late 60s. They are healthy, active,
and financially well-off. They purchased an RV and plan to travel to all of the
continental United States. Which stage of the household life cycle describes them?
A) childless
B) jobless
C) retired
D) empty nest I
E) empty nest II
Answer: E Page: 207 Difficulty: moderate
41. Consumers who are single due to the death of a spouse are labeled _____.
A) “single by death”
B) “single by choice”
C) “single by circumstances”
D) “single again”
E) “unwillingly single”
Answer: C Page: 207 Difficulty: moderate
143
Chapter 6 Families and Households
42. Barbara is a 72 years old and has been a widow for almost three years. She would be
labeled _____.
A) “single by death”
B) “single by choice”
C) “single by circumstances”
D) “single again”
E) “unwillingly single”
Answer: C Page: 207 Difficulty: moderate
43. Research suggests that older singles that are single by circumstances (i.e., death of a
spouse) will _____.
A) be less innovative
B) be more risk averse
C) be more price sensitive
D) engage in coping behaviors such as spending more time watching television
E) all of the above
Answer: E Page: 207 Difficulty: easy
44. The vertical axis in the HLC/occupational category matrix represents _____, which
determines the problems the household will likely encounter.
A) a set of occupational categories
B) the number of children in the household
C) the household income
D) stage in the household life cycle
E) current economic conditions
Answer: D Page: 208-209 Difficulty: moderate
45. The horizontal axis in the HLC/occupational category matrix represents _____, which
provides a range of acceptable solutions.
A) a set of occupational categories
B) the number of children in the household
C) the household income
D) stage in the household life cycle
E) current economic conditions
Answer: A Page: 208-209 Difficulty: moderate
144
Chapter 6 Families and Households
46. _____ is the process by which decisions that directly or indirectly involve two or more
family members are made.
A) Household decision making
B) Consumer decision making
C) Family decision making
D) Joint decision making
E) Group decision making
Answer: C Page: 209 Difficulty: easy
47. A family purchase decision differs from an organizational decision in _____.
A) the level of emotion involved
B) the involvement of multiple people in the decision
C) the absence of time pressure
D) the fact that different people play different roles in the purchase
E) all of the above
Answer: A Page: 209 Difficulty: moderate
48. Which of the following is a family purchase role?
A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) user
D) purchaser
E) all of the above
Answer: E Page: 210 Difficulty: easy
49. The family member who first recognizes a need or starts the purchase process is
known as the _____.
A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) user
Answer: A Page: 210 Difficulty: moderate
145
Chapter 6 Families and Households
50. Stan has noticed that his car is not working properly and that it is getting expensive to
repair. Thus, he gathered his family together to discuss the purchase of a new
automobile. In terms of family purchase roles, which one best describes Stan's
actions?
A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) user
Answer: A Page: 210 Difficulty: moderate
51. While Katie and Matthew are the children in the family, they do influence the
alternatives considered for their family's summer vacation. What role do Katie and
Matthew play in this family decision?
A) initiators
B) information gatherers
C) influencers
D) decision makers
E) purchasers
Answer: C Page: 210 Difficulty: moderate
52. Which family purchase role is played by the individual(s) who makes the final
decision?
A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) user
Answer: D Page: 210 Difficulty: easy
146
Chapter 6 Families and Households
53. Bob is in the 6th grade. His family does not own a computer, and he really needs one
to do his homework. He also wants one so he can play some of the games he hears his
friends talking about. His parents realize that he needs a computer, but they really
have no need for one and probably will never use it. Since they don't know much
about computers, they are letting Bob do all the research and asked him to find the
options that will meet his needs. However, his parents are the ones who will make the
final decision on how much to spend and which computer to purchase. In terms of the
family purchase roles, which role does Bob's parents play?
A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) user
Answer: D Page: 210 Difficulty: easy
54. What family purchase role is played by the individual who actually purchases the
product the family has decided upon?
A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) purchaser
Answer: E Page: 210 Difficulty: easy
55. While the entire family is usually involved in major purchase decisions, Lisa is the one
who usually makes the actual purchase. What family purchase role does Lisa play?
A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) purchaser
Answer: E Page: 210 Difficulty: moderate
147
Chapter 6 Families and Households
56. Carla and John are both children, but they use their family's electronic equipment such
as TVs, DVD players, and stereo equipment. They did not play much of a role in the
purchase decision on which brands to buy, but their parents did consider their needs
when deciding on which products and brands to purchase. In terms of family purchase
roles, what role do these children play?
A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) user
E) both c and d
Answer: E Page: 210 Difficulty: hard
57. Which of the following are ways to categorize family decision making?
A) husband-dominant
B) wife-dominant
C) individualized
D) child-dominant
E) all of the above
Answer: E Page: 210-211 Difficulty: easy
58. Hank and Carol have been married for over 20 years, and in that time they have
purchased six automobiles. Hank is the one who usually does all the research and
decides what they can afford, while Carol just gets involved when it's time to decide
among a few alternatives, and she really only cares about the comfort and styling.
Which of the following category of family decision making does this illustrate?
A) husband-dominant
B) wife-dominant
C) individualized
D) single role
E) dual role
Answer: A Page: 210 Difficulty: easy
148
Chapter 6 Families and Households
59. Families considering the purchase of products such as a house, furniture, or a vacation,
typically use which type of family decision making?
A) husband-dominant
B) wife-dominant
C) individualized
D) joint
E) child-dominant
Answer: D Page: 210 Difficulty: easy
60. Which of the following statements is true regarding the nature of family purchases and
the roles played by various family members?
A) Individuals tend to play the same role for all decisions.
B) All family members tend to be involved in every stage of the decision process.
C) Over time, each spouse develops more specialized roles as a part of the family
lifestyle and family responsibilities.
D) Individual family members play only a single role in a given purchase decision.
E) The stage of the decision process does not influence decision roles.
Answer: C Page: 210-214 Difficulty: moderate
61. Which of the following can influence how family members interact in a purchase
decision?
A) culture or subculture in which the family exists
B) role specialization of different family members
C) degree of involvement each has in the product area of concern
D) personal characteristics of the family members
E) all of the above
Answer: E Page: 212 Difficulty: easy
62. Hispanics who identify most strongly with their Hispanic subcultures are most likely
to engage in _____.
A) wife-dominated decisions
B) husband-dominated decisions
C) joint decisions
D) child-dominated decisions
E) none of the above
Answer: B Page: 212 Difficulty: moderate
149
Chapter 6 Families and Households
63. The teen Internet maven's primary role is as _____.
A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) decision maker
D) purchaser
E) user
Answer: B Page: 213 Difficulty: moderate
64. Which of the following is a characteristic of teens called “Internet mavens”?
A) Greater enjoyment and interest in the Internet in general.
B) Greater knowledge about the Web-based marketplace.
C) More expertise in searching out and finding information and resources on the
Web.
D) Greater enjoyment and desire to help others by providing information found on the
Web.
E) all of the above
Answer: E Page: 213 Difficulty: easy
65. Todd is fifteen years old and really enjoys using the Internet. Compared to his friends
and family, he has greater knowledge about the Web-based marketplace, has more
expertise in searching out and finding information and resources on the Web, and
really enjoys helping others by providing information found on the Web. Todd is
called a(n) _____.
A) techie
B) Internet maven
C) geek
D) market maven
E) Internet browser
Answer: B Page: 213 Difficulty: moderate
66. Which of the following is NOT a basic approach that individuals in a family use to
resolve purchase conflicts after they haven arisen?
A) bargaining
B) use of authority
C) physical force
D) playing on emotion
E) reasoning
Answer: C Page: 214 Difficulty: moderate
150
Chapter 6 Families and Households
67. Karen and her kids were hungry and were trying to decide where to eat for dinner.
After several minutes of bickering, Karen decided where they were going to go. Her
children balked at her decision and asked why she got to decide, and she said,
“Because I'm your mother and I said so!” Which approach did Karen use to resolve
this family conflict?
A) bargaining
B) use of authority
C) impression management
D) playing on emotion
E) reasoning
Answer: B Page: 214 Difficulty: easy
68. Which approach to conflict resolution misrepresents the facts in order to win?
A) bargaining
B) use of authority
C) impression management
D) playing on emotion
E) reasoning
Answer: C Page: 214 Difficulty: moderate
69. Which of the following is FALSE regarding conclusions on family decision making?
A) Overt conflicts in decision making are more common than agreement.
B) Different family members are often involved at different stages of the decision
process.
C) Different family members often evaluate different attributes of a product or brand.
D) The direct involvement of family members in each stage of the decision process
represents only a small part of the picture.
E) Who participates at each stage of the decision process and the method by which
conflicts are resolved are primarily a function of the product category.
Answer: A Page: 214 Difficulty: hard
70. The process in which young people acquire skills, knowledge, and attitudes relevant to
their functioning as consumers in the marketplaces is known as _____.
A) consumer education
B) consumer socialization
C) consumer programming
D) consumer research
E) consumer acclimation
Answer: B Page: 215 Difficulty: moderate
151
Chapter 6 Families and Households
71. Which of the following refers to what children learn with respect to consumption?
A) the process of consumer socialization
B) the rate of consumer socialization
C) the impact of consumer socialization
D) the content of consumer socialization
E) the influence of consumer socialization
Answer: D Page: 215 Difficulty: moderate
72. Which of the following refers to how children learn with respect to consumption?
A) the process of consumer socialization
B) the rate of consumer socialization
C) the impact of consumer socialization
D) the content of consumer socialization
E) the influence of consumer socialization
Answer: A Page: 215 Difficulty: moderate
73. A major basis for concern about marketing to children is their inability to fully process
and understand commercial messages. Much of the theory and research in this area is
based on _____.
A) Asche's diffusion theory
B) Weber's intellect enhancement theory
C) Piaget's stages of cognitive development
D) Pavlov's process acquisition stages
E) none of the above
Answer: C Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
74. In children's information processing, the period of concrete operations is characterized
by _____.
A) an absence of conceptual thought
B) the development of language
C) the development of the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems
D) the development of the ability to apply logic to all types of problems
E) none of the above
Answer: C Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
152
Chapter 6 Families and Households
75. In children's information processing, the period of sensorimotor intelligence is
characterized by _____.
A) an absence of conceptual thought
B) the development of language
C) the development of the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems
D) the development of the ability to apply logic to all types of problems
E) none of the above
Answer: A Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
76. In children's information processing, the period of preoperational thought is
characterized by _____.
A) an absence of conceptual thought
B) the development of language
C) the development of the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems
D) the development of the ability to apply logic to all types of problems
E) none of the above
Answer: B Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
77. In children's information processing, the period of formal operations is characterized
by _____.
A) an absence of conceptual thought
B) the development of language
C) the development of the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems
D) the development of the ability to apply logic to all types of problems
E) none of the above
Answer: D Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
78. Those capabilities necessary for purchases to occur such as understanding money,
budgeting, product evaluation, and so forth are referred to as _____.
A) buying skills
B) consumption-related preferences
C) consumption-related attitudes
D) instrumental skills
E) consumer skills
Answer: E Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
153
Chapter 6 Families and Households
79. Bob his teaching his son, Jack, how to handle money, count change, how to save for a
desired purchase, and how to choose an appropriate product. Bob is teaching his son
_____.
A) buying skills
B) consumption-related preferences
C) consumption-related attitudes
D) economic skills
E) consumer skills
Answer: E Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
80. _____ are the knowledge, attitudes, and values that cause people to attach differential
evaluations to products, brands, and retail outlets.
A) Buying skills
B) Consumption-related preferences
C) Consumption-related attitudes
D) Instrumental attitudes
E) Consumer skills
Answer: B Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
81. Scott and his family have always purchased Honda automobiles because they feel that
they are the best quality cars in the market. This attitude is an example of a(n) _____.
A) coping mechanism
B) consumption-related preference
C) consumption-related bias
D) economic skill
E) mediation
Answer: B Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
82. The cognitive and affective orientations toward marketplace stimuli such as
advertisements, salespeople, warranties, and so forth is referred to as _____.
A) consumer skills
B) consumption-related preferences
C) consumption-related attitudes
D) instrumental attitudes
E) mediation preferences
Answer: C Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
154
Chapter 6 Families and Households
83. Which of the following is the primary source of consumer socialization?
A) school
B) advertising
C) friends
D) family
E) government
Answer: D Page: 217 Difficulty: easy
84. Which type of training occurs when a parent or sibling specifically and directly
attempts to bring about certain responses through reasoning or reinforcement?
A) consumer training
B) instrumental training
C) modeling
D) mediation
E) coercion
Answer: B Page: 217 Difficulty: moderate
85. _____ occurs when a child learns appropriate, or inappropriate, consumption
behaviors by observing others.
A) Consumer training
B) Instrumental training
C) Modeling
D) Mediation
E) Parroting
Answer: C Page: 217 Difficulty: moderate
86. _____ occurs when a parent alters a child's initial interpretation of, or response to, a
marketing or other stimulus.
A) Consumer training
B) Instrumental training
C) Modeling
D) Mediation
E) Reprogramming
Answer: D Page: 217 Difficulty: moderate
155
Chapter 6 Families and Households
87. Claire is six years old and begged her mother for a Barbie doll that she saw ice skating
in a television commercial. Her mother explained to her that the doll won't be able to
ice skate and that she will have to make the doll move. She was trying to explain to
Claire that the toys she sees in advertisements are probably going to look more fun
than they actually are. Claire's mother is exhibiting _____.
A) mediation
B) interpretation
C) modeling
D) terminal training
E) interference
Answer: A Page: 217 Difficulty: moderate
88. Which of the following is NOT a stage of McNeal's model of how children learn to
shop?
A) Stage I: Observing
B) Stage II: Making Requests
C) Stage III: Making Selections
D) Stage IV: Making Recommendations to Other Children
E) Stage V: Making Independent Purchases
Answer: D Page: 218-219 Difficulty: moderate
89. Susan gave her five year old son $10 to purchase a toy at Wal-Mart. She wanted him
to learn how to select an appropriate toy and to pay for it with his “own” money, but
she would help her son do this. Which stage of McNeal's model of how children learn
to shop does this illustrate.
A) Stage I
B) Stage II
C) Stage III
D) Stage IV
E) Stage V
Answer: D Page: 219 Difficulty: moderate
True/False Questions
90. The Census Bureau has a classification of households that includes blended families.
Answer: False Page: 196 Difficulty: moderate
156
Chapter 6 Families and Households
91. The term traditional family refers to a married couple and their own or adopted
children living at home.
Answer: True Page: 197 Difficulty: easy
92. Compared to 1970, the percentage of households headed by a married couple has
decreased.
Answer: True Page: 197 Difficulty: moderate
93. One reason that marketers rarely target unmarried couples is that they are not easy to
identify or reach.
Answer: True Page: 198 Difficulty: moderate
94. Families pass through an orderly progression of stages, each with its own
characteristics, financial situation, and purchasing patterns.
Answer: True Page: 199 Difficulty: moderate
95. The Single I stage of the household life cycle is basically the unmarried members of
the baby boom generation.
Answer: False Page: 200 Difficulty: moderate
96. It isn't until the addition of the second child to a family that many changes in lifestyle
and consumption occur.
Answer: False Page: 202 Difficulty: hard
97. Birth or adoption by singles is increasingly common.
Answer: True Page: 203 Difficulty: moderate
98. The middle-aged single category is only made up of people who have never married
and have no child-rearing responsibilities.
Answer: False Page: 204 Difficulty: moderate
99. A major difference between the full nest II and the delayed full nest I stages of the
household life cycle is the age of the children.
Answer: True Page: 206 Difficulty: moderate
157
Chapter 6 Families and Households
100. Consumers who are single due to the death of a spouse are labeled as “single by
circumstances.”
Answer: True Page: 207 Difficulty: easy
101. The initiator is the family member who first recognizes a need or starts the purchase
process.
Answer: True Page: 210 Difficulty: easy
102. Teens labeled “Internet gurus” have a greater knowledge about the Web-based
marketplace than other teens.
Answer: False Page: 213 Difficulty: moderate
103. Impression management is a conflict resolution approach that misrepresents the facts
in order to win.
Answer: True Page: 214 Difficulty: moderate
104. Stage 2 of Piaget's stages of cognitive development is the period in which the child
develops the ability to apply logical thoughts to concrete problems.
Answer: False Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
105. Instrumental training occurs when a child learns appropriate, or inappropriate,
consumption behaviors by observing others.
Answer: False Page: 217 Difficulty: moderate
158
Chapter 6 Families and Households
Essay Questions
106. Compare and contrast the Census Bureau's definitions of a household, a family
household, and a nonfamily household.
Page: 196 Difficulty: easy
Answer:
The Census Bureau defines a household as all the people who occupy a housing unit
(a house, apartment, group of rooms, or single room designed to be occupied as a
separate living quarters). It defines a family household as one having at least two
members related by birth, marriage, or adoption, one of whom is the householder
(householder owns or rents the residence). A nonfamily household is a householder
living alone or exclusively with others to whom he or she is not related. Thus, a
family household and a nonfamily household are both types of households, but only a
family household consists of people related to one another in some way.
107. Name and briefly describe the stages of the household life cycle (HLC) in terms of age
of the adults, their marital status, and the age of children at home.
Page: 200 Difficulty: moderate
Answer:
Figure 6-2 summarizes the stages of the household life cycle:
Younger (< 35) is comprised of four stages: (a) Single I--single, no children; (b)
Young married--married, no children; (c) Full nest I--married, children < 6 years; and
(d) Single parent I--single, children < 6 years.
Middle-aged (35-64) is comprised of five stages: (a) Single II--single, no children; (b)
Delayed full nest I--married, children < 6 years; (c) Full nest II--married, children > 6
years; (d) Single parent II--single, children > 6 years; and (e) empty nest I--married,
no children.
Older (> 64) is comprised of two stages: (a) Empty nest II--married, no children and
(b) Single III--single, no children.
159
Chapter 6 Families and Households
108. Name and describe the six roles that frequently occur in family decision making.
Page: 210 Difficulty: moderate
Answer:
Initiator(s)--The family member who first recognizes a need or starts the purchase
process.
Information gatherer(s)--The individual who has expertise and interest in a
particular purchase. Different individuals may seek information at different times or
on different aspects of the purchase.
Influencer(s)--The person who influences the alternatives evaluated, the criteria
considered, and the final choice.
Decision maker(s)--The individual who makes the final decision. Of course, joint
decisions also are likely to occur.
Purchaser(s)--The family member who actually purchases the product. This is
typically an adult or teenager.
User(s)--The user of the product. For many products there are multiple users.
109. Given the number of decisions families make daily, disagreements are inevitable.
How they are resolved is important to marketers as well as to the health of the family
unit. Name and describe the six basic approaches that research has revealed that
individuals use to resolve purchase conflicts after they have arisen.
Page: 214 Difficulty: moderate
Answer:
Bargaining--Trying to reach a compromise.
Impression management--Misrepresenting the facts in order to win.
Use of authority--Claiming superior expertise or role appropriateness.
Reasoning--Using logical argument to win.
Playing on emotion--Using the silent treatment or withdrawing from the discussion.
Additional information--Getting additional data or a third-party opinion.
160
Chapter 6 Families and Households
110. Monica is a new mother and reads several magazines and books to better understand
how her son will develop. One book she used explained Piaget's stages of cognitive
development. Based on these stages, explain what Monica can expect as her child
grows up.
Page: 216 Difficulty: moderate
Answer:
Piaget's stages of cognitive development are:
Stage 1: The period of sensorimotor intelligence (0 to 2 years). During this period,
Monica can expect her child's behavior to be primarily motor. The child does not yet
“think” conceptually, though cognitive development is seen.
Stage 2: The period of preoperational thoughts (3 to 7 years). Monica will notice
her child developing language and rapid conceptual development.
Stage 3: The period of concrete operations (8 to 11 years). During these years, the
child develops the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems.
Stage 4: The period of formal operations (12 to 15 years). During this period,
Monica will see her child reach his greatest level of development, and he becomes
able to apply logic to all classes of problems.
161