HDFS 2000 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
Write an essay comparing and contrasting the positions of liberals, conservatives, and centrists on
the status and future of American families. - Answer -Liberals are more optimistic
Conservatives are pessimistic and don't like changes
Centrists have views of both liberals and conservatives
List and discuss the four basic functions of family. - Answer -Providing intimate relationships-
family members providing companionship
Economic cooperation- chores
Produce and socialize children- play dates
Social roles and status- family roles shape identity
Compare and contrast the four principal research methods discussed in the text. Describe each
method and discuss its major advantages and disadvantages. - Answer --Survey- Uses
questionnaires or interviews; most popular data-gathering technique; conducted online, by
phone, or written questionnaires (US census 2020)
-Observational- Scholars attempt to study behavior systematically through direct observation; A
disadvantage is that researchers may bring in their own biases and misinterpret what they see;
Observers cannot see "behind closed doors." (four horseman of the apocalypse)
-Experimental- Isolation of a single factor under controlled circumstances to determine its
influence; Families may respond differently in real life than in controlled situations (the strange
situation experiment)
-Applied family- The focus of research is the application and generating of concepts; Applied
researchers give basic information to policy makers and program directors (elevate)
Describe social class variations in U.S. family life. Be sure to define social class, identify the four
classes in the commonly used model, and describe characteristics of families in each of these
classes. - Answer -A category of people who share a common economic position in the
stratified society in which they live
Upper class- 1% of population
Middle class- college education, lawyers, service workers
Working class- skilled laborers, high school education
Lower class- unemployed, low paying jobs, poverty, little education or skills
Discuss the relationship between race/ethnicity and family values in two different populations in the
United States. - Answer -A race or racial group is a group of people classified according to
phenotype.
An ethnic group is a set of people distinct from other groups because of cultural characteristics.
(southerner)
Many social differences, caused by economic challenges, likely masquerade as racial/ethnic
differences.
White vs. African American
1/
10
, Describe the key components of the Belmont Report. - Answer -Respect for persons: Protects the
autonomy of all people; informed consent
Beneficence: "do not harm" rule
Justice: Benefits and risks of research are equal for those who DO and DO NOT take part in the
study
Conjugal relationships - Answer -relationships created through marriage (in-laws)
Fictive kin - Answer -unrelated individuals who are regarded and treated as relatives (boyfriend)
Monogamy - Answer -Marriage to only one person at a time (John is married to Lucy only)
Nuclear family - Answer -Mother, father and children living as a unit
Egocentric fallacy - Answer -belief that everyone has the same experiences and values that we
have and therefore should think as we do (John is surprised that Lucy thinks underage drinking
is okay because he does not think its okay and that she should think the same)
Ethical guidelines - Answer -suggested rules for acting responsibly and morally when conducting
research (you cannot conduct an experiment on a family that will cause harm)
Ethnocentric fallacy - Answer -belief that our ethnic group, nation, or culture is innately superior to
others (John thinks he is better than Lucy because he is from the USA and she is from
Germany)
Hypotheses - Answer -predictions (race influences marital status)
Macro-level theories - Answer -focus on the family as a social institution; family ecology theory,
structural functionalism, conflict theory, feminist theory (how do children of incarcerated mothers
maintain family relationships)
Micro-level theories - Answer -Symbolic interactionism, Social exchange theory, Developmental
theory, Family systems theory (a study of how parents differently define quality time with their
children)
Qualitative research - Answer -research that relies on what is seen in field or naturalistic settings
more than on statistical data (what is the grieving process for divorce)
Quantitative research - Answer -research that collects and reports data primarily in numerical form
(how common is divorce in the US)
Value judgment - Answer -An evaluation based on ethics or morality rather than on objective
observation, usually include words that mean "should" and imply that our way is the correct way
( a teacher describes a student as "the best I've ever taught — very polite and obedient")
2/
10
Write an essay comparing and contrasting the positions of liberals, conservatives, and centrists on
the status and future of American families. - Answer -Liberals are more optimistic
Conservatives are pessimistic and don't like changes
Centrists have views of both liberals and conservatives
List and discuss the four basic functions of family. - Answer -Providing intimate relationships-
family members providing companionship
Economic cooperation- chores
Produce and socialize children- play dates
Social roles and status- family roles shape identity
Compare and contrast the four principal research methods discussed in the text. Describe each
method and discuss its major advantages and disadvantages. - Answer --Survey- Uses
questionnaires or interviews; most popular data-gathering technique; conducted online, by
phone, or written questionnaires (US census 2020)
-Observational- Scholars attempt to study behavior systematically through direct observation; A
disadvantage is that researchers may bring in their own biases and misinterpret what they see;
Observers cannot see "behind closed doors." (four horseman of the apocalypse)
-Experimental- Isolation of a single factor under controlled circumstances to determine its
influence; Families may respond differently in real life than in controlled situations (the strange
situation experiment)
-Applied family- The focus of research is the application and generating of concepts; Applied
researchers give basic information to policy makers and program directors (elevate)
Describe social class variations in U.S. family life. Be sure to define social class, identify the four
classes in the commonly used model, and describe characteristics of families in each of these
classes. - Answer -A category of people who share a common economic position in the
stratified society in which they live
Upper class- 1% of population
Middle class- college education, lawyers, service workers
Working class- skilled laborers, high school education
Lower class- unemployed, low paying jobs, poverty, little education or skills
Discuss the relationship between race/ethnicity and family values in two different populations in the
United States. - Answer -A race or racial group is a group of people classified according to
phenotype.
An ethnic group is a set of people distinct from other groups because of cultural characteristics.
(southerner)
Many social differences, caused by economic challenges, likely masquerade as racial/ethnic
differences.
White vs. African American
1/
10
, Describe the key components of the Belmont Report. - Answer -Respect for persons: Protects the
autonomy of all people; informed consent
Beneficence: "do not harm" rule
Justice: Benefits and risks of research are equal for those who DO and DO NOT take part in the
study
Conjugal relationships - Answer -relationships created through marriage (in-laws)
Fictive kin - Answer -unrelated individuals who are regarded and treated as relatives (boyfriend)
Monogamy - Answer -Marriage to only one person at a time (John is married to Lucy only)
Nuclear family - Answer -Mother, father and children living as a unit
Egocentric fallacy - Answer -belief that everyone has the same experiences and values that we
have and therefore should think as we do (John is surprised that Lucy thinks underage drinking
is okay because he does not think its okay and that she should think the same)
Ethical guidelines - Answer -suggested rules for acting responsibly and morally when conducting
research (you cannot conduct an experiment on a family that will cause harm)
Ethnocentric fallacy - Answer -belief that our ethnic group, nation, or culture is innately superior to
others (John thinks he is better than Lucy because he is from the USA and she is from
Germany)
Hypotheses - Answer -predictions (race influences marital status)
Macro-level theories - Answer -focus on the family as a social institution; family ecology theory,
structural functionalism, conflict theory, feminist theory (how do children of incarcerated mothers
maintain family relationships)
Micro-level theories - Answer -Symbolic interactionism, Social exchange theory, Developmental
theory, Family systems theory (a study of how parents differently define quality time with their
children)
Qualitative research - Answer -research that relies on what is seen in field or naturalistic settings
more than on statistical data (what is the grieving process for divorce)
Quantitative research - Answer -research that collects and reports data primarily in numerical form
(how common is divorce in the US)
Value judgment - Answer -An evaluation based on ethics or morality rather than on objective
observation, usually include words that mean "should" and imply that our way is the correct way
( a teacher describes a student as "the best I've ever taught — very polite and obedient")
2/
10
