Chapter 15 – Structuration Theory
Chapter 15
Structuration Theory
Multiple Choice Questions
2. All of the following are assumptions of Structuration Theory EXCEPT
3. Structuration theorists believe that all social interaction in an organization is comprised of
_____ and _____ dimensions.
4. Structuration is defined as
15-5
17. Which of the following is NOT one of the power bases identified by French and Raven?
18. _____ refers to the imposition of personal will on others.
19. A _____ refers to something new developed from action or behavior.
20. Which of the following is an example of an intangible resource?
True/False Questions
21. A system is a group or organization and not the behaviors the group engages in to pursue its
goals.
22. Giddens views all group members as having some sort of power.
15-6
23. Structure refers to the rules and resources that group members use to guide their behavior
and sustain their system.
24. Legitimate power is based on a person’s ability to exert influence over other group members
on the basis of his or her position or title.
25. Poole and his colleagues conclude that the key to understanding groups is through an
analysis of the rules that underlie them.
26. Poole and his colleagues contend that small groups are aware of and knowledgeable about
the events and activities that take place around them.
27. Social integration in Structuration Theory refers to the reciprocity of communication
behaviors among persons in interactions.
28. Structures are viewed as having both temporal and spatial qualities, and in understanding
them, we must try to ignore the time–space relations inherent in the constitution of all social
interaction.
29. Giddens views social structures as a double-edged sword in that they restrict our behavior,
but those same rules are necessary because they enable us to understand and interact with
others.
TRUE
Essay Questions
30. Distinguish between the concepts of rules and resources. How does a group utilize each of
these concepts in arriving at a decision?
Answers will vary.
15-7
31. Identify the five authoritative resources used by groups in arriving at decisions. Provide an
example of each type of power exerted in group decisions in which you were a participant.
Answers will vary.
32. Discuss whether or not you believe Structuration Theory relates to a few, many, or most
groups and organizations. Are there some concepts that are more readily applicable than others?
Explain.
Answers will vary.
33. Apply the principles of discursive consciousness and practical consciousness to
relationships you have with others. What similarities and differences exist across these
relationships?
Answers will vary.
34. Does Structuration Theory have any utility in helping make class-assigned groups more
effective as they work on class projects? If so, which concepts do you feel would be useful to
teach students embarking on group work so that they may better understand group processes
that may make the group more or less effective? If not, why not?
Answers will vary.
35. Select five concepts from Structuration Theory to apply to a school as an organization. Use
examples to illustrate each concept. Be sure to explain each concept’s role in the larger
theoretical framework to show you understand how it relates to the theory.
Answers will vary.