Croteau, Media/Society, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Chapter 1: Media/Society in a Digital World
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. A radio station broadcasting a program is an example of ______.
A. interpersonal communication
B. mass communication
C. media-centric communication
D. broad communication
2. Mass Media more often than not ______.
A. involves a large and potentially unknown audience
B. has little interaction
C. is one-to-many communication
D. all of these
3. Which of the following often is overlooked as a form of mass media?
A. radio
B. television
C. telephones
D. print
4. The Internet is an example of ______ as well as ______.
A. interpersonal communication; mass media
B. mass media; public communication
Croteau, Media/Society, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
C. broadcasted media; interpersonal communication
D. mass media only
5. Which of the following is not true about what the Internet allows media users to do?
A. Users can decide on their own time when they consume media.
B. Users may create their own media.
C. Users can decide what media they will access.
D. Users can only distribute and consume other’s materials.
6. The sociological perspective encourages us to see and understand the relationship
between ______ and the ______.
A. individuals; broader social context in which they live
B. individuals; communication styles they develop
C. users; messages that they send
D. receivers; how they perceive messages received
7. The idea of a “traditional” or “normal” family is derived from the sociological concept
of ______.
A. agency
B. structure
C. routinization
D. complex pattern
8. Morgan has been attending church with her family for her whole life, but more
recently finds herself wanting to explore different religions. Her decision to leave what
she knows to learn about different mindsets is an example of ______.
A. structure
Croteau, Media/Society, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
B. free speech
C. agency
D. constraint elimination
9. Seth chose not to walk at his high school graduation ceremony. His decision is an
example of ______.
A. agency
B. free speech
C. structure
D. rebellion
10. In sociological studies, the concept of social structure refers to ______.
A. the influences of the society we are a part of
B. any pattern of social behavior
C. the mechanics of individual interactions
D. the steps taken to be a part of a society
11. In sociological studies, agency is known as ______.
A. the same concept as structure
B. intentional and undetermined human actions
C. the part of society an individual identifies themselves with
D. none of these
12. The relationship between agency and structure is ______.
A. parallel
Croteau, Media/Society, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
B. counterbalancing
C. unrelated
D. push and pull
13. The tension between structure and agency for those who are a part of the media
industry primarily is derived from ______.
A. how much autonomy media personnel has in the field
B. media personnel being expected to appeal to all audiences
C. the amount of research done by each individual
D. media personnel having complete freedom to do as they choose
14. In order for media users to understand messages being communicated through
content, they must use other resources such as ______.
A. personal experience
B. education
C. other individuals
D. all of these
15. Which of the following is not an aspect of the model of media and the social world?
A. technology
B. industry
C. content
D. society
16. The media industry is affected by changes in ______, and is instrumental in
influencing the direction and application of ______.
Croteau, Media/Society, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
A. technology; distribution
B. technology; technology
C. economy; distribution
D. society; technology
17. Sociologists refer to the process consuming media content and actively interpreting
and constructing meaning from that content as ______.
A. social construction of reality
B. active interpretation
C. constructive reality
D. consumption analysis
18. Taylor reads online that a coffee shop near his house is looking for a barista. He
takes this information and uses it to his advantage and applies for the job. His
interpretation of the post he saw and understanding what it was asking for is an
example of ______.
A. active interpretation
B. constructive reality
C. social construction of reality
D. application analysis
19. The relationship between the media industry and media users is mediated by
______, ______, and other factors in the social world.
A. society; government
B. content; technology
C. industry itself; society
Croteau, Media/Society, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
D. technology; users themselves
20. Reporters having access to lighter cameras, giving them more mobility on site while
covering a story is an example of ______ and ______ working together from the model
of media and the social world.
A. content; users
B. technology; industry
C. industry; content
D. technology; users
21. A journalist having a handheld recording device to better capture an interview is an
example of ______ and ______ working together from the model of media and the
social world.
A. technology; industry
B. industry; content
C. technology; users
D. content; users
22. A family having access to watching news on television versus getting their news
from a newspaper is an example of ______ and ______ from the model of media and
the social world.
A. users; technology
B. technology; industry
C. content; technology
D. industry; content
23. Journalists that are constrained by the norms of news coverage and not encouraged
or allowed to offer their opinion of the story they’re covering is an example of ______
and ______ working together the model of media and the social world.
A. industry; content
B. content; users
C. users; technology
D. industry; users
24. A civil rights activist during the 1950s, handing out leaflets to spread awareness of
his cause is an example of ______ and ______ working together on the model of media
and the social world.
A. social world; technology
B. users; content
C. technology; industry
D. social world; industry
1. As of 2017, only 58% of U.S. adults have smartphones.
2. On average, Americans watch 7 hr of television in a day.
3. The Internet gives each user less freedom in what media they consume and when
they consume it.
Croteau, Media/Society, 6e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
4. The Internet enables each user to create their own media content.
5. Sociologists are the only ones that study mass media.
6. The Sociological Perspective is a concept in which we as individuals make our own
decisions based upon the environments and influences we encounter.
7. Structure and agency have push–pull interactions that are essential to understanding
social life.
8. Individuals working within the media have agency to alter the social structure in which
they work.
9. Media users retain all information they come across while consuming and share it
without any of their own views being considered.
10. An individual having a face-to–face conversation will elicit less information compared
to when an individual consumes media.
11. The role of the government and the broader economic forces are nonmedia social
factors that effect the model of media and the social world.
12. Media content and technology are affected by each other through the influence of
people.
1. What are some differences between face–to-face and mass-mediated communication
for readers? How does this distinction affect politics?
2. Why do the authors sometimes use reader or user rather than receiver or audience?
3. Sociologists often link discussions of social relations to the concepts of “Structure”
and “Agency.” What are they, and how do they relate to each other? Do they have equal
relationships? Are they at odds? In your discussion, include at least one specific
example.