Introductory Sociology CLEP Prep Practice Exam

The term “reference group” refers to?:

1. People who make decisions for others

2. People who influence the behavior of an individual

3. People who are the source of social norms

4. People who are independent from each other

The correct answer is: People who influence the behavior of an individual

A reference group is a group of people that an individual uses for comparison or as a standard for their own thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. These groups can be either social or aspirational. Social groups are made up of individuals the person is closely associated with, such as friends, family, and peers. Aspirational groups are made up of individuals the person wishes to be like, such as celebrities or role models. The remaining options are incorrect as they do not accurately describe the concept of a reference group. Option A suggests that the reference group is responsible for decision-making, which is not the case. Option C mentions social norms, which may be influenced by the reference group, but is not a definition of the group itself. Option D states that the people in the group are independent from each other, which is not necessarily true as their influence on each other is what characterizes a