MCAT Behavioral Sciences Question 215: Answer and Explanation

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Question: 215

5. A researcher randomly surveys people asking them how they found out about their most recent job, either through an acquaintance or through a close friend. The researcher concluded that the results proved the social network theory, which suggests:

  • A. more respondents found their jobs from an acquaintance rather than a close friend.
  • B. more respondents found their jobs from a close friend rather than an acquaintance.
  • C. half of the respondents found their jobs from an acquaintance while the other half of the respondents found their jobs from a close friend.
  • D. a majority of respondents found their jobs on their own.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

The social network theory posits that people's networks are important and necessary for the spread of ideas and resources; there is much strength in weak ties because weak ties allow the sharing of new resources to a vast network. It is more likely for participants to find jobs through an acquaintance (weak tie) compared to a close friend (strong tie; choice A is correct). Although having strong ties has an advantage to people's networks, there is a sense of redundancy with the information and resources provided; generally people's strong ties have information that the person is already aware of since they are a part of the same cluster (choice B is wrong). Since the researcher concluded that the results "proved the social network theory," it wouldn't make sense for the results to be half and half (choice C is wrong), nor would it make sense that most respondents found their jobs on their own (choice D is wrong).

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