question 1

Final Examination

This exam totals 100 points and is worth 35% of the course grade.

Please note that copy/pasted material from the articles or powerpoints will receive no credit. This is an independent assignment; students may NOT work collectively.

Indicated length is based on double-spacing of responses (12pt font, 1” margins).

Part 1: Very brief responses (about half a page) worth six points each (36 total).

1. Compare/contrast the conclusions from the Shor, et al. (2013) article with those from the Chen, et al. (2012).

2. How does social support defined in terms of “responsivity” relate to the “relationship rule” of close relationships? How does social support influence the development of close relationships?

3. How do the benefits of friendships parallel the six provisions of social relationships (described by Weiss) differently for males and females?

4. Contrast the relative contribution of online support and general support to well-being. To what extent do facebook friends provide (health) benefits?

5. How did Umberson, et al. describe chains of disadvantage in childhood? What did this study show in terms of the nexus of race and gender?

6. Briefly describe the Models of relationship specialization and substitution.

Part 2: Approximately two-three page response worth 36 points total.

What is the “specificity hypothesis” and what does it suggest about when support effectively “fits”?

Using this concept of fit/matching, discuss the conclusions from the following studies:

a) Borhorst et al. perceptions of supportiveness across adolescence

b) The connections between social network characteristics and grade point average among college students (two studies)

c) Kalmijn on the effects of age, marriage, and parenthood on social contacts and support across young adulthood

d) Wrzus on social network changes and life events across the life span

e) Segrin on desires/responses of younger and older people to social support from their social networks.

Part 3: Approximately two-three page response (not including diagram) worth 28 points.

1. Diagram and describe your best version of the “Big Picture” on the association between the social relationships (social networks and social support) and health.

Extra Credit: Describe how this material relates to material in another course you have taken.