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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 3: Thermostats, Lemons, and Other Families of Models.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Schelling say social scientists hope to describe by characterizing a system?
(a) Heuristics with which to judge behavior in nature.
(b) A mathematical model that accounts for all microbehavior within the phenomenon.
(c) An explanation for other phenomena that fit the same pattern.
(d) Information about the difficulties of modeling social behavior.

2. What does Schelling say social conventions mediate between?
(a) Desire and restraint.
(b) Order and chaos.
(c) Individual interest and collective purpose.
(d) Violence and the threat of punishment.

3. What does Schelling say a proposition has to have in order to be true?
(a) It has to be inclusive and correct.
(b) It has to be fair and balanced.
(c) It has to be mathematically grounded.
(d) It has to be able to be translated into an equation.

4. What does Schelling say the defines independent variable in a behavioral system?
(a) The sum of the dependent variables.
(b) The sum of the dependent variables in parallel systems.
(c) The imp of the perverse.
(d) The sum of the independent variables in linked systems.

5. What part of a heating system does Schelling use as a metaphor for human behavior?
(a) A boiler.
(b) A heating fan.
(c) A pipe.
(d) A thermostat.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the second thing Schelling says a social behavior model can be?

2. What does Schelling say the measles story is an example of?

3. How does Schelling describe a critical-mass behavior?

4. What does Schelling call the myriad of potential results?

5. What tool does Schelling say social scientists use to describe behaviors such as human principles and household activities?

(see the answer key)

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