A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

According to Ritzer, what are some irrational outcomes of McDonaldisation?

1. The return to handcrafted goods

2. Deskilling of workers and loss of product quality

3. Increased job satisfaction among workers

4. Enhanced consumer loyalty to local businesses

The correct answer is: Deskilling of workers and loss of product quality

The answer that highlights the deskilling of workers and the loss of product quality aligns closely with Ritzer's concept of McDonaldization. This term refers to the process by which the principles of the fast-food industry are applied to more sectors of society, leading to efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control. However, one outcome of this systematic approach is often the deskilling of workers, as jobs become more specialized and repetitive, requiring less skill over time. Consequently, there can be a degradation in the quality of products and services, as mass production often prioritizes quantity and efficiency over craftsmanship and quality. This illustrates the irrationality of a system that sacrifices meaningful labor and better products for the sake of streamlined processes and uniformity. The other options, while potentially relevant to discussions on societal trends or economic changes, don't reflect the specific irrational consequences Ritzer associated with McDonaldization. For example, the return to handcrafted goods and enhanced consumer loyalty to local businesses contradict the principles of McDonaldization, which promotes uniformity. Similarly, increased job satisfaction tends to be at odds with the deskilling that typically occurs in McDonaldized processes.