The Adoption of the QWERTY Keyboard in the Early Days

question 6

Multiple Choice

The adoption of the QWERTY keyboard in the early days of mechanical typewriters, with its continued use today, has been suggested as a metaphor for:

• A) technological lock-in.
• B) a lazy monopoly.
• C) reverse engineering.
• D) X-inefficiency.

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Definitions:

Social Psychology Theory

A framework within social psychology that explores how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others.

Robber's Cave Experiment

A social psychology study by Muzafer Sherif that demonstrated how intergroup conflict can arise from competition for resources and how it can be overcome through cooperative tasks.

Us-them Hostility

This refers to feelings of antagonism and opposition between different groups, often highlighting social or cultural divisions.

Realistic Conflict Theory

A social psychological model stating that intergroup conflicts arise when groups compete over scarce resources, leading to prejudice and discrimination.