McDonaldization

Meaning: McDonaldization is the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant come to dominate more and more sectors of society. Ritzer built it on Max Weber's rationalization, in which tradition and emotion give way to formal rules and efficient pursuit of goals, with bureaucracy as the model. Ritzer names four dimensions: efficiency (the quickest means to an end), calculability (quantity, such as size, price, and speed, stressed over quality), predictability (the same experience everywhere), and control (rules and nonhuman technology that limit the choices of workers and customers). He also described the "irrationality of rationality": rational systems can become dehumanizing and can defeat their own goals.

On the MCAT: A passage describes a chain store, call center, scripted customer service, or standardized testing and asks which dimension is shown, or which Weber concept it extends. A drive-through shows efficiency, a "supersize" menu shows calculability, an identical menu and greeting in every city show predictability, and self-service kiosks show control.

Common confusion: Students treat it as only about fast food or as the same thing as globalization. It names the rationalization of any institution, such as education or health care, whether or not the company or international spread is involved. The four dimensions, not the restaurant, define it.