Exam 1: Sociology: a Unique Way to View the World

Because sociology is based on common sense, it is an excellent discipline for students who approach the world in a rational, matter-of-fact way.

The examination of changes in women's status can only take place at the macro level of analysis.

Sociology is based on a few assumptions about the social world. Which of the following is not one of these assumptions?

An environment includes everything that influences a social unit.

August Comte coined the term "sociological imagination."

-In comparison, sociology focuses on _________, whereas psychology focuses on _________.

Interconnected parts of the social world ranging from small groups to entire societies are:

List and briefly explain the three levels of analysis discussed in the text.

Sociologists studying education look for the genetic factors that may lead one to drop out.

No social unit of our social world can stand alone.

The aspects of society that provide the rules, roles, and relationships needed to shape human behavior are:

Commonsense assumptions are never true when tested sociologically.

The social world is organized into two parts, structures and processes.

While walking down the street, Alana notices a homeless man. She thinks to herself, "That man must be homeless because he became unemployed. I'm sure that's because our local economy is so bad and companies seem to be moving to other countries. He probably lost his family, too." Sociologists would say that Alana is using her:

Our social positions in society are the result of stratification.

According to the text, the changes in the institution of the family will not likely have an impact on religion.

A focus on individual or small-group interaction entails micro-level analysis.

Sociologists argue that conflict is a natural part of social life.

The discipline a social scientist is trained in plays a role in the questions the social scientist asks. "What are individuals' physiological reactions to a violent movie like Saw?" would most likely be asked by a(n):

Social institutions are found in every society.