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

The social world engulfs each of us from the moment of our birth until we die.

According to the text, what two parts are essential to the study of our social world?

Sociologists generally judge social processes as "good" or "bad."

Briefly describe how sociology and common sense differ from one another.

How are the three levels of analysis related to one another?

When her 4-year-old son wanted to wear a dress to kindergarten, Lisette told him that he could not because "boys don't wear dresses." In doing so, Lisette engaged in the process of:

A social scientist is trained to study the contents of garbage heaps. "What can we learn from studying garbage?" would most likely be asked by a(n):

Which of the following is not a social unit?

Which of the following sociologists is most closely associated with the sociological imagination?

What do the authors of the text mean when they state that "the social world is a human creation"?

The social sciences share some concepts but do not share theories or methods of inquiry.

Drilling for oil affects all levels of the sociological world. Using your knowledge of sociology, explain how this behavior (drilling for oil) affects human relationships on the micro, meso, and macro levels.

While psychologists would explain behavior by examining the personality traits of individuals, sociologists would examine:

Imagine you are a sociologist asked to study the issues pertaining to the high school dropout rate. What factors would you focus on in your study? Why?

The discipline a social scientist is trained in plays a role in the questions the social scientist asks. "How do educational opportunities for women impact national infant mortality rates in Eastern European countries?" would most likely be asked by a(n):

All of the following represent the meso-level of analysis except:

Sociologists consider a street gang and a work group examples of small groups.

Byron is a sociologist who studies social change. In his study of the election of a new congressional representative for his district, Byron concluded that "Representative Phillips will inevitably be harmful for the working-class people of our district." What error did Byron make in his study?

Briefly discuss the difference between sociology and psychology.

What are social processes? Provide at least two examples.