Exam 1: Understanding and Solving Social Problems

Compare and contrast the characteristics of good and untrustworthy sources.

In 1960, Lois Rabinowitz was ejected from a New York traffic court for wearing pants, which was considered indecent. In 2019, a federal judge struck down a dress code at a charter school in North Carolina that required girls to wear skirts, claiming that it was unconstitutional and discriminatory toward females. What conclusion can be inferred from this change?

Learning to address problems from a societal perspective is a key component of developing your sociological imagination.

Successful social movements change public perception about social conditions so that these conditions are viewed as problematic and that society needs structural change to address those problems.

The first step in the social scientific research process is to conduct a literature review.

What movement's ideas, values, and beliefs emphasized reason and rationality?

What major historical development inspired scientists to examine social life, ultimately leading to the creation of the academic discipline of sociology?

Why are social problems considered to be social constructions?

Imagine that you plan on conducting research on climate change. Now that your social problem has been identified, explain how you would go about following the remaining steps in the social scientific research process, including how you would ensure unbiased, accurate research that can be replicated.

The same sex marriage movement was successful because it utilized the power of organized groups working together.

Early in 2019, New York passed the "Reproductive Health Act," which reduced restrictions on abortion in the state. A few short months later, Georgia became the first of several states to pass laws imposing strict restrictions on abortion, including in the cases of rape and incest. What sociological concept demonstrates why two states passed such dramatically different laws to address a social problem at roughly the same time?

Bianca has developed her sociological imagination, and has begun to recognize all kinds of social patterns that she never realized existed in society. This skill is known as ______.

Social problems are social conditions that are objectively problematic to large numbers of people.

What is a goal shared by all organized social movements?

In the early years of the opioid crisis, individuals struggling with addiction were perceived as lacking willpower, and their struggles were criminalized. In recent years, several states sued pharmaceutical companies for misleading doctors about the addictive potential of the opioids they manufactured. Being able to identify the opioid crisis as a "public health problem" with structural causes is an example of what sociological concept?

Based on their life's work, which sociologist can be described as a sociologist in action-using their sociological skills to convince people that social injustices are social problems to be addressed?

All successful social movements identify goals, form organized groups, and create effective strategies.

Hull House was inspired by settlement houses Addams observed in Europe.

You have identified a social problem you are interested in studying. According to the social scientific research process, what is your next step?

Jane Addams collected data on issues of social inequality for the purposes of lobbying policymakers to make structural changes to improve the lives of people in the community.