Exam 1: Introducing Sociology

Dr. Fitzgerald conducts research on a small group of francophones in a sparsely populated town in Nova Scotia. She then publishes a book based on her observations of the group. Several colleagues are concerned that her book seems to be written about all francophones in the Maritimes but is based on only this one small group. What is the problematic issue for Dr. Fitzgerald's colleagues?

What are microstructures? Illustrate with an example from your life.

Compare and contrast functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, and feminism.

According to the theorist C. Wright Mills, which of the following disciplines allows students to understand the interplay of biography and history?

What is the definition of patriarchy?

According to your textbook, which of the following was a reason that so few women figured prominently in the early history of sociology?

Which theoretical tradition stresses that eliminating privilege will increase the sum total of human welfare?

Explain the relationship between social context and social structure.

What term is used by sociologists for stable patterns of social relations?

Max Weber argued that religious ideas could support the development of capitalism.

Allyson is trying to make her heart-broken friend Linda feel better about Linda's impending divorce by explaining that many people get divorced because women have more economic options and higher education today than in the past. What is Allyson using?

If a researcher believes that colder temperatures lead to more snowfall, what type of variable is the amount of snowfall?

Which of the following theoretical perspectives emphasizes that social life is possible only because people attach meanings to things?

According to the textbook, what social function does fashion perform?

When a sociological researcher interviews workers about their opinions on their health insurance, what stage of research is he or she engaging in?

Alex and George were discussing different theoretical perspectives in their intro to sociology class. Alex felt that most people need rules to follow or chaos was sure to follow. George felt that, as far as he could tell, the rules that have been imposed on people, at least so far in history, have always been in favour of the elites, and that given half a chance, he trusted people to be able to figure things out even better if they were allowed to organize themselves. Given their views, which of the following is the most likely scenario?

Define the symbolic interactionist perspective.

A researcher who spends time with subjects in the places where they naturally congregate is engaged in what type of research?

Jane is interested in studying domestic violence and believes that, in order to fully understand this phenomenon, she needs to look at the interactions between individual members of heterosexual couples and at the overarching gender ideology of her society. Which theoretical framework are her beliefs most consistent with?

Sociological research attempts to overcome non-scientific thinking by following a rigorous six-step model. What is usually the first step in this process?