Question 1

Discuss Herbert Spencer's "Survival of the Fittest" theory. What are the criticisms of his approach?

Accepted Answer

British social theorist Herbert Spencer's major contribution to sociology was an evolutionary perspective on social order and social change. According to Spencer's Theory of General Evolution, society has various interdependent parts (such as the family, the economy, and the government) that work to ensure the stability and survival of the entire society. Spencer believed that societies developed through a process of "struggle" (for existence) and "fitness" (for survival), which he referred to as the "survival of the fittest." Spencer's view of society is known as social Darwinism-the belief that those species of animals, including human beings, best adapted to their environment survive and prosper, whereas those poorly adapted die out. Spencer equated this process of natural selection with progress, because only the "fittest" members of society would survive the competition, and the "unfit" would be filtered out of society. Critics say that he looked at society as the same as a biological system. Also, his idea of survival of the fittest can be used to justify different kinds of inequalities.

Question 2

A(n) __________ is a printed research instrument containing a series of items to which subjects respond.

Accepted Answer

A) questionnaire 
B) interview 
C) telephone survey 
D) computer-assisted interview 
A) questionnaire 
B) interview 
C) telephone survey 
D) computer-assisted interview A

Question 3

Sociologist Max Weber emphasized that sociology should be value free-research should be conducted in a scientific manner and should exclude the researcher's personal values and economic interests.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

__________ refers to the process of collecting data while being part of the activities of the group that the researcher is studying.

Accepted Answer

A) The experiment 
B) Survey research 
C) Participant observation 
D) Secondary analysis 
A) The experiment 
B) Survey research 
C) Participant observation 
D) Secondary analysis

Question 5

Based on British social theorist Herbert Spencer's theory, __________ is the belief that those species of animals, including human beings, best adapted to their environment survive and prosper, whereas those poorly adapted die out.

Accepted Answer

A) social Darwinism 
B) social eugenics 
C) social statics 
D) social facts 
A) social Darwinism 
B) social eugenics 
C) social statics 
D) social facts

Question 6

__________ refers to the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with sex differences, referred to as femininity and masculinity.

Accepted Answer

A) Sex 
B) Biology 
C) Gender 
D) Sociobiology 
A) Sex 
B) Biology 
C) Gender 
D) Sociobiology

Question 7

A __________ is anything that meaningfully represents something else and includes signs, gestures, written language, and shared values.

Accepted Answer

A) symbol 
B) sociological construct 
C) norm 
D) status 
A) symbol 
B) sociological construct 
C) norm 
D) status

Question 8

A major difference between the theoretical perspectives is the level of analysis. Identify the focus of the three major perspectives (functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist). What are criticisms of each?

Accepted Answer

The functionalist perspective focuses on

Question 9

French philosopher Auguste Comte coined the term sociology to describe a new science that would engage in the study of society.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

In relation to the study of homelessness in American society, __________ would look at changing relationships in the family and economic conditions which causes homelessness among people who are unable to find jobs and do not have a family support system to fall back on.

Accepted Answer

A) symbolic interactionists 
B) conflict theorists 
C) postmodern theorists 
D) functionalists 
A) symbolic interactionists 
B) conflict theorists 
C) postmodern theorists 
D) functionalists

Question 11

A(n) __________ is a detailed study of the life and activities of a group of people by researchers who may live with that group over a period of years.

Accepted Answer

A) correlational study 
B) ethnography 
C) experiment 
D) content analysis 
A) correlational study 
B) ethnography 
C) experiment 
D) content analysis

Question 12

On average, a suicide occurs in the U.S. approximately every ___ minutes.

Accepted Answer

A) 5 
B) 10 
C) 16 
D) 23 
A) 5 
B) 10 
C) 16 
D) 23

Question 13

Interpret what sociologist C. Wright Mills meant by the sociological imagination.

Accepted Answer

Mills described sociological reasoning a

Question 14

State the major assumptions of the functionalist perspectives.

Accepted Answer

Functionalist perspectives are based on

Question 15

Among males, white Americans have a higher suicide rate than blacks. For females, the rate of suicide is higher for black females than white females.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Sociologists conducting research may formulate a(n) __________, which is a statement of the relationship between two or more variables.

Accepted Answer

A) theory 
B) hypothesis 
C) variable 
D) operational definition 
A) theory 
B) hypothesis 
C) variable 
D) operational definition

Question 17

With quantitative research, the goal is scientific objectivity, and typically emphasizes complex statistical techniques. For example, most sociological studies on suicide have compared rates of suicide with almost every conceivable variable, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

One of the great myths about suicide is that people who commit suicide will talk about doing so.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which statement concerning suicide is true?

Accepted Answer

A) The rate of suicide is higher for older men than older women. 
B) Most people who attempt suicide remain suicidal throughout life. 
C) Older women have a lower rate of attempted suicide as compared with older males. 
D) There is no evidence that children under the age of 10 have taken their own lives. 
A) The rate of suicide is higher for older men than older women. 
B) Most people who attempt suicide remain suicidal throughout life. 
C) Older women have a lower rate of attempted suicide as compared with older males. 
D) There is no evidence that children under the age of 10 have taken their own lives.

Question 20

According to feminist theorists, we live in a(n) __________, a system in which men dominate women and in which things that are considered to be "male" or "masculine" are more highly valued than those considered to be "female" or "feminine."

Accepted Answer

A) patriarchy 
B) autarchy 
C) matriarchy 
D) monarchy 
A) patriarchy 
B) autarchy 
C) matriarchy 
D) monarchy

Discuss Herbert Spencer's "Survival of the Fittest" theory. What are the criticisms of his approach?

A(n) __________ is a printed research instrument containing a series of items to which subjects respond.

Sociologist Max Weber emphasized that sociology should be value free-research should be conducted in a scientific manner and should exclude the researcher's personal values and economic interests.

__________ refers to the process of collecting data while being part of the activities of the group that the researcher is studying.

Based on British social theorist Herbert Spencer's theory, __________ is the belief that those species of animals, including human beings, best adapted to their environment survive and prosper, whereas those poorly adapted die out.

__________ refers to the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with sex differences, referred to as femininity and masculinity.

A __________ is anything that meaningfully represents something else and includes signs, gestures, written language, and shared values.

A major difference between the theoretical perspectives is the level of analysis. Identify the focus of the three major perspectives (functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist). What are criticisms of each?

French philosopher Auguste Comte coined the term sociology to describe a new science that would engage in the study of society.

In relation to the study of homelessness in American society, __________ would look at changing relationships in the family and economic conditions which causes homelessness among people who are unable to find jobs and do not have a family support system to fall back on.

A(n) __________ is a detailed study of the life and activities of a group of people by researchers who may live with that group over a period of years.

On average, a suicide occurs in the U.S. approximately every ___ minutes.

Interpret what sociologist C. Wright Mills meant by the sociological imagination.

State the major assumptions of the functionalist perspectives.

Among males, white Americans have a higher suicide rate than blacks. For females, the rate of suicide is higher for black females than white females.

Sociologists conducting research may formulate a(n) __________, which is a statement of the relationship between two or more variables.

With quantitative research, the goal is scientific objectivity, and typically emphasizes complex statistical techniques. For example, most sociological studies on suicide have compared rates of suicide with almost every conceivable variable, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education.

One of the great myths about suicide is that people who commit suicide will talk about doing so.

Which statement concerning suicide is true?

According to feminist theorists, we live in a(n) __________, a system in which men dominate women and in which things that are considered to be "male" or "masculine" are more highly valued than those considered to be "female" or "feminine."

Culture.

Socialization.

Social Structure and Interaction in Everyday Life.

Groups and Organizations.

Deviance and Crime.

Class and Stratification in the United States.

Global Stratification.

Race and Ethnicity.

Sex, Gender, and Sexuality.

Families and Intimate Relationships.

Education and Religion.

Politics and the Economy in Global Perspective.

Health, Health Care, and Disability.

Population and Urbanization.

Collective Behavior, Social Movements, and Social Change.

Filters

Exam 1: The Sociological Perspective and Research Process.

Discuss Herbert Spencer's "Survival of the Fittest" theory. What are the criticisms of his approach?

A(n) __________ is a printed research instrument containing a series of items to which subjects respond.

Sociologist Max Weber emphasized that sociology should be value free-research should be conducted in a scientific manner and should exclude the researcher's personal values and economic interests.

__________ refers to the process of collecting data while being part of the activities of the group that the researcher is studying.

Based on British social theorist Herbert Spencer's theory, __________ is the belief that those species of animals, including human beings, best adapted to their environment survive and prosper, whereas those poorly adapted die out.

__________ refers to the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with sex differences, referred to as femininity and masculinity.

A __________ is anything that meaningfully represents something else and includes signs, gestures, written language, and shared values.

A major difference between the theoretical perspectives is the level of analysis. Identify the focus of the three major perspectives (functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist). What are criticisms of each?

French philosopher Auguste Comte coined the term sociology to describe a new science that would engage in the study of society.

In relation to the study of homelessness in American society, __________ would look at changing relationships in the family and economic conditions which causes homelessness among people who are unable to find jobs and do not have a family support system to fall back on.

A(n) __________ is a detailed study of the life and activities of a group of people by researchers who may live with that group over a period of years.

On average, a suicide occurs in the U.S. approximately every ___ minutes.

Interpret what sociologist C. Wright Mills meant by the sociological imagination.

State the major assumptions of the functionalist perspectives.

Among males, white Americans have a higher suicide rate than blacks. For females, the rate of suicide is higher for black females than white females.

Sociologists conducting research may formulate a(n) __________, which is a statement of the relationship between two or more variables.

With quantitative research, the goal is scientific objectivity, and typically emphasizes complex statistical techniques. For example, most sociological studies on suicide have compared rates of suicide with almost every conceivable variable, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education.

One of the great myths about suicide is that people who commit suicide will talk about doing so.

Which statement concerning suicide is true?

According to feminist theorists, we live in a(n) __________, a system in which men dominate women and in which things that are considered to be "male" or "masculine" are more highly valued than those considered to be "female" or "feminine."

Culture.

Socialization.

Social Structure and Interaction in Everyday Life.

Groups and Organizations.

Deviance and Crime.

Class and Stratification in the United States.

Global Stratification.

Race and Ethnicity.

Sex, Gender, and Sexuality.

Families and Intimate Relationships.

Education and Religion.

Politics and the Economy in Global Perspective.

Health, Health Care, and Disability.

Population and Urbanization.

Collective Behavior, Social Movements, and Social Change.

Filters