Deck 1: Sociology: Perspective, Theory, and Method

Question 1

In the United States today, the suicide rate is highest for which of the following categories of people?

A) African American males
B) white females
C) African American females
D) white males

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What would a sociologist be most likely to say about why an individual chooses a particular person to marry?

A) Love, and therefore marriage, cannot be scientifically explained.
B) People's actions reflect human free will.
C) In the case of love, opposites attract.
D) Society influences human behavior more than most people realize.

Answer 2

Society influences human behavior more than most people realize.

Question 3

Peter Berger described using the sociological perspective as seeing the__________ in the__________ .

A) stable; dynamic
B) general; particular
C) specific; commonplace
D) new; old

Answer 3

general; particular

Question 4

Because there is more social isolation in rural areas in the United States than urban areas, we would expect suicide rates to be:

A) higher in rural areas.
B) higher in urban areas.
C) high in both urban and rural areas.
D) low in both urban and rural areas.

Question 5

The United States falls within the category of

A) low-income nations.
B) high-income nations.
C) middle-income nations.
D) developing nations.

Question 6

Linking specific facts together to gain meaning creates a

A) theory.
B) concept.
C) principle.
D) statement.

Question 7

Which discipline defines itself as "the systematic study of human society"?

A) history
B) economics
C) psychology
D) sociology

Question 8

In deciding what kinds of questions to ask as they begin research, sociologists are guided by

A) one or more theoretical approaches.
B) their own common sense.
C) the data they collect.
D) sheer chance.

Question 9

By stating that the sociological perspective shows us "the strange in the familiar" the text argues that sociologists:

A) focus on the bizarre elements of society.
B) believe that people often have strange ways.
C) reject the familiar idea that people simply decide how to act in favor of the initially strange idea that society shapes our lives.
D) show that common sense is the best guide to understanding human behavior.

Question 10

A sociological analysis of childbearing around the world suggests that the number of children born to a woman reflects:

A) whether she lives in a poor or rich country.
B) the desires of her husband.
C) her preference for family size.
D) how many children she can afford.

Question 11

The social-conflict approach draws attention to

A) patterns of social inequality.
B) how elements contribute to the overall
C) the orderly aspects of society.
D) how people construct meaning

Question 12

Which question summarizes the focus of the symbolic-interaction approach?

A) How is society held together?
B) How do people shape the reality they experience
C) How does society divide a population?
D) How do some people protect their privileges?

Question 13

The pioneering sociologist who studied patterns of suicide in Europe was

A) Max Weber.
B) Emile Durkheim.
C) Karl Marx.
D) Auguste Comte.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the focus of the structural-functional approach?

A) the meaning people attach to their behavior
B) the patterns of social inequality
C) the functions of social structures
D) None of the above is correct.

Question 15

C. Wright Mills claimed that the "sociological imagination" transformed

A) common sense into laws of society.
B) people into supporters of the status quo.
C) personal problems into public issues.
D) scientific research into common sense.

Question 16

If marginality encourages sociological thinking, we would expect people in which category listed below to make the most use of the sociological perspective?

A) people of color
B) the wealthy
C) politicians
D) the middle class

Question 17

Three roommates are in their dorm room sharing a late-night discussion about why they are in college. Which of the following statements about attending college best represents using the sociological perspective?

A) Attending college is a goal for people all over the world.
B) College is not necessary preparation for every type of work.
C) Both age and class have a lot to do with which people are enrolled in college.
D) Colleges try to attract intelligent students.

Question 18

Which discipline is defined as "the systematic study of human society"?

A) history
B) economics
C) psychology
D) sociology

Question 19

According to Emile Durkheim, a category of people with a higher suicide rate typically has

A) less money, power, and other resources.
B) lower social integration.
C) higher self-esteem.
D) more clinical depression.

Question 20

Making use of the sociological perspective encourages us to

A) challenge commonly held beliefs.
B) accept conventional ideas.
C) accept "common sense."
D) become happier.

Question 21

Thomas Hobbes's idea that society reflects a selfish human nature illustrates the thinking common to Comte's__________ of societal development.

A) post-scientific stage
B) scientific stage
C) metaphysical stage
D) theological stage

Question 22

Examples of people applying their knowledge of sociology at work include people in

A) law enforcement, understanding which categories of people are at high risk of becoming a victim.
B) medicine, understanding patterns of health in a community.
C) business, dealing with different categories of people.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 23

Sociology differs from earlier philosophy by focusing on

A) our human nature.
B) how society actually operates.
C) the power of God in shaping human events.
D) what the ideal society should be.

Question 24

The term "sociology" was coined in 1838 by

A) Adam Smith.
B) Auguste Comte
C) Karl Marx.
D) Herbert Spencer

Question 25

Making use of the sociological perspective encourages

A) the belief that society has little effect on the average individual.
B) people to become isolated from one another.
C) challenging commonly held beliefs.
D) accepting conventional idea..

Question 26

The ancient Romans saw the stars as gods. Comte would classify Roman society as which of the following types?

A) post scientific stage
B) metaphysical stage
C) theological stage
D) scientific stage

Question 27

More than 1.5 million immigrants enter the United States each year and many (including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gloria Estefan) have become famous. These facts support the conclusion that

A) the world's nations are increasingly interconnected.
B) other nations have little effect on life in rich countries such as the United States.
C) people around the world share little in terms of their ways of life.
D) people are as likely to leave the United States as to enter the United States.

Question 28

Which of the following categories contains countries in which average income is typical for the world as a whole and in which people are as likely to live in a rural area as in an urban area?

A) the very richest nations.
B) low-income nations.
C) middle-income nations.
D) high-income nations.

Question 29

Read the following four statements. Which statement is CORRECT?

A) Because the United States is so rich, there is little reason for us to learn about the global economy.
B) Learning more about other societies helps us better understand our own way of life.
C) People the world over live in ways that are mostly the same.
D) There is no longer any absolute poverty in the world.

Question 30

Most sociologists agree with Auguste Comte that science is a crucial part of sociology, but most also agree that

A) human beings are partly creative and spontaneous..
B) human behavior is often more complex than natural phenomena.
C) no rigid "laws" of society" hold everywhere and at all times.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 31

Almost all of Latin America and Asia falls within the category of

A) the very richest nations.
B) high-income nations.
C) middle-income nations.
D) low-income nations.

Question 32

According to Comte, the kind of thinking favored by people such as Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, becomes widespread during the__________ of societal development.

A) post-scientific stage
B) scientific stage
C) metaphysical stage
D) theological stage

Question 33

All but one the following historical trends stimulated the development of the discipline of sociology. Which one trend did NOT?

A) the rise of industrialized systems of production
B) the spread of the Roman Catholic religion
C) new political ideas stressing individual rights
D) the growth of cities and outcomes of urbanization

Question 34

We would expect the sociological perspective to be most likely to develop in a place that was

A) experiencing many social changes.
B) very traditional.
C) small and socially isolated.
D) very poor.

Question 35

Which of the following is a benefit we gain from studying sociology?

A) empowers us to be active participants in our society
B) becoming more convinced of the truth in everyday "common sense"
C) understanding that we create life problems for ourselves
D) paying little attention to the socially diverse world around us

Question 36

__________ is a way of understanding the world based on a scientific approach to knowledge.

A) Positivism
B) Theology
C) Tradition
D) Common sense

Question 37

Which of the following statements correctly describes sociology's value to future careers?

A) Most sociologists work as researchers for private corporations.
B) Sociology is useful but only if you plan to teach or do research.
C) Most sociologists work with clients in private practice.
D) Sociology is excellent preparation for a wide range of future careers.

Question 38

According to Comte, societies in which stage of development begin to see society as a natural-rather than a supernatural-phenomenon?

A) post-scientific stage
B) scientific stage
C) metaphysical stage
D) theological stage

Question 39

The "Seeing Sociology in the News" article in Chapter 1 ("Sociology: Perspective, Theory, and Method") reports that in a bad economy, laid-off workers

A) are leaving this country for developing nations.
B) are likely to commit crimes.
C) are flocking to community colleges.
D) are likely to experience marital conflict.

Question 40

According to Comte, during the Middle Ages most people in Europe thought of society as

A) a system operating according to its own laws.
B) chaotic and having little form.
C) an expression of God's will.
D) a reflection of our human nature.

Question 41

The structural-functional approach helps us to

A) understand "what makes society tick."
B) bring about needed change.
C) discover the meaning people find in behavior.
D) study the way people understand the larger world.

Question 42

What is the term for a basic image of society that guides thinking and research?

A) theory
B) theoretical approach
C) hypothesis
D) social fact

Question 43

Robert Merton explained that what is functional for one category of a society's population

A) will always be functional in the future.
B) is unlikely to change over time.
C) may not be functional for another category.
D) is typically functional for everyone.

Question 44

Which of the following is the best example of a latent function of going to college?

A) providing skills needed for later jobs
B) keeping young people out of the job force, which may not have jobs for them
C) gaining the knowledge required to be an active and thoughtful citizen
D) giving young people experience living on their own

Question 45

The theoretical approach in sociology that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability is the

A) social exchange approach.
B) social-conflict approach.
C) symbolic-interaction approach.
D) structural-functional approach.

Question 46

Which of the following statements is an accurate criticism of the structural-functional approach?

A) It ignores macro-level social structure.
B) It focuses only on latent functions.
C) It focuses too much on face-to-face interactions.
D) It ignores inequality that can generate tension and conflict.

Question 47

If we state that children raised in single-parent families are at high risk of being single parents themselves, we have constructed a __________ of family life.

A) framework
B) principle
C) concept
D) theory

Question 48

Herbert Spencer described human society as having much in common with

A) the human body.
B) the solar system.
C) the human brain.
D) animal societies.

Question 49

In deciding what questions to ask as they begin research, sociologists are guided by

A) one or more theoretical approaches.
B) their own common sense.
C) the data they collect.
D) sheer chance.

Question 50

Which of the following concepts refers to relatively stable patterns of social behavior?

A) social functions
B) social dynamics
C) social structures
D) social dysfunctions

Question 51

Which of the following phrases best describes the focus of the structural-functional approach?

A) the meaning people attach to their action
B) the impact of social structure and resulting social functions
C) patterns of social inequality
D) the way people understand their world

Question 52

Two of sociology's early founders were

A) Emile Durkheim and Erving Goffman.
B) Auguste Comte and C. Wright Mills.
C) Karl Marx and Robert Merton.
D) Auguste Comte and Karl Marx.

Question 53

Social structures sometimes have negative consequences for the operation of society. What concept refers to these negative consequences?

A) eufunctions
B) social dysfunctions
C) manifest functions
D) latent functions

Question 54

Which theoretical approach is closest to that taken by early sociologists Auguste Comte and Emile Durkheim?

A) social exchange approach
B) social-conflict approach
C) symbolic-interaction approach
D) structural-functional approach

Question 55

Unrecognized and unintended consequences of the social structure are called

A) eufunctions.
B) dysfunctions.
C) manifest functions.
D) latent functions.

Question 56

The recognized and intended consequences of a social pattern are referred to as

A) manifest functions.
B) latent functions.
C) eufunctions.
D) dysfunctions.

Question 57

Identify the three sociologists below who played a part in the development of sociology's structural- functional approach.

A) Harriet Martineau, Robert Merton, W. E. B. Du Bois
B) Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Auguste Comte
C) Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim
D) Auguste Comte, Karl Marx, W. E. B. Du Bois

Question 58

By linking specific facts together to give us meaning, we create a

A) theory.
B) concept.
C) principle.
D) structure.

Question 59

Which early sociologist made a mark for herself by studying the evils of slavery, advocating for the protection of workers, and translating the writings of Auguste Comte?

A) Jane Addams
B) Harriet Martineau
C) Elizabeth Cady Stanton
D) Margaret Mead

Question 60

Who was the U.S. sociologist who expanded the understanding of social functions by discussing the differences between the manifest functions and the latent functions of social patterns?

A) C. Wright Mills
B) William Graham Sumner
C) Talcott Parsons
D) Robert K. Merton

Question 61

Which pioneering sociologist founded Chicago's Hull House to assist immigrants and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?

A) Dorothea Dix
B) Jane Addams
C) Elizabeth Cady Stanton
D) Harriet Martineau

Question 62

Which of the following is the best example of a manifest function of sports?

A) teaching a society's way of life
B) fostering social relationships
C) creating jobs
D) providing people with recreation and physical conditioning

Question 63

Which theoretical approach highlights the fact that it is not so much what people do that matters as much as the meaning they attach to their behavior?

A) structural-functional approach
B) symbolic-interaction approach
C) social-conflict approach
D) social-exchange approach

Question 64

Which early U.S. sociologist earned the first doctorate ever awarded by Harvard University to a person of color?

A) Jane Addams
B) W. E. B. Du Bois
C) Harriet Martineau
D) William Graham Sumner

Question 65

Building social relationships would be a __________ of sports.

A) dysfunction
B) counter-function
C) latent function
D) manifest function

Question 66

Which of the following theoretical approaches paints societies in broad strokes at a macro-level?

A) both the social-conflict and symbolic-interaction approaches
B) both the structural-functional and symbolic-interaction approaches
C) both the structural-functional and social-conflict approaches
D) only the symbolic-interaction approach

Question 67

The social-conflict approach draws attention to

A) how elements contribute to the overall operation of society.
B) how people construct meaning through interaction.
C) patterns of social inequality.
D) the stable aspects of society.

Question 68

Which of the following topics illustrates a micro-level focus?

A) class inequality in the armed forces
B) two students in a college classroom getting to know one another
C) patterns of global stratification
D) the operation of the U.S. government

Question 69

For Karl Marx, the point of studying society was

A) to compare U.S. society to others.
B) to change it and reduce inequality.
C) to encourage support for tradition.
D) to understand how it really operates.

Question 70

The social-conflict approach is sometimes criticized for

A) ignoring how shared values can unify society.
B) focusing on values shared by everyone in society.
C) promoting the status quo.
D) favoring objectivity over change.

Question 71

The social-conflict approach might lead a sociologist to highlight

A) how people present themselves to others at school
B) how schooling prepares people for jobs.
C) the meanings people attach to schooling.
D) income differences among young people in high school.

Question 72

A criticism of the symbolic-interaction approach is that it

A) overlooks the wide spread influence of culture and structural factors..
B) focuses all its attention on major social institutions.
C) paints a too rosy picture of society.
D) focuses only on conflict and not common values and beliefs.

Question 73

Which of the following is a social-conflict approach that deals with inequality between women and men?

A) feminism and the gender-conflict approach
B) the race-conflict approach
C) the structural-functional approach
D) the symbolic-interaction approach

Question 74

Which early sociologist claimed that his goal was not to simply understand society but to change it?

A) Herbert Spencer
B) Talcott Parsons
C) Emile Durkheim
D) Karl Marx

Question 75

Looking at the operation of U.S. schools, the social-conflict approach might lead a sociologist to conclude that

A) society provides much better schooling to some categories of students than to others.
B) the experience of schooling differs from child to child.
C) schools have been a major path to social advancement.
D) the functions of schools is to teach needed skills.

Question 76

The basic idea of the symbolic-interaction approach is that society is

A) the reality people construct as they interact with one another
B) an arena of conflict between categories of people.
C) a system that operates to benefit people.
D) a collection of structures that operate together in an orderly way.

Question 77

Which of the following can correctly be called the "framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change"?

A) the structural-functional approach
B) the symbolic-interaction approach
C) the social-conflict approach
D) dramaturgical analysis

Question 78

Which of the following people had an important influence on the development of the social-conflict approach?

A) Talcott Parsons
B) Karl Marx
C) Emile Durkheim
D) Herbert Spencer

Question 79

Which founding sociologist emphasized the importance of understanding a social setting from the point of view of the people in it?

A) Max Weber
B) Emile Durkheim
C) Auguste Comte
D) Karl Marx

Question 80

Which of the following questions summarizes the focus of the symbolic-interaction approach?

A) How are the parts of society linked together?
B) How do individual people experience society?
C) How does society divide a population?
D) How do some people protect their privileges?