Deck 2: Examining the Social World: How Do We Know

Question 1

Which of the following steps is not a part of the study of the sociological world?

A) Deciding how to collect the data
B) Drawing conclusions and suggesting future research
C) Using statistical models to understand behavior
D) Isolating a problem to be examined

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Determining exactly how to measure concepts is known as:

A) Controlling for spurious variables
B) Designing key concepts
C) Correlation
D) Operationalization

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A spurious relationship occurs between two variables when:

A) There is no correlation.
B) There is a causal relationship.
C) The two variables are statistically correlated but not causally related.
D) Two or more variables are found to be unrelated.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The first person to propose that the scientific method could be applied to the study of social life was:

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

Question 5

Prior to the 19th century, the primary influence on the way people viewed the world was based on:

A) History
B) Religion
C) The arts
D) The natural sciences

Question 6

Richard is researching the way that religious differences have led to conflicts among Iraqi Muslims. His research focuses on:

A) Social statics
B) Social dynamics
C) Social elements
D) Socialization

Question 7

Concepts or ideas that vary in frequency or occurrence across people, times, or places are known as:

A) Spurious factors
B) Key concepts
C) Correlatives
D) Variables

Question 8

All of the following led to the rise of sociology except:

A) The French Revolution
B) European imperialism
C) Advances in the natural sciences
D) Widespread deaths in Europe from the Bubonic plague

Question 9

Alexa and Eduardo want to do a sociological study of working mothers in Brazil. Alexa wants to begin with some general theories about working moms in Brazil and then make hypotheses based on those theories. Eduardo prefers to collect data first by interviewing a representative sample of working Brazilian mothers and then formulate a theory to explain their findings. In this example, Alexa prefers to use _________, while Eduardo would rather use __________.

A) inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning
B) deducting reasoning, inductive reasoning
C) planning techniques, conceptual techniques
D) conceptual techniques, planning techniques

Question 10

The scientific approach is based on all of the following assumptions except:

A) Research is valid only if it disproves the researcher's initial assumptions.
B) There is a real physical and social world that can be studied scientifically.
C) Empirical tests help gain knowledge of the world.
D) Scientific knowledge must be based on measurable phenomena.

Question 11

Statements regarding why and how facts relate to each other and the connection between those facts are known as:

A) Hypotheses
B) Empirical knowledge
C) Theories
D) Levels of analysis

Question 12

Allison is a sociologist who feels very strongly that every child should be given equal opportunities for a quality high school education because it is crucial for the child's future. However, after studying the topic scientifically, she discovers that the quality of a child's high school education plays no role whatsoever in the future of that child. What should she, as a scientist, do based on the rules of objectivity and ethical behavior?

A) Never tell anyone about her original findings.
B) Share her findings with the public but change them first so they support her own viewpoint.
C) Release her findings as they are, even though they are not consistent with her personal views.
D) None of the above

Question 13

Studies that take place under laboratory conditions are:

A) Survey methods
B) Field studies
C) Controlled experiments
D) Secondary analyses

Question 14

Educated guesses based on theories but not yet scientifically tested are known as:

A) Hypotheses
B) Levels of analysis
C) Empirical knowledge
D) Micro-level theories

Question 15

Sara wants to study political protests in Russia by traveling to Moscow and joining one of the student protest groups. She would be using:

A) Participant observation
B) Nonparticipant observation
C) Secondary analysis
D) Content analysis

Question 16

Ethnography is a form of:

A) Survey research
B) Field study research
C) Controlled experimental research
D) Secondary analysis

Question 17

Tom is studying how changes in income affect the frequency of eating out. In this example, "changes in income" is the ________________ variable and "frequency of eating out" is the _________________ variable.

A) spurious, control
B) control, spurious
C) independent, dependent
D) dependent, independent

Question 18

The discrimination and oppression that people face because of their race, class, and gender is referred to as:

A) Cultural prejudice
B) Intersectionality
C) Hidden racism
D) Overt ethnocentrism

Question 19

According to the text, the Industrial Revolution led, in part, to the rise of sociology because:

A) No one could explain why the old social structure was suddenly collapsing.
B) Karl Marx began arguing against the "have-nots."
C) The advent of mechanized labor made people less likely to rely on religion as a source of knowledge.
D) Those who had once been farmers had to pursue the social sciences when they found themselves out of work.

Question 20

The statement "People who have more than 12 years of education and who own a personal computer are more likely to use online dating services than those who have less than 12 years of education and who do not own a personal computer" is a:

A) Hypothesis
B) Theory
C) Empirical test
D) Method

Question 21

Sociology has its modern roots in the ideas of 13th-century social, political, and religious philosophers.

Question 22

One critique of symbolic interaction theory is that it:

A) Neglects the micro level
B) Neglects the macro level
C) Neglects the meso level
D) Cannot easily explain "the human problem"

Question 23

The primary difference between Karl Marx and W.E.B. Du Bois is that:

A) Marx argued for social improvement while Du Bois did not.
B) Marx was college educated but Du Bois was not.
C) Marx saw conflict in his society as between the "haves" and the "have-nots" while Du Bois saw conflict in his society as based on race, not class.
D) Marx argued that religion was the main source of conflict in his society while Du Bois saw religion as the primary solution for reducing inequality.

Question 24

Which of the following theories can be used with all three levels of analysis?

A) Conflict theory
B) Feminist theory
C) Structural-functional theory
D) World systems theory

Question 25

Critical sociology was the focus of Émile Durkheim's work.

Question 26

Inductive reasoning tests a theory by using scientific research methods to obtain relevant facts.

Question 27

How did Ralf Dahrendorf explain why Karl Marx's predictions never came true?

A) Marx placed too much emphasis on the role of interest groups in society.
B) Marx should have used survey methods in his research rather than observation.
C) The rise in capitalism led to a system with unequal distribution of wealth based on the ownership of land.
D) A change in working conditions led to the rise of the middle class.

Question 28

One critique that structural functionalism and conflict theory share is that they:

A) Neglect the micro level
B) Neglect the macro level
C) Ignore stability in society
D) Ignore turmoil in society

Question 29

Symbolic interaction theory states:

A) People create shared meanings and interact based on those meanings.
B) People are social to survive and produce offspring.
C) Interaction breeds conflict, and conflict underlies all social relations.
D) Those with power express their will over those without power.

Question 30

A manifest function of college is:

A) Helping educated young adults meet similarly educated prospective marriage partners
B) Increasing binge drinking and alcohol related deaths
C) Bettering society by educating young people
D) None of the above

Question 31

Theories are statements of how two or more facts relate to each other.

Question 32

Pam wants to study the impact of war on soldiers. She plans to observe therapy groups for soldiers who have posttraumatic stress disorder and to take a representative survey of returning soldiers. Pam's proposed research method can best be described as:

A) Secondary analysis
B) Fieldwork
C) Ethnography
D) Triangulation

Question 33

Adam wants to study why men choose to go into nursing careers. He theorizes that men are heavily recruited into nursing because their physical strength and presence in hospitals benefits both patients and other hospital staff. Which theoretical perspective is Adam using?

A) Symbolic interactionism
B) Rational choice theory
C) Structural functionalism
D) Conflict theory

Question 34

It is the day before the first sociology exam. Mark, a first-year college student, chose to play games on Facebook until 2:00
A) Mark's roommate scored higher on the video game and Mark needed to beat him to save face.

A)m. instead of studying for the exam. According to rational choice theory, why did Mark play Facebook games?
B) Mark found playing video games more rewarding than studying.
C) Mark has a problem of being obsessed by video games.
D) Mark has learned through his interactions that playing video games relaxes him before exams.

Question 35

A latent function of college is:

A) Training young adults
B) Increasing binge drinking and alcohol related deaths
C) Bettering society by educating young people
D) Producing new knowledge through research and scholarship

Question 36

Mike wants to study why men choose to go into nursing careers. He theorizes that these men decided that the benefits of nursing (good pay and numerous career options) outweigh the costs (working long hours and dealing with bodily fluids). Which theoretical perspective is Mike using?

A) Symbolic interactionism
B) Rational choice theory
C) Conflict theory
D) Structural functionalism

Question 37

The titles Karl Marx used to describe the two classes in society were the ________ and the ________.

A) nobles, peasants
B) bourgeoisie, proletariat
C) upper class, lower class
D) civilized, barbarians

Question 38

Henri Saint-Simon officially coined the term "sociology" in 1838.

Question 39

Conflict theory states:

A) Conflict is inevitable in society.
B) Social change is desirable.
C) The strong exert their values over the weak.
D) All of the above

Question 40

The structural-functional perspective states:

A) Each major part of society serves a role.
B) A person's choices determine the individual's place within the social structure.
C) Those with power exert their will over those without power.
D) Social status is in the eye of the beholder.

Question 41

According to the principles of symbolic interactionism, symbols not only allow relationships to exist, they also allow society to exist.

Question 42

Structural-functional theory traces its roots to the French Revolution.

Question 43

According to conflict theorists, symbolic communication helps people construct a meaningful world.

Question 44

Secondary analysis uses existing data already collected in other studies.

Question 45

According to Merton, dysfunctions are the planned outcomes of social organizations and institutions.

Question 46

Rational choice theory involves individuals making decisions based on symbols in their environments.

Question 47

From the conflict perspective, social change is desirable.

Question 48

A central premise of micro-level rational choice theory is that human behavior involves choices.

Question 49

Macro-level theories would consider questions related to U.S.-Chilean policies.

Question 50

Research methods work in tandem with sociological theories.

Question 51

According to the text, codes of ethics answer all ethical dilemmas that arise during the research process.

Question 52

Micro-level analysis considers the larger social context-national and global-within which a number of single social units reside.

Question 53

Systematic observation is central in field studies.

Question 54

The first step of the scientific method is to define a topic or problem that can be studied scientifically.

Question 55

Meso-level analysis focuses on institutions, large organizations, and ethnic communities.

Question 56

A correlation occurs when there is no causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Question 57

According to the text, content analysis is unobtrusive, meaning the research does not influence the investigated subject by having direct contact.

Question 58

George Herbert Mead is prominently identified with the symbolic interaction perspective.

Question 59

Auguste Comte and Karl Marx are prominently identified with structural-functional theory.

Question 60

Functional theory assumes that all parts of the social world work together to make the whole society run smoothly and harmoniously.

Question 61

Max Weber's concept of verstehen refers to deep understanding.

Question 62

Why is sociology a science? Provide one example of a sociological research question and how it is approached and studied scientifically.

Question 63

In an experiment, what is the difference between the experimental group and the control group? Provide an example.

Question 64

While Weber focused on economic conditions, Marx argued that politics, economics, and religion help explain the social world.

Question 65

According to the text, symbolic interaction theory is a macro-level theory.

Question 66

Explain the statement, "Every research study should be replicable." Provide an example of what a researcher would do to replicate a study.

Question 67

According to Max Weber, what is verstehen?

Question 68

Much of feminist theory has foundations in the functionalist perspective.

Question 69

Compare and contrast social statics and social dynamics. Provide one example of each.

Question 70

Feminist theory focuses exclusively on micro-level processes.

Question 71

Quasi-groups include individuals who have similar social positions and interests but do not belong to an organized group.

Question 72

According to Marx, the proletariat owned the means of production.

Question 73

Compare and contrast deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning. Provide examples.

Question 74

Explain how a theory differs from a hypothesis and discuss how the two are related. Provide an example.

Question 75

Explain the statement, "Science is rooted in objectivity." Include the ways sociologists can ensure that they are being as objective as possible.

Question 76

Modern conflict theory has its origins in the works of Karl Marx.

Question 77

According to the text, conflict theory is a macro-level theory.

Question 78

Describe and define what sociologists mean by operationalizing variables. Provide an example.

Question 79

Compare and contrast manifest and latent functions. Provide examples of each.

Question 80

How did Max Weber explain the emergence of the "spirit of capitalism"?