Exam 1: The Sociological Perspective

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

The social science discipline that concentrates on the study of artifacts, social structure, ideas, values, and forms of communication is ________.

Herbert Spencer believed the most capable and intelligent members of a society would survive while the weak and "less fit" would die, thus improving society, in a master plan that he called "survival of the fittest."

What term is used by sociologists to refer to what people do when they are in one another's presence?

The book published by W. E. B. Du Bois in 1899 that analyzed how African Americans in a major United States city coped with racism was ________.

How people interpret their situation in life, how they view what they are doing, and how they perceive what is happening to them, is referred to as their objective meaning of life.

Describe the major differences between basic (pure) sociology and applied sociology.

Sociologists who use the functionalist perspective stress how industrialization and urbanization have undermined the traditional functions of the family.

Summarize the main points of Karl Marx's theory of class conflict.

The Wall Street Journal has declared that the three greatest modern thinkers were ________, ________, and ________.

Karl Marx suggested that the force that drives human history and is at the core of human society is ________.

During his career, Anthony has worked as a juvenile police officer, corrections counselor in a state prison, and executive director of an urban redevelopment program. In view of this, which description best describes Anthony's career path?

Despite her acclaimed research on social life, until recently Harriet Martineau was best known for translating Comte's works on sociology into English.

The first goal of any scientific discipline is to discover the pattern, or reoccurring characteristics, of the phenomena under study.

According to the Wall Street Journal, who were the three greatest modern thinkers?

Functionalists refer to how parts of a society fit together to form a whole as ________.

Explain the development of social Darwinism, as well as the differences between this concept and the philosophical ideals held by most sociologists.

In the early 20th century, the University of Chicago dominated the field of sociology.

Because of their training and expertise, sociologists often stress their personal values in their research.

Which sociological perspectives are best to use in developing an accurate understanding of society?