Question 1

Based on the measures used in the text, which of the following is the most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The United States is the only country to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. 
B)  The United States was among the worst countries in the rate teenage births. 
C)  Japan has the highest rate of incarceration. 
D)  Children have it better in the United States than in any other country in the world. 
A)  The United States is the only country to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. 
B)  The United States was among the worst countries in the rate teenage births. 
C)  Japan has the highest rate of incarceration. 
D)  Children have it better in the United States than in any other country in the world. B

Question 2

A __________ is a set of ideas that explains a range of human behavior and a variety of social and societal events.

Accepted Answer

sociological theory

Question 3

Discuss the dangers of relying solely on the person-blame approach in explaining social problems.
Ideal

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should include the following:
1. Define the person-blame approach to studying social problems.
2. Outline how the person-blame approach protects the established order against criticism.
3. Describe what is troublesome about the social control function of the person-blame approach. Give specific examples.
4. Describe how the person-blame approach defines the degree of control individuals have over their fate. Give examples of how this may be problematic.
5. Conclude with an argument against using the person-blame approach. Give specific examples of how the approach has failed in the past.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is accurate about sociologists doing research on social problems?

Accepted Answer

A)  Personal values of the researcher do not affect his/her research. 
B)  Sociologists agree on a liberal agenda that sides with the disadvantaged. 
C)  The study of social problems cannot be value free. 
D)  Sociologists largely promote an agenda that maintains the existing social order. 
A)  Personal values of the researcher do not affect his/her research. 
B)  Sociologists agree on a liberal agenda that sides with the disadvantaged. 
C)  The study of social problems cannot be value free. 
D)  Sociologists largely promote an agenda that maintains the existing social order.

Question 5

In experimental research, who is the "control" group?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are the researchers who conduct the study. 
B)  They are subjects who are exposed to the independent variable. 
C)  They are subjects not exposed to the independent variable. 
D)  They are subjects who are aware of the experimental manipulation. 
A)  They are the researchers who conduct the study. 
B)  They are subjects who are exposed to the independent variable. 
C)  They are subjects not exposed to the independent variable. 
D)  They are subjects who are aware of the experimental manipulation.

Question 6

The system-blame orientation would attribute students' failure in schools to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  being born with limited intellectual capacities 
B)  the failure of the students to work hard to succeed 
C)  the failure of the educational system to meet their needs 
D)  the failure of their parents to provide proper guidance 
A)  being born with limited intellectual capacities 
B)  the failure of the students to work hard to succeed 
C)  the failure of the educational system to meet their needs 
D)  the failure of their parents to provide proper guidance

Question 7

The __________ assumes a child fails in school because the school setting was inappropriate for the child.

Accepted Answer

system-bla

Question 8

According to the system-blame approach, many ex-convicts can be seen as victims in that __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  they were born deviant 
B)  they have to spend time in prison for their crimes 
C)  they do not have the skills and resources to survive without resorting to crime 
D)  they are required to spend a year in school after getting released from prison 
A)  they were born deviant 
B)  they have to spend time in prison for their crimes 
C)  they do not have the skills and resources to survive without resorting to crime 
D)  they are required to spend a year in school after getting released from prison

Question 9

Relying solely on a person-blame approach to social problems is the best way to bring about significant social changes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Sociology is distinct from other disciplines in its approach to understanding norm violations as __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  defined by the least powerful members of society 
B)  culturally defined and socially labeled 
C)  an inherent property of deviant individuals 
D)  universally agreed upon 
A)  defined by the least powerful members of society 
B)  culturally defined and socially labeled 
C)  an inherent property of deviant individuals 
D)  universally agreed upon

Question 11

The authors assert that exclusively focusing on the individual when studying social problems __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  overlooks deviations from society's norms as potential problems 
B)  takes an overly deterministic view of social problems 
C)  ignores the strains that are caused by the inequities of the system 
D)  treats social problems as being the product of systematic inequity 
A)  overlooks deviations from society's norms as potential problems 
B)  takes an overly deterministic view of social problems 
C)  ignores the strains that are caused by the inequities of the system 
D)  treats social problems as being the product of systematic inequity

Question 12

By referring to the subjective nature of social problems, sociologists have more recently come to acknowledge that what is defined as a social problem is basically the same across audiences and time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The objective reality of social problems is demonstrated by the fact that some social conditions, which can be identified as such in any given place or time, induce material and psychic suffering for entire segments of the population.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Asserting that "the poor are poor because the institutions around them set them up to fail" might be said by a __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  social Darwinist 
B)  system blamer 
C)  person who focuses on norm violators 
D)  victim blamer 
A)  social Darwinist 
B)  system blamer 
C)  person who focuses on norm violators 
D)  victim blamer

Question 15

A __________ is a representative part of a population that sociologists use to answer sociological questions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A __________ is a representative part of...

Question 16

Relying too heavily on a person-blame approach to social problems is a problem because __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  it legitimizes the right to initiate system-change rather than person-change 
B)  societal conditions (such as norms that are racist, sexist, or homophobic) go unchallenged 
C)  it directs blame at the system and away from the individuals 
D)  it absolves individuals from responsibility for their actions 
A)  it legitimizes the right to initiate system-change rather than person-change 
B)  societal conditions (such as norms that are racist, sexist, or homophobic) go unchallenged 
C)  it directs blame at the system and away from the individuals 
D)  it absolves individuals from responsibility for their actions

Question 17

Illustrate how the system-blame approach understands the role of individual responsibility.

Accepted Answer

The system-blame approach understands th

Question 18

Half of the people in the world live on less than __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  $0.25 a day 
B)  $0.50 a day 
C)  $1 a day 
D)  $2 a day 
A)  $0.25 a day 
B)  $0.50 a day 
C)  $1 a day 
D)  $2 a day

Question 19

According to C. Wright Mills, what is the relationship between private troubles and public issues? Give an example of each.

Accepted Answer

C. Wright Mills, a sociologist, argued t

Question 20

William J. Wilson argues that the ghetto poor endure because of the disappearance of low-skill jobs in the past 30 years or so. Discuss how this view differs from the explanation that might be offered by William Graham Sumner.
Ideal

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should include the foll

Based on the measures used in the text, which of the following is the most accurate?

A __________ is a set of ideas that explains a range of human behavior and a variety of social and societal events.

Discuss the dangers of relying solely on the person-blame approach in explaining social problems. Ideal

Which of the following statements is accurate about sociologists doing research on social problems?

In experimental research, who is the "control" group?

The system-blame orientation would attribute students' failure in schools to __________.

The __________ assumes a child fails in school because the school setting was inappropriate for the child.

According to the system-blame approach, many ex-convicts can be seen as victims in that __________.

Relying solely on a person-blame approach to social problems is the best way to bring about significant social changes.

Sociology is distinct from other disciplines in its approach to understanding norm violations as __________.

The authors assert that exclusively focusing on the individual when studying social problems __________.

By referring to the subjective nature of social problems, sociologists have more recently come to acknowledge that what is defined as a social problem is basically the same across audiences and time.

The objective reality of social problems is demonstrated by the fact that some social conditions, which can be identified as such in any given place or time, induce material and psychic suffering for entire segments of the population.

Asserting that "the poor are poor because the institutions around them set them up to fail" might be said by a __________.

A __________ is a representative part of a population that sociologists use to answer sociological questions.

Relying too heavily on a person-blame approach to social problems is a problem because __________.

Illustrate how the system-blame approach understands the role of individual responsibility.

Half of the people in the world live on less than __________.

According to C. Wright Mills, what is the relationship between private troubles and public issues? Give an example of each.

William J. Wilson argues that the ghetto poor endure because of the disappearance of low-skill jobs in the past 30 years or so. Discuss how this view differs from the explanation that might be offered by William Graham Sumner. Ideal

Wealth and Power: the Bias of the System

World Population and Global Inequality

Demographic Changes in the United States: the Browning and Graying of Society

Problems of Place: Urban, Suburban, and Rural

Threats to the Environment

Poverty

Racial and Ethnic Inequality

Gender Inequality

Disability and Ableism

Crime and Justice

Drugs

The Economy and Work

Families

Education

The Health Care System

National Security in the Twenty-First Century

Progressive Plan to Solve Social Problems

Filters

Exam 1: The Sociological Approach to Social Problems

Based on the measures used in the text, which of the following is the most accurate?

A __________ is a set of ideas that explains a range of human behavior and a variety of social and societal events.

Discuss the dangers of relying solely on the person-blame approach in explaining social problems. Ideal

Which of the following statements is accurate about sociologists doing research on social problems?

In experimental research, who is the "control" group?

The system-blame orientation would attribute students' failure in schools to __________.

The __________ assumes a child fails in school because the school setting was inappropriate for the child.

According to the system-blame approach, many ex-convicts can be seen as victims in that __________.

Relying solely on a person-blame approach to social problems is the best way to bring about significant social changes.

Sociology is distinct from other disciplines in its approach to understanding norm violations as __________.

The authors assert that exclusively focusing on the individual when studying social problems __________.

By referring to the subjective nature of social problems, sociologists have more recently come to acknowledge that what is defined as a social problem is basically the same across audiences and time.

The objective reality of social problems is demonstrated by the fact that some social conditions, which can be identified as such in any given place or time, induce material and psychic suffering for entire segments of the population.

Asserting that "the poor are poor because the institutions around them set them up to fail" might be said by a __________.

A __________ is a representative part of a population that sociologists use to answer sociological questions.

Relying too heavily on a person-blame approach to social problems is a problem because __________.

Illustrate how the system-blame approach understands the role of individual responsibility.

Half of the people in the world live on less than __________.

According to C. Wright Mills, what is the relationship between private troubles and public issues? Give an example of each.

William J. Wilson argues that the ghetto poor endure because of the disappearance of low-skill jobs in the past 30 years or so. Discuss how this view differs from the explanation that might be offered by William Graham Sumner. Ideal

Wealth and Power: the Bias of the System

World Population and Global Inequality

Demographic Changes in the United States: the Browning and Graying of Society

Problems of Place: Urban, Suburban, and Rural

Threats to the Environment

Poverty

Racial and Ethnic Inequality

Gender Inequality

Disability and Ableism

Crime and Justice

Drugs

The Economy and Work

Families

Education

The Health Care System

National Security in the Twenty-First Century

Progressive Plan to Solve Social Problems

Filters