Question 1

How do sociologists study the way in which people, as part of groups, organize their lives and social interactions to produce a real and meaningful world?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are interested in all aspects of human psychology. 
B)  People organize their lives in patterned ways. 
C)  Sociology understands the importance of human psychology. 
D)  We often assign characteristics to an entire group based on experience with a single group member. 
A)  They are interested in all aspects of human psychology. 
B)  People organize their lives in patterned ways. 
C)  Sociology understands the importance of human psychology. 
D)  We often assign characteristics to an entire group based on experience with a single group member.

Question 2

Which of the following theories focuses on how our behaviors are dependent on the ways we interpret, make sense of, and define ourselves, others, and social situations?

Accepted Answer

A)  conflict theory 
B)  symbolic interactionism 
C)  pragmatism 
D)  structural functionalism 
A)  conflict theory 
B)  symbolic interactionism 
C)  pragmatism 
D)  structural functionalism

Question 3

Symbolic interactionism analyzes social phenomena at the macro level, while structural functionalism and conflict theory analyses are at the micro level.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

There is a close relationship between sociology and the other social sciences. Why does sociology still exist as a separate discipline given how much overlap there is between these fields?

Accepted Answer

A)  All the other social sciences are more specialized, but sociology is a field that considers a huge intellectual territory. 
B)  Sociology does not use historical context, which other social sciences do. 
C)  Sociology departments are an academic tradition and would be difficult to disband. 
D)  Political science and economics are more politically conservative, and sociology provides a liberal counterbalance. 
A)  All the other social sciences are more specialized, but sociology is a field that considers a huge intellectual territory. 
B)  Sociology does not use historical context, which other social sciences do. 
C)  Sociology departments are an academic tradition and would be difficult to disband. 
D)  Political science and economics are more politically conservative, and sociology provides a liberal counterbalance.

Question 5

Karl Marx believed the lower classes, in order to end their oppression, needed to develop

Accepted Answer

A)  a critical theory of gender. 
B)  a stronger sense of verstehen. 
C)  class consciousness. 
D)  false consciousness. 
A)  a critical theory of gender. 
B)  a stronger sense of verstehen. 
C)  class consciousness. 
D)  false consciousness.

Question 6

In his Theses on Feuerbach, Karl Marx argued that "the philosophers have only interpreted the world; the point is to change it." What Marxist principle is defined by this quote?

Accepted Answer

A)  verstehen 
B)  rationalization 
C)  praxis 
D)  conflict 
A)  verstehen 
B)  rationalization 
C)  praxis 
D)  conflict

Question 7

What historical events convinced Auguste Comte that society needed to be guided by thinkers who understood social laws?

Accepted Answer

A)  the American Civil War and the battle over slavery 
B)  globalization and the rise of international trade and commerce 
C)  the French Revolution and the instability that followed it 
D)  the age of exploration and the expansion of European powers into Africa 
A)  the American Civil War and the battle over slavery 
B)  globalization and the rise of international trade and commerce 
C)  the French Revolution and the instability that followed it 
D)  the age of exploration and the expansion of European powers into Africa

Question 8

According to Marx, the primary tool for the oppression of the lower social classes in modern society is

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing power of the police state. 
B)  religious authorities. 
C)  aristocracy. 
D)  industrial capitalism. 
A)  increasing power of the police state. 
B)  religious authorities. 
C)  aristocracy. 
D)  industrial capitalism.

Question 9

Structural functionalist theory is concerned with the ways in which structures contribute to the stability of society. What is a structure?

Accepted Answer

A)  a social institution that is stable over time and helps meet the needs of society 
B)  any aspect of society that generates conflict or change 
C)  a class hierarchy 
D)  an informal agreement between people over a wide geographical area 
A)  a social institution that is stable over time and helps meet the needs of society 
B)  any aspect of society that generates conflict or change 
C)  a class hierarchy 
D)  an informal agreement between people over a wide geographical area

Question 10

Describe the three main theoretical perspectives of macrosociology, and name at least one theorist for each perspective.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory, which emphasizes social

Question 11

What is one of the weaknesses of being an everyday actor when it comes to understanding everyday life?

Accepted Answer

A)  being forced to see everything from the perspective of a stranger 
B)  struggling to grasp even simple, common occurrences 
C)  only seeing things from a historical perspective 
D)  making assumptions and failing to investigate or verify those assumptions 
A)  being forced to see everything from the perspective of a stranger 
B)  struggling to grasp even simple, common occurrences 
C)  only seeing things from a historical perspective 
D)  making assumptions and failing to investigate or verify those assumptions

Question 12

Durkheim theorized that the rapidly changing conditions of modern life lead to anomie. What is anomie?

Accepted Answer

A)  normlessness or a loss of connections to the social world 
B)  anger and disillusionment with progress 
C)  the transfer of destructive urges to socially useful activities 
D)  a kind of social solidarity based on interdependence 
A)  normlessness or a loss of connections to the social world 
B)  anger and disillusionment with progress 
C)  the transfer of destructive urges to socially useful activities 
D)  a kind of social solidarity based on interdependence

Question 13

What is the relationship between the self and society according to symbolic interactionism?

Accepted Answer

A)  The development of a sense of self is guided by society. 
B)  The self is shaped by society, but society is also shaped by the self. 
C)  Both the self and society are created by the course of history. 
D)  Both the self and society are shaped by larger external forces. 
A)  The development of a sense of self is guided by society. 
B)  The self is shaped by society, but society is also shaped by the self. 
C)  Both the self and society are created by the course of history. 
D)  Both the self and society are shaped by larger external forces.

Question 14

Which level of analysis and theoretical perspective would be best for a sociologist interested in studying your sociology class?

Accepted Answer

Microsociology would be most appropriate

Question 15

What is a sociologist's theoretical perspective if they argue that we have seen the "dissolution of master narratives or metanarratives"?

Accepted Answer

A)  feminist theory 
B)  conflict theory 
C)  structural functionalism 
D)  postmodernism 
A)  feminist theory 
B)  conflict theory 
C)  structural functionalism 
D)  postmodernism

Question 16

Which of the following is a latent function of the U.S. educational system?

Accepted Answer

A)  teaching reading and writing 
B)  keeping children out of trouble while parents are at work 
C)  preparing a modern workforce to use technology 
D)  teaching new immigrants about American values and history 
A)  teaching reading and writing 
B)  keeping children out of trouble while parents are at work 
C)  preparing a modern workforce to use technology 
D)  teaching new immigrants about American values and history

Question 17

Symbolic interactionism argues that people act toward things on the basis of their meaning. According to this perspective, how does meaning arise?

Accepted Answer

A)  Meaning is inherent in objects and actions. 
B)  Meaning is learned through the study of philosophy and history. 
C)  Meaning is negotiated through interaction with others. 
D)  Meaning is learned through the study of science and nature. 
A)  Meaning is inherent in objects and actions. 
B)  Meaning is learned through the study of philosophy and history. 
C)  Meaning is negotiated through interaction with others. 
D)  Meaning is learned through the study of science and nature.

Question 18

How was Harriet Martineau similar to W.E.B. DuBois?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both made careers of studying race and racism. 
B)  Both were from the American South. 
C)  Both saw symbolic interactionism as the most promising aspect of social theory. 
D)  Both were intrigued by America's democratic promise, but disappointed in its hypocritical injustices. 
A)  Both made careers of studying race and racism. 
B)  Both were from the American South. 
C)  Both saw symbolic interactionism as the most promising aspect of social theory. 
D)  Both were intrigued by America's democratic promise, but disappointed in its hypocritical injustices.

Question 19

A sociologist's responsibility is to question everything the everyday person would take for granted.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Why is it beneficial for sociologists to experience culture shock?

Accepted Answer

A)  It makes us unable to function even in simple, everyday ways. 
B)  It requires us to travel, which helps us grow as human beings. 
C)  It shows us that people in foreign cultures have a way of life that seems strange to us. 
D)  It makes us realize we lack an understanding of our surroundings so we can perceive what is right in front of us. 
A)  It makes us unable to function even in simple, everyday ways. 
B)  It requires us to travel, which helps us grow as human beings. 
C)  It shows us that people in foreign cultures have a way of life that seems strange to us. 
D)  It makes us realize we lack an understanding of our surroundings so we can perceive what is right in front of us.

How do sociologists study the way in which people, as part of groups, organize their lives and social interactions to produce a real and meaningful world?

Which of the following theories focuses on how our behaviors are dependent on the ways we interpret, make sense of, and define ourselves, others, and social situations?

Symbolic interactionism analyzes social phenomena at the macro level, while structural functionalism and conflict theory analyses are at the micro level.

There is a close relationship between sociology and the other social sciences. Why does sociology still exist as a separate discipline given how much overlap there is between these fields?

Karl Marx believed the lower classes, in order to end their oppression, needed to develop

In his Theses on Feuerbach, Karl Marx argued that "the philosophers have only interpreted the world; the point is to change it." What Marxist principle is defined by this quote?

What historical events convinced Auguste Comte that society needed to be guided by thinkers who understood social laws?

According to Marx, the primary tool for the oppression of the lower social classes in modern society is

Structural functionalist theory is concerned with the ways in which structures contribute to the stability of society. What is a structure?

Describe the three main theoretical perspectives of macrosociology, and name at least one theorist for each perspective.

What is one of the weaknesses of being an everyday actor when it comes to understanding everyday life?

Durkheim theorized that the rapidly changing conditions of modern life lead to anomie. What is anomie?

What is the relationship between the self and society according to symbolic interactionism?

Which level of analysis and theoretical perspective would be best for a sociologist interested in studying your sociology class?

What is a sociologist's theoretical perspective if they argue that we have seen the "dissolution of master narratives or metanarratives"?

Which of the following is a latent function of the U.S. educational system?

Symbolic interactionism argues that people act toward things on the basis of their meaning. According to this perspective, how does meaning arise?

How was Harriet Martineau similar to W.E.B. DuBois?

A sociologist's responsibility is to question everything the everyday person would take for granted.

Why is it beneficial for sociologists to experience culture shock?

Studying Social Life: Sociology Research Methods

Culture

Socialization, Interaction, and the Self

Separate and Together: Life in Groups

Deviance

Social Class: the Structure of Inequality

Race and Ethnicity As Lived Experience

Constructing Gender and Sexuality

Social Institutions: Politics, Education, and Religion

The Economy and Work

Life at Home: Families and Relationships

Leisure and Media

Health and Illness

Populations, Cities, and the Environment

Social Change

Filters

Exam 1: Sociology and the Real World

How do sociologists study the way in which people, as part of groups, organize their lives and social interactions to produce a real and meaningful world?

Which of the following theories focuses on how our behaviors are dependent on the ways we interpret, make sense of, and define ourselves, others, and social situations?

Symbolic interactionism analyzes social phenomena at the macro level, while structural functionalism and conflict theory analyses are at the micro level.

There is a close relationship between sociology and the other social sciences. Why does sociology still exist as a separate discipline given how much overlap there is between these fields?

Karl Marx believed the lower classes, in order to end their oppression, needed to develop

In his Theses on Feuerbach, Karl Marx argued that "the philosophers have only interpreted the world; the point is to change it." What Marxist principle is defined by this quote?

What historical events convinced Auguste Comte that society needed to be guided by thinkers who understood social laws?

According to Marx, the primary tool for the oppression of the lower social classes in modern society is

Structural functionalist theory is concerned with the ways in which structures contribute to the stability of society. What is a structure?

Describe the three main theoretical perspectives of macrosociology, and name at least one theorist for each perspective.

What is one of the weaknesses of being an everyday actor when it comes to understanding everyday life?

Durkheim theorized that the rapidly changing conditions of modern life lead to anomie. What is anomie?

What is the relationship between the self and society according to symbolic interactionism?

Which level of analysis and theoretical perspective would be best for a sociologist interested in studying your sociology class?

What is a sociologist's theoretical perspective if they argue that we have seen the "dissolution of master narratives or metanarratives"?

Which of the following is a latent function of the U.S. educational system?

Symbolic interactionism argues that people act toward things on the basis of their meaning. According to this perspective, how does meaning arise?

How was Harriet Martineau similar to W.E.B. DuBois?

A sociologist's responsibility is to question everything the everyday person would take for granted.

Why is it beneficial for sociologists to experience culture shock?

Studying Social Life: Sociology Research Methods

Culture

Socialization, Interaction, and the Self

Separate and Together: Life in Groups

Deviance

Social Class: the Structure of Inequality

Race and Ethnicity As Lived Experience

Constructing Gender and Sexuality

Social Institutions: Politics, Education, and Religion

The Economy and Work

Life at Home: Families and Relationships

Leisure and Media

Health and Illness

Populations, Cities, and the Environment

Social Change

Filters