Exam 1: The Sociological Perspective

According to the functionalist perspective,societies develop social structures (institutions) that persist because they play a part in helping society survive.These institutions include the family,education,government,religion,and the economy.

According to Auguste Comte,societies contain __________,which are forces for conflict and change.

Sociology is a systematic study because sociologists apply both theoretical perspectives and research methods to examinations of social behavior.

The transmission of knowledge and skills from one generation to the next is a __________ of education.

German social scientist __________ emphasized that sociology should be value-free,i.e.,research should be conducted in a scientific manner and should exclude the researcher's personal values and economic interests.

The conflict and functionalist perspectives focus primarily on microlevel (focusing on small groups) analysis,whereas the symbolic interactionist approaches are based on a macrolevel (examining whole societies,large-scale social structures,and social systems) analysis.

Define the terms "race," "ethnicity," "class," "sex," and "gender." Explain the relationship between these terms and the sociological imagination.

__________ is the process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in cities rather than in rural areas.

Sociologists refer to a theoretical framework as a(n) ___________-an overall approach to or viewpoint on some subject.

The example of a college student using credit cards to finance vacations and eat out is an illustration of what type of society?

This concept refers to the meanings,beliefs,and practices associated with the sex differences,which are referred to as femininity and masculinity.

Stephanie is the personnel director for a large corporation.She has decided to give prospective employees a test that will measure the individual's problem-solving abilities.To acquire this test,Stephanie is likely to call a(n):

This sociologist suggested that a division of labor (distinct,specialized functions) between husband and wife is essential for family stability and social order.

Economics is divided into two different branches.Microeconomics looks at such things as the total amount of goods and services produced by a society,whereas macroeconomics studies such things as decisions made by individual businesses.

A note left at the scene of a suicide expressed the victim's concern that he felt little sense of moral guidance.He indicated that he was uncertain about what was right or wrong in today's world.Using Emile Durkheim's theory,sociologists might conclude that the suicide victim was feeling:

Use the sociological perspective to explain the effect of Wal-Mart and other "big-box" stores on local communities.What role have credit cards played in the expansion of "big-box" stores?

C.Wright Mills believed that the most important decisions in the United States are made largely behind the scenes by the power elite-a small clique composed of the top corporate,political,and military officials.

A psychologist interested in studying why some individuals have excessive credit card debt might identify the specific thought processes that a person has when purchasing expensive items that are well beyond his or her budget.

Although the women of that day were categorically excluded from much of public life in France,some women strongly influenced the philosophes and their thinking through their participation in the _________-an open house held to stimulate discussion and intellectual debate.

Sociologists applying a _______________ framework to the study of consumerism would primarily focus on a microlevel analysis of people's face-to-face interactions.