Question 1

______ refers to the practical application of tools, skills, and knowledge to meet human needs and extend human abilities.
A) Technology
B) Science
C) Industry
D) Globalization

Accepted Answer

Technology is the correct answer because it encompasses the practical application of tools, skills, and knowledge specifically aimed at meeting human needs and extending human capabilities.

Question 2

Which of the following sociologists argued that change is brought about through the three processes of discovery, invention, and diffusion?
A) Karl Marx
B) William Ogburn
C) W.E.B. DuBois
D) C. Wright Mills

Accepted Answer

William Ogburn is known for his theory on social change which posits that change occurs through the processes of discovery (finding something that already exists), invention (creating something new), and diffusion (the spread of cultural elements from one society to another).

Question 3

The Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes that connected Asia, Europe, and Africa, helped support the spread of new ideas across the world. The transmission of ideas that occurred as a result of these trade routes is an example of ______.
A) discovery
B) technology
C) invention
D) diffusion

Accepted Answer

The Silk Road facilitated the diffusion of ideas, cultures, and innovations by connecting different civilizations across continents, allowing for the exchange and spread of knowledge and cultural practices.

Question 4

Which of the following would be considered a micro-level social change?
A) a school system creating new day-care programs
B) a synagogue launching a neighborhood cleanup campaign
C) students urging other students to recycle
D) a city government lobbying for funds to build a public transit system

Accepted Answer

Micro-level social change refers to changes that occur on a small scale, affecting individuals or small groups directly. Students urging other students to recycle is an example of micro-level social change because it involves individual behaviors and interactions within a small community or group.

Question 5

Mayflower United Church of Christ in Minneapolis brought a resolution to the congregation that by 2030 the church would be entirely carbon neutral. This is an example of ______.
A) micro-level change
B) meso-level change
C) macro-level change
D) global change

Accepted Answer

Meso-level change refers to changes that occur within organizations or communities, which is what the Mayflower United Church of Christ's resolution represents. It's a change within a specific organization aiming for a significant impact on its operations and environmental footprint.

Question 6

The Paris Agreement is an example of ______.
A) individual change
B) micro-level change
C) meso-level change
D) macro-level change

Accepted Answer

The Paris Agreement is an example of macro-level change because it is a global agreement involving many countries working together to address climate change, which is a large-scale issue affecting the entire planet.

Question 7

Julia's religion disapproves of gay marriage, but she personally supports it. This is an example of ______.
A) stress
B) strain
C) symbolic change
D) population dynamics

Accepted Answer

This is an example of strain, which occurs when there is a discrepancy between culturally defined goals and the means available to achieve those goals, or between personal beliefs and societal norms. In this case, Julia experiences strain because her personal beliefs support gay marriage, but her religion, a societal institution, disapproves of it.

Question 8

According to ______, sometimes it's enough for people to become aware of the advantages or disadvantages of a particular outcome-for example, the costs of continuing to burn fossil fuels-for social change to occur.
A) symbolic interaction theory
B) functionalist theory
C) conflict theory
D) rational choice theory

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theory posits that individuals make decisions based on a rational evaluation of the costs and benefits of their actions. In the context of social change, this theory suggests that making people aware of the advantages or disadvantages of certain outcomes, such as the environmental costs of burning fossil fuels, can influence their behavior and lead to societal shifts.

Question 9

______ at the macro level assume that societies change slowly from simple to more complex forms.
A) Social evolutionary theories
B) Functionalist theories
C) Conflict theories
D) Symbolic interactionist theories

Accepted Answer

Social evolutionary theories posit that societies evolve from simpler forms to more complex ones over time, reflecting a macro-level perspective on social change.

Question 10

According to evolutionary theory, societies typically move through stages in which order?
A) horticultural, hunter-gatherer, agrarian, industrial, and post-industrial
B) hunter-gatherer, horticultural, agrarian, industrial, and post-industrial
C) hunter-gatherer, agrarian, horticultural, industrial, and post-industrial
D) agrarian, hunting and gathering, horticultural, industrial, and post-industrial

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary theory suggests that societies develop in a sequence starting from hunter-gatherer, progressing to horticultural, then to agrarian, followed by industrial, and finally reaching the post-industrial stage.

Question 11

Which of the following views rapid change with suspicion?
A) social evolutionary theory
B) functionalist theory
C) conflict theory
D) rational choice theory

Accepted Answer

Functionalist theory views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. It often views rapid social change with suspicion because such change can disrupt the balance and harmony of society, leading to periods of instability and dysfunction.

Question 12

Karl Marx viewed ______ conflict as the major source of tension leading to change in any society, but other conflict theorists study additional variables that can also be the grounds for oppression.
A) gender
B) racial
C) political
D) class

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx is best known for his theory that class conflict is the engine of historical change and societal transformation. He focused on the conflict between the bourgeoisie (capitalists) and the proletariat (workers) as the primary source of tension and change in society.

Question 13

According to world systems theory, what type of countries provide raw materials and cheap labor for richer countries?
A) core countries
B) semiperipheral countries
C) peripheral countries
D) developed countries

Accepted Answer

Peripheral countries, according to world systems theory, are those that provide raw materials and cheap labor for richer, more developed countries, often referred to as core countries. This theory categorizes countries based on their level of economic development and their position within the global economic system.

Question 14

According to world systems theory, what type of country holds an intermediate position, is industrializing, and trades with the other two types of countries?
A) core countries
B) semiperipheral countries
C) peripheral countries
D) developing countries

Accepted Answer

Semiperipheral countries in world systems theory hold an intermediate position in the global economy. They are typically industrializing nations that engage in trade with both core and peripheral countries, acting as a buffer or a link between them.

Question 15

According to world systems theory, which of the following is a core country?
A) Japan
B) Botswana
C) Brazil
D) India

Accepted Answer

Japan is considered a core country in world systems theory due to its advanced industrial economy, high level of technological development, and significant influence in the global economic system. Core countries are characterized by their strong, diversified economies and central role in the global market.

Question 16

______ behaviors are forms of collective behavior in which a crowd acts as a unified group, while ______ behaviors occur when individuals respond in a similar manner to uncertain situations.
A) Crowd; mass
B) Mob; fashion
C) Mass; crowd
D) Fad; riot

Accepted Answer

Crowd behaviors involve a group acting together, while mass behaviors occur when individuals separately respond similarly to situations.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a crowd behavior?
A) a fad
B) a panic
C) a rumor
D) a fashion

Accepted Answer

Panic is a type of crowd behavior characterized by sudden, widespread fear and anxiety leading to uncoordinated group actions to escape a perceived threat, fitting the definition of crowd behavior.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of a mass behavior?
A) a riot
B) a demonstration
C) a fad
D) a crowd

Accepted Answer

A fad is an example of mass behavior as it involves a large number of people engaging in similar behaviors or adopting trends simultaneously, often spread over a wide area.

Question 19

According to ______, a college student might participate in a rally if he thinks that the rewards outweigh the costs, even if the reward is increased solidarity with his classmates.
A) feminist theory
B) value added theory
C) emergent norm theory
D) the minimax strategy

Accepted Answer

The minimax strategy suggests that individuals will make decisions based on minimizing costs and maximizing rewards. In this context, a college student deciding to participate in a rally because the perceived rewards (e.g., increased solidarity with classmates) outweigh the costs aligns with the principles of the minimax strategy.

Question 20

Tola is studying the way that individuals decide to behave following a terrorist attack in their area. She hypothesizes that people's confusion following the attack will lead to the development of new definitions of acceptable behavior. Tola is most likely using ______.
A) minimax strategy theory
B) value-added theory
C) emergent norm theory
D) conflict theory

Accepted Answer

Emergent norm theory suggests that in situations of uncertainty or confusion, such as during a disaster or unexpected event, new norms or definitions of acceptable behavior emerge as individuals look to each other for cues on how to act. Tola's hypothesis aligns with this theory, as she is studying how people decide to behave following a terrorist attack, a situation likely to create confusion and uncertainty.

Quiz 14: The Process of Change: We Can Make a Difference

______ refers to the practical application of tools, skills, and knowledge to meet human needs and extend human abilities.

Which of the following sociologists argued that change is brought about through the three processes of discovery, invention, and diffusion?

The Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes that connected Asia, Europe, and Africa, helped support the spread of new ideas across the world. The transmission of ideas that occurred as a result of these trade routes is an example of ______.

Which of the following would be considered a micro-level social change?

Mayflower United Church of Christ in Minneapolis brought a resolution to the congregation that by 2030 the church would be entirely carbon neutral. This is an example of ______.

The Paris Agreement is an example of ______.

Julia's religion disapproves of gay marriage, but she personally supports it. This is an example of ______.

According to ______, sometimes it's enough for people to become aware of the advantages or disadvantages of a particular outcome-for example, the costs of continuing to burn fossil fuels-for social change to occur.

______ at the macro level assume that societies change slowly from simple to more complex forms.

According to evolutionary theory, societies typically move through stages in which order?

Which of the following views rapid change with suspicion?

Karl Marx viewed ______ conflict as the major source of tension leading to change in any society, but other conflict theorists study additional variables that can also be the grounds for oppression.

According to world systems theory, what type of countries provide raw materials and cheap labor for richer countries?

According to world systems theory, what type of country holds an intermediate position, is industrializing, and trades with the other two types of countries?

According to world systems theory, which of the following is a core country?

behaviors are forms of collective behavior in which a crowd acts as a unified group, while behaviors occur when individuals respond in a similar manner to uncertain situations.

Which of the following is an example of a crowd behavior?

Which of the following is an example of a mass behavior?

According to ______, a college student might participate in a rally if he thinks that the rewards outweigh the costs, even if the reward is increased solidarity with his classmates.

Tola is studying the way that individuals decide to behave following a terrorist attack in their area. She hypothesizes that people's confusion following the attack will lead to the development of new definitions of acceptable behavior. Tola is most likely using ______.