Question 1

Sociologists who use __________ as a theoretical perspective argue that women's lives and experiences are central to the study of society.
A) functionalism
B) postmodern theory
C) feminist theory
D) Marxism

Accepted Answer

Feminist theory emphasizes the role of gender in society and strives to uncover and challenge gender inequalities. It recognizes that women's experiences are essential to understanding the functioning of society and seeks to promote gender equality.

Question 2

Theorists of __________,such as Auguste Comte and Émile Durkheim,compared societies to the workings of a human body.
A) functionalism
B) postmodern theory
C) feminist theory
D) symbolic interactionism

Accepted Answer

Theorists of functionalism, such as Auguste Comte and Émile Durkheim, compared societies to the workings of a human body, emphasizing the interdependence and harmony between different social institutions and elements.

Question 3

Pierre prefers to think of institutions and human activities by analyzing the relationship of each individual part as it relates to the whole.His way of thinking most closely resembles which theoretical perspective?
A) functionalism
B) Marxism and class conflict
C) symbolic interactionism
D) feminist theory

Accepted Answer

Functionalism focuses on how institutions and societal structures work together to maintain social order and stability. This aligns with Pierre's preference for analyzing relationships between individual parts and the whole.

Question 4

Chris insists than any decent analysis of our social world must include investigations into the lived experiences of women.Chris's ideas match most closely with those of which theorist?
A) Karl Marx
B) Émile Durkheim
C) Harriet Martineau
D) Max Weber

Accepted Answer

Harriet Martineau was a sociologist who recognized the importance of studying the experiences of women and other oppressed groups in society. She argued that sociologists should focus on the experiences of those who are often marginalized and overlooked, and that a thorough analysis of society must include an understanding of gender, race, and class hierarchies. Chris's insistence on studying the lived experiences of women aligns with Martineau's views on the importance of understanding the perspectives of those who are disadvantaged in society.

Question 5

According to the textbook,__________ was the first to turn a sociological eye on previously ignored issues,such as marriage,children,domestic and religious life,and race relations.
A) Voltarine de Cleyre
B) Gloria Steinem
C) Harriet Martineau
D) Lucy Parsons

Accepted Answer

Harriet Martineau was a nineteenth-century sociologist who turned her attention towards marriage, children, domestic and religious life, and race relations. She was the first to introduce a sociological perspective on these issues, which were previously ignored by the discipline.

Question 6

__________ coined the term double consciousness to refer to the African American experience.
A) W.E.B.Du Bois
B) Gloria Steinem
C) Harriet Martineau
D) Lucy Parsons

Accepted Answer

W.E.B. Du Bois is credited with coining the term double consciousness in his book "The Souls of Black Folk" to describe the experience of being an African American in a society that often perceives them as "other" and forces them to navigate multiple cultural identities.

Question 7

Marissa rejects the idea that we can make historical claims about society progressively developing.Her idea most mirrors which theoretical perspective?
A) functionalism
B) postmodernism
C) symbolic interactionism
D) feminist theory

Accepted Answer

Postmodernism asserts that social progress is a myth and rejects the idea that society develops in a linear and predetermined way. Marissa's rejection of the idea that historical claims can be made about society progressively developing aligns with this perspective.

Question 8

We might identify one of the latent functions of public schools as:
A) providing low-cost educational training to the public at large
B) teaching our children the values of our society
C) training kids to obey authority and grow up to become obedient workers
D) teaching the citizenry of the country the basics of subjects such as math and science

Accepted Answer

The answer of We might identify one of the latent...

Question 9

Mohammed believes that studies of human behavior should focus primarily on how we construct meaning together through abstract representations.His position is closest to which theoretical perspective?
A) functionalism
B) Marxism and class conflict
C) symbolic interactionism
D) feminist theory

Accepted Answer

Mohammed's emphasis on how meaning is constructed through abstract representations aligns with the central tenets of symbolic interactionism, which emphasizes how individuals actively interpret and create meaning in their social interactions.

Question 10

Adherents of __________ contend that there are no longer any "grand narratives," or metanarratives-overall conceptions of history or society-that make any sense.
A) functionalism
B) postmodern theory
C) feminist theory
D) symbolic interactionism

Accepted Answer

Postmodern theory emphasizes the fragmentation and diversity of society and argues that there are no universal or objective truths. As such, postmodernists reject the notion of overarching metanarratives that seek to explain social, cultural, or historical phenomena. Some scholars refer to this rejection of metanarratives as the "death of grand narratives."

Question 11

Janice thinks that sociology should be a science used to bring about radical social change,with particular emphasis on power and ideology.Her position most closely aligns with which theoretical perspective?
A) functionalism
B) Marxism and class conflict
C) symbolic interactionism
D) postmodernism

Accepted Answer

Janice's emphasis on power and ideology aligns with the Marxist perspective, which focuses on the unequal distribution of power and resources in society and advocates for radical social change through class struggle and revolution.

Question 12

Paco has begun using symbolic interaction as a theoretical perspective to think about the role of food in religious ceremonies.What is one possible critique of this approach?
A) One cannot use symbols to study religious phenomena.
B) Individual behaviors do not matter in religious ceremonies.
C) Paco runs the risk of missing larger social context by focusing on symbolic communication.
D) Religion involves inner meaning rather than communication between different sets of people.

Accepted Answer

While symbolic interactionism can provide valuable insights into the meaning attached to food within a religious context, focusing too heavily on symbols and individual interactions may overlook broader societal factors that shape and influence religious practices.

Question 13

One possible criticism of functionalism might be:
A) that it is impossible to research large social bodies
B) that it does not take into account society's major institutions
C) that it has an anti-Western bias
D) that societies are in conflict just as often as they are stable

Accepted Answer

One possible criticism of functionalism is that it assumes societies are stable and harmonious, when in reality societies are often in conflict and struggle for power and resources. This limitation of functionalism is addressed by other sociological theories, such as conflict theory, which emphasize the role of power dynamics and conflict in shaping society.

Question 14

Maynard believes that women's experiences are central to the study of society.According to the textbook,his beliefs most closely align with which theoretical perspective?
A) functionalism
B) Marxism and class conflict
C) symbolic interactionism
D) feminist theory

Accepted Answer

Maynard's belief that women's experiences are central to the study of society is a central tenet of feminist theory, which seeks to understand and address gender inequalities and inequities.

Question 15

Latisha believes that sociologists need to look at not only how our institutions were intended to work but also the unintentional effects of those institutions.According to the textbook,this is a major part of which theoretical perspective?
A) functionalism
B) Marxism and class conflict
C) symbolic interactionism
D) feminist theory

Accepted Answer

This theoretical perspective emphasizes the importance of social institutions in maintaining social order and stability. Functionalists acknowledge that institutions have intended functions, but they also recognize that they can have unintended consequences. Therefore, studying the unintentional effects of institutions is an important part of the functionalist perspective.

Question 16

Sangeeta argues that African Americans often see themselves through the eyes of white society.Her ideas most closely match with those of which theorist?
A) Karl Marx
B) Émile Durkheim
C) Harriet Martineau
D) W.E.B.Du Bois

Accepted Answer

W.E.B. Du Bois was a sociologist and civil rights activist who focused on the experiences of African Americans in the United States. He introduced the concept of double consciousness, which argues that Black people often see themselves both as they are and as how they are perceived by white society. This idea aligns with Sangeeta's argument that African Americans often see themselves through the eyes of white society.

Question 17

According to the textbook,George Herbert Mead reasoned that language allows us to become self-conscious beings-aware of our own individuality.This idea forms the basis of the theoretical perspective known as:
A) symbolic interactionism
B) postmodern theory
C) feminist theory
D) Marxism

Accepted Answer

Mead's theory of language and self-consciousness is the foundation of symbolic interactionism, which focuses on the ways individuals create and interpret meaning through social interactions and symbols. Postmodern theory, feminist theory, and Marxism do not hold this view of the importance of language in the development of the self.

Question 18

As a sociological theory,__________ is unique in that it is also supposed to generate a program for radical political change.
A) functionalism
B) postmodern theory
C) symbolic interactionism
D) Marxism

Accepted Answer

Marxism is a sociological theory that seeks to explain social relations in terms of class struggle and capitalism. It is unique in that it also proposes a program for radical political change, advocating for the overthrow of the capitalist system and the establishment of a socialist society. The other theories listed (functionalism, postmodern theory, and symbolic interactionism) do not necessarily propose such a program.

Question 19

The study of everyday behavior in situations of face-to-face interaction is usually called:
A) institutional ethnography
B) microsociology
C) historical/comparative sociology
D) macrosociology

Accepted Answer

Microsociology is the study of small-scale interactions and everyday behavior in which face-to-face interactions play a critical role. It focuses on social interaction in various settings, including families, organizations, and communities. It aims to understand the social processes that shape and influence individual behavior and the ways in which individuals make meaning in their everyday lives.  Institutional ethnography focuses on understanding how people's everyday lives are shaped by social structures and relationships. Historical/comparative sociology compares historical and contemporary societies and cultures, while macrosociology studies large-scale social phenomena and institutional structures.

Question 20

Max Weber's theoretical contributions might be criticized for:
A) focusing narrowly on the individual
B) not taking into account the role of bureaucracy in modern societies
C) ignoring large social institutions
D) ignoring collective and democratic forms of organization that are common in modern societies

Accepted Answer

Max Weber's theoretical contributions were criticized for ignoring collective and democratic forms of organization that are common in modern societies. He focused mainly on bureaucracy and rationalization, neglecting other forms of organizing such as democracies and trade unions, which are essential to modern societies.

Quiz 1: Sociology: Theory and Method

Sociologists who use __________ as a theoretical perspective argue that women's lives and experiences are central to the study of society.

Theorists of __________,such as Auguste Comte and Émile Durkheim,compared societies to the workings of a human body.

Pierre prefers to think of institutions and human activities by analyzing the relationship of each individual part as it relates to the whole.His way of thinking most closely resembles which theoretical perspective?

Chris insists than any decent analysis of our social world must include investigations into the lived experiences of women.Chris's ideas match most closely with those of which theorist?

According to the textbook,__________ was the first to turn a sociological eye on previously ignored issues,such as marriage,children,domestic and religious life,and race relations.

__________ coined the term double consciousness to refer to the African American experience.

Marissa rejects the idea that we can make historical claims about society progressively developing.Her idea most mirrors which theoretical perspective?

We might identify one of the latent functions of public schools as:

Mohammed believes that studies of human behavior should focus primarily on how we construct meaning together through abstract representations.His position is closest to which theoretical perspective?

Adherents of __________ contend that there are no longer any "grand narratives," or metanarratives-overall conceptions of history or society-that make any sense.

Janice thinks that sociology should be a science used to bring about radical social change,with particular emphasis on power and ideology.Her position most closely aligns with which theoretical perspective?

Paco has begun using symbolic interaction as a theoretical perspective to think about the role of food in religious ceremonies.What is one possible critique of this approach?

One possible criticism of functionalism might be:

Maynard believes that women's experiences are central to the study of society.According to the textbook,his beliefs most closely align with which theoretical perspective?

Latisha believes that sociologists need to look at not only how our institutions were intended to work but also the unintentional effects of those institutions.According to the textbook,this is a major part of which theoretical perspective?

Sangeeta argues that African Americans often see themselves through the eyes of white society.Her ideas most closely match with those of which theorist?

According to the textbook,George Herbert Mead reasoned that language allows us to become self-conscious beings-aware of our own individuality.This idea forms the basis of the theoretical perspective known as:

As a sociological theory,__________ is unique in that it is also supposed to generate a program for radical political change.

The study of everyday behavior in situations of face-to-face interaction is usually called:

Max Weber's theoretical contributions might be criticized for: