Question 1

Herbert Spencer believed the most capable and intelligent members of a society would survive while the weak and "less fit" would die, thus improving society, in a master plan that he called "survival of the fittest."

Accepted Answer

This is an accurate representation of Herbert Spencer's beliefs regarding "survival of the fittest."

Question 2

Sociologists have always agreed that the most important goal of sociology is to generate social change.

Accepted Answer

While some sociologists view social change as an important goal of sociology, others view it as just one of many goals. Some sociologists focus more on understanding and describing society, rather than actively seeking to change it.

Question 3

According to the principles of symbolic interactionism, symbols not only allow relationships to exist, they also allow society to exist.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism posits that symbols play a crucial role in the creation and maintenance of relationships between individuals, as well as in the construction of shared meanings and understandings that form the basis of society.

Question 4

Because sociology is based on common sense, it is an excellent discipline for students to study who approach the world in a rational, matter-of-fact way.

Accepted Answer

Sociology is not based on common sense, but rather on empirical evidence and theoretical analysis. While some sociological concepts may seem intuitive or align with common sense, the discipline seeks to challenge and deconstruct common-sense assumptions about society and human behavior.

Question 5

Despite her acclaimed research on social life, until recently Harriet Martineau was best known for translating Comte's works on sociology into English.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true, Harriet Martineau is known for her translation of Comte's works on sociology into English, although she also conducted significant research on social life.

Question 6

C. Wright Mills urged American sociologists to concentrate on social reform, developing the concept of the power elite to illustrate how top leaders of business, politics, and the military were an imminent threat to American freedom.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects C. Wright Mills' perspective and his concern about the concentration of power in the hands of a small group of elites.

Question 7

Emile Durkheim identified the degree of social integration as the primary variable to explain different rates of suicide within different European nations.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Durkheim's theory of suicide, outlined in his book "Suicide" (1897), suggests that suicide rates are influenced by the degree of social integration and regulation in a society. He argued that social integration, or the level of interconnectedness between individuals and groups within society, can help prevent suicide by providing a sense of belonging and support. Durkheim compared suicide rates across different European nations and found that those with lower levels of social integration had higher rates of suicide.

Question 8

Because of their training and expertise, sociologists often stress their personal values in their research.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists strive to be objective and impartial in their research, and therefore do not allow their personal values to bias their findings. However, they may still hold personal values outside of their research that influence their choices and actions.

Question 9

Applying the scientific method to the social world is called empiricism.

Accepted Answer

Applying the scientific method to the social world is called social science research. Empiricism is the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience.

Question 10

According to Max Weber, the "sign" Calvinists looked for as an indication they were saved was their successful investment in capital.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber argued in "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" that Calvinists looked for signs of God's favor in their worldly success, including their ability to successfully invest and accumulate capital, as an indication they were among the elect or saved.

Question 11

Booker T. Washington was the first African American to earn a doctorate degree from Harvard University.

Accepted Answer

Booker T. Washington did not earn a doctorate degree from Harvard University. He did receive honorary degrees from several universities, including Harvard, but his highest formal education was a diploma from Hampton Institute.

Question 12

Sociologist Lewis Coser pointed out that conflict is most likely to develop among people who are in close relationships.

Accepted Answer

Sociologist Lewis Coser's view is that conflict is more likely to arise among people who are closely connected, such as family members or coworkers, than among strangers or acquaintances.

Question 13

The corners of life that people occupy such as jobs, income, education, gender, age, and race are referred to as the social imperative.

Accepted Answer

The social imperative refers to the urgent need for social change and transformation to address systemic inequalities and injustices, particularly related to race, class, gender, and other forms of identity and marginalization. It is not specific to individual corners of life such as jobs, income, education, gender, age, and race.

Question 14

Frances Perkins, a sociologist, won the Nobel Prize for her work with the homeless in Hull-House.

Accepted Answer

Frances Perkins was a sociologist and a key figure in the New Deal who served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945. She did not win the Nobel Prize for her work with the homeless in Hull-House.

Question 15

In the early 20th century, the University of Chicago dominated the field of sociology.

Accepted Answer

The University of Chicago was widely regarded as the leading institution in the study of sociology during the early 20th century, with many influential scholars associated with its department of sociology.

Question 16

Sociologists who use the functionalist perspective stress how industrialization and urbanization have undermined the traditional functions of the family.

Accepted Answer

The functionalist perspective emphasizes the important roles that institutions (such as family) play in society, and how those roles have changed due to factors like industrialization and urbanization. In the case of the family, functionalists argue that its traditional functions (such as socializing children and caring for the elderly) have been replaced or supplemented by other institutions like schools, nursing homes, and government programs.

Question 17

Anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology are all appropriately classified as social sciences.

Accepted Answer

Anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology all study various aspects of human behavior and society, making them social sciences.

Question 18

How people interpret their situation in life, how they view what they are doing, and how they perceive what is happening to them, is referred to as their objective meaning of life.

Accepted Answer

This description refers to the subjective meaning of life, as it is based on individual perceptions, interpretations, and feelings about one's life and experiences. Objective meaning would imply a universal or externally defined meaning that is independent of individual interpretation.

Question 19

The first goal of any scientific discipline is to discover the pattern, or reoccurring characteristics, of the phenomena under study.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first goal of any scientific discipline...

Question 20

Karl Marx thought of himself as a classical sociologist, a label that greatly influenced his theories on class conflict.

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx is often associated with conflict theory and is considered a founding figure in sociology, but he did not label himself as a "classical sociologist." His work predates the formal establishment of sociology as a discipline, and his theories on class conflict were part of his broader critique of capitalism, rather than an identification with a specific sociological tradition.

Quiz 1: The Sociological Perspective