Question 1

Why is Laud Humphrey's 1970 study on homosexual activity controversial?

Accepted Answer

Laud Humphrey's study, titled "Tearoom Trade," involved Humphrey secretly observing and recording the sexual behavior of men in public restrooms. He then used deceptive methods to track down and interview these men in their homes, without revealing his true identity or the purpose of his study. Many of the participants were unaware that they were being studied or that their sexual behavior was being recorded. These methods violated their privacy rights and were unethical. Furthermore, Humphrey did not obtain informed consent from his participants, and his study did not have proper oversight from an institutional review board. As a result of these ethical violations, the study remains controversial.

Question 2

A theory is a set of

Accepted Answer

A theory is a set of statements that attempt to predict or explain some aspect of social life. It is an attempt to answer questions about the social world, based on empirical evidence and logical reasoning. Theories are not simply observations or descriptions of social behavior, but rather they provide a framework for understanding why social behavior occurs in a certain way. While findings from other social research may inform the development of a theory, they are not in themselves a theory. Similarly, theories may acknowledge the social construction of reality, but that is not their defining characteristic.

Question 3

When reading a published research study,asking questions such as "What type of research was used?" and "Was the sample representative?" will help the reader

Accepted Answer

Asking questions about the research methodology and sample helps the reader to evaluate the validity and reliability of the research, and therefore assess its overall value.

Question 4

Support for animal rights,advancing awareness of mental illness,and promotion of gun control are causes that have been taken up by

Accepted Answer

These causes are typically championed by moral entrepreneurs, who are individuals or groups who seek to raise public awareness and lobby for change on issues they believe are important. These causes are often linked to ethical or moral concerns, and are often seen as controversial or socially divisive, which makes them attractive to moral entrepreneurs who seek to advance their own beliefs and values.

Question 5

To say that reality is "socially constructed" means that

Accepted Answer

The idea that reality is socially constructed suggests that our perception of the world is heavily influenced by social interaction and the meanings we assign to things based on cultural and societal norms. It doesn't necessarily mean that each individual creates their own truth or that reality is inherently harmful, nor does it negate the role of power in shaping our beliefs.

Question 6

By acting on the basis of our definitions of reality,we often bring about the conditions we believe exist.This is known as

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is called a self-fulfilling prophecy where our beliefs and actions bring about the reality we expect or anticipate. If we believe something strongly enough, we may act in ways that create the very conditions we believed in the first place, thereby confirming our original beliefs. For example, if we believe that a certain group of people are unfairly treated, we may treat them differently ourselves, or advocate for policies that help them, leading to more just outcomes for that group. This cycle of belief and action can have positive or negative consequences, depending on the original beliefs and subsequent actions.

Question 7

The processes through which facts,knowledge,and truth are discovered,made known,reaffirmed,and altered by members of a society is called the _________ of reality.

Accepted Answer

The concept of social construction refers to the idea that reality is created and shaped by social interactions and societal norms. This process involves discovering, reaffirming, and altering the way we understand facts, knowledge, and truth within a given society or culture. This concept is widely used in sociology, anthropology, and other social sciences to explain how our understanding of reality is not objective, but rather subjective and contingent upon our experiences and social context. The other choices (medium, Spinoza, politics) do not accurately reflect this idea of social construction.

Question 8

A variable that is presumed to cause,or influence,another variable is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

An independent variable is a variable that is presumed to cause, or influence, another variable. The dependent variable is the variable that is influenced or affected by the independent variable. An indicator is a measure used to represent a construct or concept. A spurious variable is a variable that is not actually causing the observed effect, but appears to be because of the correlation between the independent and dependent variables.

Question 9

The social construction of reality assumes that knowledge is

Accepted Answer

The social construction of reality assumes that knowledge is created by humans, and is therefore not an objective reality that is universally invariant.

Question 10

Any concept that can take on different values,or that has two or more categories,can be used as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A variable can take on different values, and can have multiple categories or levels. A hypothesis is a specific prediction or statement about the relationship between variables, a research question is a broad inquiry that is being investigated, and a theory is an overarching explanation for a phenomenon.

Question 11

Words that have recently entered into the pop culture vocabulary-twerk and drone for example-illustrate the _____ nature of language.

Accepted Answer

The use of words like "twerk" and "drone" in popular culture demonstrates how language is constantly evolving and changing in response to new social trends and technological advances. This reflects the dynamic nature of language and how it adapts to meet the changing needs of society.

Question 12

Structural functionalist,conflict,and symbolic interactionist perspectives are _____ theories.

Accepted Answer

The structural functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist perspectives are broad theories because they each offer different ways of understanding and interpreting social phenomena. They are not redundant or existential, and while they may contain elements of truth, they are not inherently "true" in an absolute sense.

Question 13

The distinctive language that allows members of a profession or group to communicate with one another clearly and quickly is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Jargon is specialized language that is specific to a particular profession or group, allowing for clear and efficient communication. Euphemism refers to the use of indirect or softened language, dictaphone is a device used to record speech, and articulation refers to the clarity and enunciation of speech sounds.

Question 14

A variable that is presumed to be caused by,or influenced by,another variable is known as a(n):

Accepted Answer

A dependent variable is one that is presumed to be caused by or influenced by another variable, often the independent variable being manipulated in an experiment. Choices A and B are not commonly used terms in the realm of dependent and independent variables, and choice C refers to the variable that is being manipulated or controlled in an experiment.

Question 15

Sociology points out that what people believe to be "real" (and what they believe is not real)is

Accepted Answer

Sociology recognizes that our beliefs about reality are shaped by the cultural norms and social institutions we are a part of. This means that what is considered "real" in one society may not be the same in another society. Therefore, our perception of reality is not objective, but rather a social construct. Sociology also recognizes that there are multiple perspectives and ways of understanding reality that should be taken into account, instead of solely relying on one group of "experts" to define it.

Question 16

Using euphemisms like,"he passed away" instead of saying,"he died"

Accepted Answer

Euphemisms are used to make something sound less harsh or offensive. In this case, using "passed away" instead of "died" softens the blow of the reality of death. It is a way to frame the situation in a more gentle manner.

Question 17

Beliefs that cannot be proved wrong,even in the face of contradictory evidence,are referred to as

Accepted Answer

Incorrigible propositions are beliefs that are immune to disconfirmation or evidence that contradicts them. They cannot be proved wrong, no matter what evidence is presented. Euphemisms are words or phrases that are used to make harsh or unpleasant things sound more polite or acceptable. Self-fulfilling prophecies are beliefs or expectations that lead to their own fulfillment. Superstitions are irrational beliefs or practices that are not based on reason or evidence.

Question 18

In order to be valid,a sample must

Accepted Answer

A sample must be representative of the population in order to be valid. This means that the sample should accurately reflect the characteristics of the population it is trying to represent. The size of the sample is also important, however, it is not necessary for it to be a large percentage of the total population. Similarly, there is no requirement for the sample to consist of persons over age eighteen, or for the subjects to be homogeneous.

Question 19

Concepts that are not directly observable are translated into

Accepted Answer

Indicators are used to translate abstract concepts that are not directly observable into a form that can be observed and measured, allowing researchers to study these concepts empirically.

Question 20

For most sociologists,the strength of a sociological study depends on its

Accepted Answer

Empirical support refers to the use of concrete, observable data and evidence to support sociological theories and ideas. This is what gives a sociological study its credibility and validity. Fallibility refers to the fact that all research, including sociological research, is subject to error and limitations. Pictograms and social control are not relevant to the strength of a sociological study.

Quiz 3: Building Reality: the Social Construction of Knowledge