Quiz 1: A Sociological Compass

Sociologists say we must look beyond individual states of mind to explain human behavior.What do sociologists focus on in their explanations of human behavior? A)social relations B)mass media C)individual psychology D)market forces E)social relations and individual psychology

According to Brym and Lie,which one of the following social and historical trends was instrumental in creating a favorable environment for the development of sociology? A)postindustrialization B)the Industrial Revolution C)modernism D)age of enlightenment E)postmodernism

An element in a social system that could damage the system would best be termed a: A)latent function B)manifest function C)incoherent function D)dysfunction E)latent manifest function

By examining historical social transformations in a society like the Industrial Revolution,sociologists learn: A)how to deconstruct social order B)how to invest in strategic social ventures C)how to use socio-historical information D)how to deal with and overcome social problems E)how to write social critique

Sociology can help a person develop at the personal level by: A)clarifying the opportunities and constraints he or she faces in society B)examining economic inequality C)clarifying personal biography D)reviewing personal philosophies E)increasing one's self esteem

While at college,David is trying to understand how he fits into the world by trying different kinds of classes and activities.David talks to one of his friends about the limits of some disciplines and about what will lead to the best paying and most rewarding jobs after graduation.Sociology can help someone like David develop at the personal level by: A)clarifying the opportunities and constraints he faces in society B)examining economic opportunities C)clarifying personal biography D)reviewing philosophies by which to live one's life E)increasing self esteem

The contribution the Industrial Revolution made to the creation of the discipline of sociology was to: A)suggest that a science of society is possible B)provide a host of social problems calling out for a solution C)suggest that people can intervene to change society D)provide monetary resources for the study of society E)increase democracy and free speech in academia

It is important to remember that social experiences helped to shape the ideas of sociologists.Therefore,we can conclude that: A)sociological ideas are divorced from any other concerns in society B)sociological ideas are based on independent scientific research C)sociological ideas are influenced by the social setting in which they emerge D)sociological ideas are based only on a limited number of social theories E)sociological ideas are created by the sum total of society

The field of study that helps students move beyond their personal biography to see the world in a larger context is known as: A)social problem solving B)social studies C)sociology D)social science E)socio-economics

The field of study that helps students move beyond their personal biography to see the world in a larger context that is composed of more than physical,emotional,or psychological causes is known as: A)social problem solving B)social studies C)sociology D)social science E)socio-economics

Dr.Smith studies the patterns and regularities of social life.Dr.Smith avoids physical,emotional,and psychological causes as explanations of human behavior.Instead he focuses his work on the constraints and opportunities of the organization of the social world.Dr.Smith would be called a(n): A)historian B)economist C)political scientist D)sociologist E)journalist

The sociological study of suicide reveals that: A)what is thought to be individual behavior is actually the influence of social behavior B)only the mentally ill commit suicide C)unfortunately suicide cannot be predicted D)what may be the influence of social behavior is actually the influence of individual understandings and biography E)suicide must be understood as a purely personal act

The sociological study of suicide adds to our understanding of behaviors that were thought to be individualistic because: A)the approach explains individual behavior B)the approach explains imitation C)it emphasizes the influence of group behavior D)it explains how drug abuse leads to suicide E)none of these choices

The sociological imagination allows people to: A)understand the relationship between body and mind B)understand the relationship between politics and religion C)understand the relationship between drive and instinct D)understand the relationship between social issues and private troubles E)understand the relationship between psychology and political science

Altruistic suicide occurs when ____ tightly govern behavior. A)rules B)shared values C)cultural constraints D)norms E)personal problems

According to Brym and Lie,sociologists often work in ____ research and theoretical traditions. A)many B)refined C)narrowly focused D)ground breaking E)no specific

Emile Durkheim's study of suicide demonstrated that: A)suicide rates are strongly influenced by social forces B)suicide rates are strongly influenced by psychological disorders C)there are four female suicides for every male suicide D)suicide rates decreased with advancing age E)suicide rates are tied to patterns of imitation

Emile Durkheim examined the association between rates of suicide and rates of psychological disorder for different groups in nineteenth century French society.If suicide rates were high where rates of psychological disorder were high,then the disorders might influence suicide rates.Durkheim discovered that: A)the rates were associated,so psychological disorders influenced suicide B)the rates were not associated,so psychological disorders did not influence suicide C)the rates were associated only for women D)the rates were associated only for men E)the rates were associated with race and ethnic origin

According to Emile Durkheim,the more a group's members share beliefs and values,and the more they interact with one another,the more social cohesion the group has.Durkheim called this property of the group: A)group cohesion B)social structure C)social solidarity D)social organization E)sociological imagination

Married adults are half as likely as unmarried adults to commit suicide because marriage creates social ties and social commitments to others,or a state of: A)anomie B)social structure C)social solidarity D)social organization E)socialization

Stable patterns of social relations are called: A)group cohesion B)social structure C)social solidarity D)social organization E)social strata

One aspect of social organization is the patterns of intimate social relations that are formed during face-to-face interpersonal interactions.Sociologists call this pattern: A)micro-structures B)social structures C)macro-structures D)global structures E)macro-global structures

If you are looking for a job,you would be well advised to ask close friends and more remote acquaintances for leads and contacts.That is because acquaintances with whom you are not close are more likely to know different opportunities and groups of people than your close friends.Consulting both friends and acquaintances allows you to cast a wider net while job-hunting than if you consulted only close friends.This is an example of the operation of ____ structures. A)micro B)social C)macro D)global E)individual

According to Mark Granovetter,the way that people typically get a job is by: A)increasing their skill levels B)analyzing the job market and tailoring their skill to meet market needs C)using social networks to make connections D)marrying the child of someone who owns a company E)getting a college degree

According to the famous British sociologist Anthony Giddens,we live in a social era where human society is suspended between two historical possibilities.These are: A)increasing social and political power and annihilation B)nationalistic and global social interests C)global and macro structures D)extraordinary opportunity and global catastrophe E)none of these choices

Patterns of social relations that are outside your immediate social experience are called ____ by sociologists. A)micro-structures B)social structures C)macro-structures D)power structures E)a and b

The system that maintains male privilege in society is known as: A)sexism B)social structures C)macro structures D)patriarchy E)gender inequity

Patterns of social relations that are inside your immediate social experience are known as ____. A)micro-structures B)social structures C)macro-structures D)global structures E)a and b

The organization of work in American society is shaped by the nature of businesses,social groups,and governments.The larger organizational structures that shape our lives in American society are what level of social structure? A)micro-structures B)social structures C)macro-structures D)global structures E)meso-structures

The larger organizational structures that shape our lives in a society are called: A)micro-structures B)social structures C)macro-structures D)global structures E)none of these choices

The social class system in the United States would be an example of what kind of social structure? A)micro-structures B)social structures C)macro-structures D)global structures E)none of these choices

According to the research of Hochschild and Machung,spouses who share domestic responsibilities are ____ to divorce than spouses who do not share domestic responsibilities. A)more likely B)less likely C)no more likely D)trick question; the likelihood is unknown E)none of these choices

The international organizations that shape social and individual life are known as what kind of social structure? A)micro-structures B)social structures C)macro-structures D)global structures E)none of these choices

International organizations,patterns of worldwide travel,the reach of the Internet,and economic activity between nations are examples of: A)micro-structures B)social structures C)macro-structures D)global structures E)all of these choices

The view that the social world has become more interconnected and that this high level of connectivity and communication is reflected in social organization describes: A)micro-structures B)social structures C)macro-structures D)global structures E)micro-social structures

Foreign aid and charity are ____ in helping to solve the problem of world poverty. A)limited B)useful C)global structures D)helpful E)effective

The ability to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures is called: A)social solidarity B)the sociological imagination C)Durkheim's theory of unity D)deconstruction E)deep vision

~C.Wright Mills (1959)discusses a "quality of mind" that allows us to understand "what is going on in the world and...what may be happening within" ourselves.Mills calls this view of society and individuals: A)social solidarity B)the principle of sociation C)the sociological imagination D)dialectical socialism E)none of these choices

The idea that the workings of society must be based on evidence rather than speculation or a religious view is the kernel of: A)the scientific revolution B)the democratic revolution C)the age of enlightenment D)the industrial revolution E)the sociological event

Out of which revolution did the idea emerge that people are responsible for organizing society and that human action can solve social problems through their own efforts? A)the scientific revolution B)the democratic revolution C)the age of enlightenment D)the industrial revolution E)none of these choices

Susan believes that she can help solve the problem of homelessness by volunteering at a homeless shelter.This would be an example of the kind of thinking associated with the ____ revolution. A)the scientific revolution B)the democratic revolution C)the postindustrial revolution D)the industrial revolution E)the sociological evolution

Linda is a sociologist who is studying a community in the American Midwest.She believes she can understand how that community has changed over the last century by examining historical documents and interviewing a representative sample of community members in a systematic fashion.This kind of thinking is associated with ____ revolution. A)the scientific revolution B)the democratic revolution C)the postindustrial revolution D)the industrial revolution E)the sociological evolution

The transformation of the economy from agrarian production to manufacturing is known as: A)the scientific revolution B)the democratic revolution C)the age of enlightenment D)the industrial revolution E)none of these choices

If one tries to observe and measure the physical world based on physical evidence,instead of thinking in a speculative way,they would be thinking in a ____ manner. A)scientific B)democratic C)quantitative D)sociological E)subjunctive

The idea that we should use evidence to support or refute an argument or interpretation is the core of ____. A)intellectual reason B)the democratic revolution C)the scientific method D)the sociological method E)journalistic practice

The idea that people control society formed the basis of the American and French Revolutions.It also forms part of the foundation for: A)sociology B)the industrial revolution C)all known social life D)the communist manifesto E)postmodern thought

Many of the early figures in sociology dealt with the tension between a scientific method of research and a vision of the ideal society.The ideas created by these early sociologists established both diagnostic tools and: A)psychological understandings of the social world B)prescriptions for combating social ills C)a rejection of science D)unqualified support for the traditional order E)psychoanalytic techniques

Tentative explanations for understanding some aspect of social life are known as: A)philosophies B)theories C)perspectives D)social analysis E)conceptualizations

Durkheim related facts about suicide rates to facts about social solidarity in his research.In doing so,he developed a: A)theory B)value C)social organization D)hypothesis E)concept

According to Brym and Lie,a hunch qualifies as a ____ if it suggests how and why certain facts are related to one another. A)theory B)value C)social organization D)hypothesis E)concept

The process of carefully observing social reality to gauge the validity of a hypothesis is called: A)theory B)value C)research D)hypothesis E)stigma

A sociologist who studies labor process wants to study how production changed over time from manufacturing to service and information forms of work.He follows a process of carefully observing various sources of information about present and past work to "test" a theory or assess its validity.This sociologist is engaged in: A)making a theory B)research C)using the sociological imagination D)participant observation E)none of these choices

According to Karl Marx,the most important social structure in any society is the system of ____. A)class relations B)government C)social institutions D)moral order E)authority

According to Karl Marx,the growth of factory work accompanying the industrial revolution contributed to the creation of a class society: A)by contributing to the rapid growth of cities,with their large population of aristocrats B)by creating a microcosm of a class society within the hierarchy of factory management C)by dividing society into people who owned the factories,and people required to provide cheap labor D)by encouraging the growth of materialism and consumption E)none of these choices

____ are ideas about what is right and wrong. A)norms B)values C)theories D)research E)conceptualizations

Dr.Jones decides to study the expressions of grief that followed the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11,2001.Dr.Jones decided to do this because he was so moved by the heroic efforts of the rescue workers.Dr.Jones's decision to do this research is based on: A)norms B)values C)theories D)research E)conceptualizations

____ is a sociological theory that stresses stability of social relations and social organization. A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)none of these choices

The theory that emphasizes the importance of purposeful shared values in shaping human behavior is: A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)dramaturgical sociology

Dr.Chandra studies how communities reestablish normalcy after a natural disaster,like a hurricane.Her efforts are focused on how social associations are re-created and maintained,thus providing stability for the community.Her research is an example of: A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)dramaturgical sociology

Dr.Guttierez notes that individual members of a football team strive to win not for personal glory but for the benefit and advantage of the whole team.His perspective is most consistent with which of the following? A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)dramaturgical sociology

Emile Durkheim's theory of suicide is an example of what sociologists now call: A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)dramaturgical sociology

____ maintained that social structures may have different consequences for different groups of people. A)Emile Durkheim B)Robert Merton C)Karl Marx D)Talcott Parsons E)Max Weber

The national effort known as the "war on drugs" had the unintended consequences of increasing the profitability of the illegal drug trade.According to Robert Merton,this is an example of a(n)____. A)dysfunction B)manifest function C)latent function D)functional dysfunction E)universal function

Schools transmit skills,information,and build knowledge.This is an example of a(n)____. A)dysfunction B)manifest function C)latent function D)functional dysfunction E)universal function

While in school William learned how to read.This is an example of an intended function also known as a ____. A)dysfunction B)manifest function C)latent function D)functional function E)universal function

Robert Merton's criticism of Talcott Parsons' work was primarily focused on the notion that different social structures may have different consequences for different groups of people.According to Merton,some of the consequences of social organization may hold negative consequences for some people.Merton called this property of social structures: A)dysfunctional B)manifestly functional C)latently function D)functionally dysfunctional E)universally functional

____ focuses on how the major patterns of inequality in society come into existence and are maintained. A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)dramaturgical sociology

Conflict theory originated in the work of ____. A)Talcott Parsons B)Robert Merton C)Emile Durkheim D)Karl Marx E)Carl Jung

The theoretical perspective that suggests ways of eliminating privilege to lower tension and competition in society and increase the benefits for all is called: A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)dramaturgical sociology

Conflict derived from privilege and inequality is at the heart of which theoretical perspective? A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)dramaturgical sociology

According to ____,the dominant force in society is the contradiction between the poor working class and the wealthy owning class. A)Talcott Parsons B)Robert Merton C)Emile Durkheim D)Karl Marx E)Max Weber

According to Marx,the growth of ____ encourages the creation and proliferation of trade unions and labor parties. A)class conflict B)class consciousness C)class society D)social status E)the corporation

____ noted the rapid growth of the service sector of the economy. A)Karl Marx B)Emile Durkheim C)Max Weber D)George Herbert Mead E)Talcott Parsons

According to Max Weber,the growth of this part of the economy stabilized society because people who work in it enjoy higher status and income than manual workers. A)manufacturing sector B)service sector C)secondary sector D)primary sector E)factory owners

Max Weber conducted his research in the generation immediately following Karl Marx.While Weber was strongly influenced by Marx,he was critical of Marx's conclusions.One of Weber's criticisms of Marx was: A)class conflict is not the only driving force of history B)the working classes were more revolutionary than Marx predicted C)ideas are less influential than Marx thought D)manufacturing economies became more personal and flexible over time E)the revolution would have to be televised

The first major sociological research project on African-American communities in the United States,The Philadelphia Negro,concluded that the supposed "natural" inferiority of African-Americans was actually a result of: A)white prejudice B)class inequality C)historical change D)redlining E)self esteem

W.E.B.Du Bois believed that the elimination of white prejudice would reduce racial conflict and create more equality between blacks and whites.In order to advance his interest in creating racial equality,Du Bois: A)wrote the Communist Manifesto B)relocated to Liberia C)co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) D)abandoned the study of race relations E)advocated a gold standard

The main point of Max Weber's study of Protestantism and the development of capitalism was that: A)ideas do not influence the development of capitalism B)the only consequence of the Protestant work ethic was the enrichment of Protestants C)religion slows the development of capitalism D)capitalism developed where the Protestant ethic took a strong hold in the area E)none of these choices

The view that people attach subjective meanings to their actions is a hallmark of which theory? A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)historical sociology

Which sociologist was most concerned with the study of how individual identity is formed in the course of interacting with other people? A)Karl Marx B)Emile Durkheim C)Max Weber D)George Herbert Mead E)Talcott Parsons

One of the most powerful criticisms of both functionalism and conflict theory is that two people with similar group memberships may react differently to similar social circumstances.Which theoretical perspective investigates this problem? A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)dramaturgical sociology

When examining a suicide,which theoretical approach will be concerned with determining the state of mind of the victim? A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)historical sociology

Few women figured prominently in the official history and development of sociology until recently.Why? A)sexism prevented women from getting a higher education B)there were no women sociologists until the twentieth century C)male and female scholars regularly collaborated but publications only listed the names of the men D)female scholars were more interested in other social sciences E)few women wanted advanced degrees

Which scholar is often called the first woman sociologist? A)Marianne Weber B)Harriet Martineau C)Mary Wollstonecraft D)Auguste Comte E)Mary Mills

One of the first scholars to conduct sociological research that incorporated analyses of race,class,and gender was which sociologist? A)Karl Marx B)Max Weber C)Harriet Martineau D)Emile Durkheim E)Talcott Parsons

Feminist thinking had little impact on sociology until the mid-1960s.What happened in the 1960s to change this state of affairs? A)the rise of the modern women's movement B)the civil rights movement C)the decline of functionalism D)the development of new scientific research models E)the Vietnam War

Which theoretical approach focuses on the various aspects of male domination in society? A)functionalism B)conflict theory C)symbolic interactionism D)feminism E)dramaturgical sociology

The use of male pronouns to refer to men and women illustrates the operation of: A)class conflict B)patriarchy C)the Protestant ethic D)social solidarity E)social status

Feminist theory maintains that male domination and female subordination in society is determined by: A)class conflict B)social solidarity C)the Protestant ethic D)patriarchy E)economics

According to feminists,women are subordinate to men in contemporary society because of: A)biological necessity B)historical precedent C)structures of power and social convention D)the need for stability and consistency in modern society E)all of these choices

Much like conflict theory,feminist theory has an activist component.Feminist sociologists believe that existing patterns of gender inequality: A)must be opposed through violent struggle B)can and should be changed for the benefit of all members of society C)must be changed for the benefit of women in society D)are inevitable and can only be modestly changed E)can only be changed through peaceful revolution

The creation of laws and regulations by organizations and governments is called: A)jurisprudence B)legislation C)public policy D)lobbying E)think tank

In 2002,the world's developing countries paid the developed countries nearly ____ times more in interest on loans than they received in official aid. A)two B)five C)seven D)twelve E)nineteen

Personal problems are connected to social structures at the: A)peripheral and semiperipheral levels B)core and semicore levels C)internal and external levels D)micro,macro,and global levels E)qualitative and quantitative levels

Various aspects of society exert powerful influences on our behavior; therefore: A)we are slaves to the system B)we must continually struggle against oppression C)we are at the mercy of others D)our fate is unknown E)we are not perfectly free

Sociology is the systematic study of human behavior in social context.

Emile Durkheim's analysis of suicide demonstrates how the process of taking one's life through violent means is an isolated and individualistic act.

The hometown football team has a tight-knit group of players who care about each other on and off the field.A sociologist would conclude that the team has a high degree of social solidarity.

In his research on suicide,Emile Durkheim showed that unmarried adults are half as likely to commit suicide as married adults because there are fewer social regulations limiting their life choices.

The stable patterns of social relations in our lives such as the organization of work and emotions are called global structures.

Aaron and Roberta dated for several years and fell in love.This social interaction would be an example of microstructures.

Karl Marx was known as an important early symbolic interactionist.

If you are looking for a job,the best way to find one is to talk to as many of your close personal friends and relatives as possible.

Jonathan believes that men are superior to women in every way.This would be an example of unquestioned male domination of women that stems from a system that gives Jonathan advantages and privileges.This system is called Patriarchy by sociologists.

According to Brym and Lie,the third level of social organization is called macrostructures.This is the level of society that is comprised of international organizations,patterns of worldwide travel and communication.

The ability to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures (for example,personal problems and public issues related to unemployment)is known as the sociological imagination.

The revolution in social thought that led people to believe that they could control society was known as the scientific revolution.

The social thinker who coined the term sociology in 1838 was Emile Durkheim.

In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,Max Weber demonstrated that religious ideas could support the development of capitalism.

The study of the subjective meanings that people attach to their actions and social life is part of the functionalist theory.

Define the sociological imagination.

Define sociology.

Who was Harriet Martineau?

What are latent functions?

Define feminist theory.

What are macrostructures?

Define the Postindustrial Revolution.

Define social structures.

What are values?

Define microstructures.

Explain the three pillars of the sociological imagination.Use examples.

Explain the nature of sociology.What is the most compelling aspect of the sociological perspective?

Identify and briefly discuss the distinguishing features of the sociological perspective.

Compare and contrast micro-,macro-,and global social structures.How do you think these structures interact in social life?

Compare and contrast the scientific,democratic,and industrial revolutions.How did they provide fertile ground for the growth of sociology?

Compare and contrast functionalism,conflict theory,and symbolic interactionism,and feminism.

What is patriarchy? Explain how patriarchy has been perpetuated over time.

Define and explain the influence of social groups on our lives.Illustrate with an example of a social situation,such as going to football game.

What do Brym and Lie mean by a sociological compass? Explain your own location in society using this metaphor.

Construct your own essay question drawing on relevant course materials for your answer.Points will be awarded for both the question and answer.