Sociology Ch. 1

As a discipline, sociology first took root in France, Germany, and England. a. True b. False

a. True

In deciding what kinds of questions to ask as they begin research, sociologists are guided by a. one or more theoretical approaches b. their own common sense c. the data they collect d. sheer chance

a. one or more theoretical approaches

Which discipline defines itself as "the systematic study of human society"? a. sociology b. psychology c. economics d. history

a. sociology

Two of sociology's early founders were a. Auguste Comte and C. Wright Mills. b. C. Wright Mills and Karl Marx. c. Auguste Comte and Karl Marx. d. Robert Merton and Emile Durkheim.

c. Auguste Comte and Karl Marx.

Peter Berger described using the sociological perspective as seeing the __________ in the __________. a. good; worst tragedies b. new; old c. specific; commonplace d. general; particular

d. general; particular

The statement that the sociological perspective shows us "the strange in the familiar" means that sociology a. focuses on the bizarre elements of society. b. rejects the familiar idea that people simply decide how to act in favor of the initially strange idea that society shapes our lives. c. shows that people often behave in strange ways. d. shows that common sense is the best guide to understanding human behavior.

b. rejects the familiar idea that people simply decide how to act in favor of the initially strange idea that society shapes our lives.

Three roommates are in their dorm room sharing a late-night discussion about why they are in college. Which of the following statements about attending college best represents using the sociological perspective? a. College is not necessary preparation for every type of work. b. Attending college is a goal for people all over the world. c. Colleges try to attract intelligent students. d. Both age and class have a lot to do with which people are enrolled in college.

d. Both age and class have a lot to do with which people are enrolled in college.

25. Sociology differs from earlier philosophy by focusing on a. what the ideal society should be. b. our human nature. c. the power of God in shaping human events. d. how society actually operates.

d. how society actually operates.

C. Wright Mills pointed out that sociological awareness tends to be more widespread a. during times of peace and prosperity. b. among the very rich. c. among white people than among black people. d. in times of social crisis.

d. in times of social crisis.

Which early sociologist made a mark for herself by studying the evils of slavery and also translating the writings of Auguste Comte? a. Harriet Martineau b. Jane Addams c. Elizabeth Cady Stanton d. Margaret Mead

a. Harriet Martineau

Making use of the sociological perspective encourages us to a. challenge commonly held beliefs b. accept conventional ideas c. accept "common sense" d. become happier

a. challenge commonly held beliefs

Making use of the sociological perspective encourages a. challenging commonly held beliefs. b. accepting conventional ideas. c. the belief that society has little effect on the average individual. d. people to become isolated from one another.

a. challenging commonly held beliefs.

In deciding what questions to ask as they begin research, sociologists are guided by a. one or more theoretical approaches. b. their own common sense. c. the data they collect. d. sheer chance.

a. one or more theoretical approaches.

Which discipline is defined as "the systematic study of human society"? a. sociology b. psychology c. economics d. history

a. sociology

Which theoretical approach is closest to that taken by early sociologists Auguste Comte and Emile Durkheim? a. structural-functional approach b. social-conflict approach c. symbolic-interaction approach d. social-exchange approach

a. structural-functional approach

The theoretical approach in sociology that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability is the a. structural-functional approach. b. social-conflict approach. c. symbolic-interaction approach. d. social-exchange approach

a. structural-functional approach.

All but one the following historical trends stimulated the development of the discipline of sociology. Which one trend did NOT? a. the spread of the Roman Catholic religion b. the rise of an industrial economy c. the growth of cities d. new political ideas stressing individual rights

a. the spread of the Roman Catholic religion

More than 1.5 million immigrants enter the United States each year and many (including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gloria Estefan) have become famous. These facts support the conclusion that a. the world's nations are increasingly interconnected. b. other nations have little effect on life in rich countries such as the United States. c. people around the world share little in terms of their ways of life. d. people are as likely to leave the United States as to enter the United States.

a. the world's nations are increasingly interconnected.

Comte described the earliest human societies as being at the _________ of societal development. a. theological stage b. metaphysical stage c. scientific stage d. post-scientific stage

a. theological stage

In the United States today, the suicide rate is highest for which of the following categories of people? a. white males b. African American males c. white females d. African American females

a. white males

Which of the following is a benefit we gain from studying sociology? a. becoming more convinced of the truth in everyday "common sense" b. seeing both the opportunities and constraints that shape our lives c. understanding that we create life problems for ourselves d. paying little attention to the socially diverse world around us

b. seeing both the opportunities and constraints that shape our lives

Suicide rates are generally higher among a. poor people compared with rich people. b. single people compared with married people. c. females compared with males. d. African Americans compared to white people.

b. single people compared with married people.

The text describes the main point of using the structural-functional approach as a. learning how people find meaning in behavior b. understanding "what makes society tick." c. bringing about needed social change d. None of the above is correct

b. understanding "what makes society tick."

Which of the following statements best illustrates the career advantage a person gains by studying sociology? a. A researcher discovers a new and effective vaccine. b. A person in retail sales knows how to exceed the monthly sales target. c. A police officer understands which categories of people are at high risk of becoming victims of crime. d. A financial services worker devises a new type of hedge fund.

c. A police officer understands which categories of people are at high risk of becoming victims of crime.

The pioneering sociologist who studied patterns of suicide in Europe was a. Margaret Mead. b. Auguste Comte. c. Emile Durkheim. d. Karl Marx.

c. Emile Durkheim.

Which question summarizes the focus of the symbolic-interaction approach? a. How is society held together? b. How does a society divide a population? c. How do people experience society? d. How do some people protect their privileges?

c. How do people experience society?

Read the following four statements. Which statement is CORRECT? a. Because the United States is so rich, there is little reason for us to learn about the global economy. b. There is no longer any absolute poverty in the world. c. Learning more about other societies helps us better understand our own way of life. d. People the world over live in ways that are mostly the same.

c. Learning more about other societies helps us better understand our own way of life.

What would a sociologist be most likely to say about why an individual chooses a particular person to marry? a. There is no accounting for personal feelings like love. b. People's actions reflect human free will. c. Society guides human behavior more than most people realize. d. In the case of love, opposites attract.

c. Society guides human behavior more than most people realize.

Which of the following statements correctly describes sociology's value to future careers? a. Sociology is useful but only if you plan to teach or do research. b. Most sociologists work as government researchers. c. Sociology is excellent preparation for a wide range of future careers. d. Most sociologists work with clients in private practice.

c. Sociology is excellent preparation for a wide range of future careers.

According to Emile Durkheim, a category of people with a higher suicide rate typically has a. a higher level of clinical depression. b. a lower level of income and other resources. c. a lower level of societal integration. d. a higher level of self-esteem.

c. a lower level of societal integration.

According to Comte, during the Middle Ages most people in Europe thought of society as a. a system operating according to its own laws. b. chaotic and having little form. c. an expression of God's will. d. a reflection of our human nature.

c. an expression of God's will.

26. The term "sociology" was coined in 1838 by a. Karl Marx. b. Herbert Spencer. c. Adam Smith. d. Auguste Comte.

d. Auguste Comte.

The term "sociology" was coined by Emile Durkheim a. True b. False

b. False

What is the term for a basic image of society that guides thinking and research? a. theory b. hypothesis c. theoretical approach d. social fact

c. theoretical approach

Linking specific facts together to gain meaning creates a a. statement b. principle c. concept d. theory

d. theory

Why have sociologists NOT identified "laws of society" that allow us to predict the actions of specific individuals? a. Human behavior is both complex and partly spontaneous. b. Sociology is still very young. c. No sociologist ever tried to discover such laws. d. Human behavior is not patterned at all.

a. Human behavior is both complex and partly spontaneous.

__________ is a way of understanding the world based on science. a. Theology b. Positivism c. Tradition d. Common sense

b. Positivism

Historically, the sociological perspective was most likely to develop in a. nations with little social change. b. countries experiencing rapid social changes. c. countries where tradition was strong. d. isolated villages.

b. countries experiencing rapid social changes.

According to Comte, societies in which stage of development begin to see society as a natural—rather than a supernatural—phenomenon? a. theological stage b. metaphysical stage c. scientific stage d. post-scientific stage

b. metaphysical stage

Thomas Hobbes's idea that society reflects a selfish human nature illustrates the thinking common to Comte's __________ of societal development. a. theological stage b. metaphysical stage c. scientific stage d. post-scientific stage

b. metaphysical stage

A country in which average income is typical for the world as a whole, and in which people are as likely to live in a rural area as in an urban area, would fall into the category of a. low-income nations. b. middle-income nations. c. high-income nations. d. the very richest nations.

b. middle-income nations.

Almost all of Latin America and Asia falls within the category of a. low-income nations. b. middle-income nations. c. high-income nations. d. the very richest nations.

b. middle-income nations.

People in which of the following categories would you expect to most readily make use of the sociological perspective? a. people living in suburbs b. people of color c. politicians d. the middle class

b. people of color

The "Seeing Sociology in the News" article in Chapter 1 ("Sociology: Perspective, Theory, and Method") reports that in a bad economy, laid-off workers a. are leaving this country for developing nations. b. are likely to commit crimes. c. are flocking to community colleges. d. are likely to experience marital conflict.

c. are flocking to community colleges.

The United States falls within the category of a. low-income nations. b. middle-income nations. c. high-income nations. d. developing nations.

c. high-income nations.

The social-conflict approach draws attention to a. The orderly aspects of society b. how people construct meaning through interaction c. patterns of social inequality d. how elements contribute to the overall operation of society

c. patterns of social inequality

According to Comte, the kind of thinking favored by people such as Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, becomes widespread during the __________ of societal development. a. theological stage b. metaphysical stage c. scientific stage d. post-scientific stage

c. scientific stage

From a sociological perspective, patterns of childbearing around the world suggest that the number of children born to a woman reflects a. her personal choice. b. how many children she can afford. c. whether she lives in a poor or rich country. d. the desires of her husband.

c. whether she lives in a poor or rich country.

If we state that children raised in single-parent families are at high risk of being single parents themselves, we have constructed a __________ of family life. a. framework b. principle c. concept d. theory

d. theory

By linking specific facts together to give us meaning, we create a a. structure. b. principle. c. concept. d. theory.

d. theory.