Sociology - Exam 1

Ron, a sociologist, conducted a study on the relationship between crime and social changes. The results of the study showed that rapid societal changes lead to increased crime rates because social facts, or the patterned ways of thinking and acting that govern the behavior of individuals in a society, are destroyed because of social changes. This observation most likely resonates with the beliefs of sociologist __________.

Emile Durkheim

Sociologists use the term __________ to refer to the position of a person or group within a set of hierarchical social categories based on wealth, power, prestige, or other valued resources.

class

Which of the following is a difference between a fashion and a fad?

A fashion is longer lasting than a fad.

Which of the following is an example of cultural diffusion?

A group of people in a nation develops a new style of music, and their idea is soon popularized by the media and eventually adopted by people in other nations as well.

Which of the following is a key difference between a society and a culture?

A society is composed of people, whereas a culture is composed of the ideas and behavior of those people and the shared meanings among them.

Which of the following statements about culture is NOT true?

Cultural behavior is instinctual.

Anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski suggested that culture helps people meet their basic needs. In this context, who among the following individuals has fulfilled some of her instrumental needs?

Diane, who recently completed her law degree and started working in a prestigious law firm

British sociologist __________ translated and condensed Comte's work and was noted for her study of social customs in Great Britain and the United States.

Harriet Martineau

Which of the following statements is true of the beliefs of German social scientist Max Weber?

He disagreed with Marx's idea that economics is the central force in social change.

Which of the following early scientific thinkers first used the phrase "survival of the fittest" to explain his theory of society?

Herbert Spencer

Which of the following would most likely constitute an ethnic subculture in the United States?

Hispanic Americans

During the __________, massive social changes occurred as technological innovations shifted the economic base of countries in Europe and, later, the economic base of the United States, from agriculture to manufacturing.

Industrial Revolution

Which of the following is a criticism of the symbolic interactionist perspective?

It does not provide insight into how shared meanings are developed among people.

Which of the following is a strength of the functionalist perspective on culture?

It focuses on the needs of society and the fact that stability is essential for society's continued survival.

Which of the following statements is true of quantitative research?

It helps sociologists compare rates of suicide with variables such as age, race, sex, and education.

Which of the following countries is most likely to be a low-income nation?

Makana, an agrarian nation in the Asian subcontinent

Unlike others who believed that values could not be separated from the research process, German social scientist __________ emphasized that sociology should be value free, that is, research should be conducted in a scientific manner to exclude the researcher's personal values and economic interests.

Max Weber

Who among the following individuals is most likely to belong to the upper class on the basis of the culture she prefers?

Miranda, who patronizes live theater

__________ state what behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable. Laws that prohibit people from drinking and driving and "good manners" that preclude students from texting during class are examples.

Proscriptive norms

Which of the following is a guideline set forth by the American Sociological Association's Code of Ethics for conducting research?

Researchers must attempt to maintain objectivity at all times.

Who among the following sociologists is most likely to conduct a macrolevel analysis?

Rubin, who believes that a society is composed of institutions such as family and government that contribute to the stability of the society

__________ are rewards for appropriate behavior or penalties for inappropriate behavior.

Sanctions

The term __________ refers to the belief that those species of animals, including human beings, that are best adapted to their environment survive and prosper, whereas those that are poorly adapted die out.

Social Darwinism

Which of the following is not a change brought on by industrialization and urbanization?

a shift in people from being consumers to being producers

In the context of how culture is essential for humans, which of the following is a similarity between reflexes and drives?

The expression of both these characteristics is channeled by culture.

Which of the following statements about cultural universals is FALSE?

The specific form of most cultural universals is common across all cultural groups.

A sociology student is asked to conduct quantitative research on a topic related to sociology as part of his final year curriculum. The student decides to study racism and its causes and defines his research problem. In the context of the research process, which of the following steps should the student take next?

The student should review previous research on the chosen topic.

Which statement about drives and reflexes is correct?

They do not determine how people will behave in human societies.

Most technological changes are new technologies that significantly impact people's lives. Which of the following statements is true of the impact of these changes in a society?

They shape the material culture of the society

Which of the following groups would most likely be an example of a subculture in the United States?

a group of Muslims

Which of the following is an example of a counterculture?

a group of people that protests against the increasing income gap between the rich and the poor

In the context of formal, standardized norms that explicitly specify rules of behavior, which of the following is most likely to be tried under civil law?

a homeowner is unsatisfied with the shoddy work performed by a contractor

Marx argued that workers being paid less than the value of their labor results in __________, a feeling of powerlessness and estrangement from other people and from themselves.

alienation

Which of the following is NOT part of the theoretical contributions of Max Weber?

an emphasis on class struggle

Two researchers affiliated with different universities decided to study the Amish. The first researcher moved into an Amish community for six months and observed the behavior and activities of the residents of that community. The second researcher moved into an Amish community and lived there for four years, participating in the residents' daily lives during this period. In this context, unlike the first researcher, the second researcher conducted __________.

an ethnographic study

__________ is a carefully designed situation in which a researcher studies the impact of certain variables on subjects' attitudes or behavior.

an experiment

Durkheim used the term __________ to refer to a condition in which social control becomes ineffective as a result of the loss of shared values and of a sense of purpose in society.

anomie

Which of the following is not part of the sociological approach to the study of society and social interaction?

application of common sense or everyday understandings

Some people are atheists because they hold the conviction that God does not exist. This conviction is an example of a(n) __________, which is a central component of nonmaterial culture.

belief

A central tenet of Karl Marx's view is his __________.

belief that society must be changed

Daniel is the owner of a company that manufactures automobile parts. He owns all the factories of the company and employs 3,000 workers. In the context of Karl Marx's theory of class conflict, Daniel belongs to the __________.

bourgeoisie

Unlike researchers who conduct quantitative research, researchers who conduct qualitative research are more likely to __________.

collect and analyze data simultaneously

The basis for Marx's theory of society is the belief that _______________.

conflict between different economic classes is necessary to produce social change

According to the __________, groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources.

conflict perspective

In the context of the coal industry, which of the following theoretical perspectives of sociology would most likely be useful in analyzing the disagreements between coal companies and public health advocates?

conflict perspectives

In a study of homelessness in American society, __________ would emphasize the struggle between social classes, especially how the policies of wealthy people protect their interests while pushing certain groups into unemployment and homelessness.

conflict theorists

Social-class pressures may affect rates of suicide among young people. This view is consistent with the __________.

conflict theory perspective

__________ is the systematic examination of cultural artifacts or various forms of communication to extract thematic data and draw conclusions about social life.

content analysis

The Order, a white supremacist group, opposes most of the values shared by the majority of mainstream Americans. The Order has purchased weapons and plans to carry out mass shootings to demonstrate its opposition to the dominant cultural values and beliefs. This group is most likely an example of a __________.

counterculture

Groups such as the beatniks of the 1950s, the drug enthusiasts of the 1970s, and members of religious cults reject some or many of culture's basic norms and values. These groups are called __________.

countercultures

Theft, assault, and drug dealing are all violations of __________.

criminal law

Which of the following is NOT one of the ten core American values identified by sociologist Robin Williams?

cultural and ethnic diversity

According to French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, members of the upper class in a society must be trained to appreciate and participate in high culture, which includes activities such as opera, ballet, and live theater. Once these members acquire these abilities, they possess __________, which is symbolic of being a member of the upper class and is typically not acquired by members of the lower classes.

cultural capital

The spread of Ebola virus, which started in Guinea, to the neighboring countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone through tourism and immigration is an example of __________.

cultural diffusion

__________ refers to the wide range of cultural differences found between and within nations. It may be the result of natural or social circumstances.

cultural diversity

Although some people see a globalized culture emerging, others fear that Western culture is dominating everywhere. This Westernization is a form of __________.

cultural imperialism

All parts of culture do not change at the same pace. Sociologist William Ogburn referred to this disparity as __________, which is a gap between the technical development of a society and its moral and legal institutions.

cultural lag

People in all societies believe in the social institution of religion. As a result, the general practices related to religion are present in all cultures. In this context, religion is an example of __________.

cultural universal

Cooking, games, folklore, dancing, and clothing are examples of __________.

cultural universals

__________ refers to the knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society.

culture

All members of a society usually use a paper napkin and turn their heads away from others when sneezing. This appropriate way of sneezing followed by the members of the society shows that __________.

culture channels the expression of human reflexes

People sleep to maintain their biological needs. But the fact that most people gradually learn to sleep on beds or mats exemplifies how:

culture channels the expression of human reflexes

Sociologists use the term __________ to refer to the disorientation that people feel when they encounter cultures radically different from their own and believe they cannot depend on their own taken-for-granted assumptions about life.

culture shock

When anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon first confronted the Yanomamӧ tribe of South America, he became nauseated at the sight of their customs and social environment. This is an example of __________.

culture shock

The attractiveness and acceptance of U.S. popular culture are increasing globally. Parts of this popular culture such as entertainment, fads, and music are being promoted through the media and are increasingly being used by masses in different countries. This scenario exemplifies __________.

diffusion

__________ is the process of learning about something previously unknown or unrecognized, such as finding a cure for cancer. __________ is the process of reshaping existing cultural items into a new form, such as the latest digital devices.

discovery; invention

Values differ from norms in that values:

do not state explicitly how people should behave

Megan, an African American adolescent girl living in the United States, is going through the identity conflict of being a black and an American. Sociologist Du Bois would term this conflict __________.

double-consciousness

A __________ of education in the United States is the perpetuation of gender, racial, and class inequalities, which contributes to a waste of potential talent.

dysfunction

Automobiles provide transportation and independence. They also cause air pollution and contribute to global warming. Sociologist Robert K. Merton would consider these negative impacts the __________ of automobiles.

dysfunctions

According to sociologist Robin Williams, the core value of __________ pushes Americans to want things to be bigger, better, and faster.

efficiency and practicality

A functionalist study has determined that __________ is the most important factor in whether Air Force personnel experience severe suicidal ideation.

esteem support

The cultural heritage or identity of a group, based on factors such as language or country of origin, is termed __________.

ethnicity

Sociologists use the term __________ to refer to the practice of judging all other cultures by one's own culture, assuming that one's own way of life is superior to all others.

ethnocentrism

In an experiment, the __________ contains the subjects who are exposed to an independent variable to study its effect on them.

experimental group

Functionalist Talcott Parsons suggested that complementary roles of men and women in the family contribute to social stability. The wife/mother performs the __________, which include housework, caring for the children, and providing emotional support for the entire family.

expressive tasks

A __________ is a temporary but widely copied activity followed enthusiastically by large numbers of people. Most are short-lived novelties.

fad

A sociologist studied the learning capacity of toddlers by joining a preschool for six months. During this period, he observed the activities of toddlers and asked questions related to their development to their parents and teachers. In this scenario, the sociologist most likely conducted __________.

field research

In the United States, __________ might include using underarm deodorant and brushing one's teeth every day.

folkways

When you meet your new supervisor for the first time, you forget to extend your hand to her for a handshake. Which of the following cultural components has your behavior violated?

folkways

George Simmel developed the concept of __________, an approach that focuses attention on the universal social forms that underlie social interaction.

formal sociology

In the context of the core values identified by sociologist Robin M. Williams Jr. as being important to people in the United States, the core value of __________ includes the right to private ownership of property and the ability to engage in private enterprise.

freedom and liberty

__________ states that societies develop social structures, or institutions, that persist because they play a part in helping society survive. These institutions include the family, education, government, religion, and the economy.

functionalism

__________ are based on the assumption that society is a stable, orderly system composed of interrelated parts, each of which (ideally) contributes to the overall stability of the society.

functionalist perspectives

In a study of education in the United States, __________ would look at the role schools play in maintaining the social system as a whole, how education provides the young with skills they need later in life, and how education transmits cultural values from one generation to the next.

functionalists

The term __________ refers to the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with sex differences.

gender

People throughout the world share the same biosphere; environmental pollution in one area may have an adverse effect on people in other areas. Therefore, environmental problems are an example of __________.

global interdependence

__________ refers to a relationship in which the lives of people everywhere are intertwined closely so that one nation's problems have an impact on other nations as well.

global interdependence

Some nations, such as the United States, are referred to as __________, meaning that they include people who are dissimilar in regard to social characteristics such as religion, income, or race/ethnicity.

heterogenous societies

The world's __________ are nations with highly industrialized economies; technologically advanced industrial, administrative, and service occupations; and relatively high levels of national and personal income.

high-income countries

Critics of Durkheim have argued that __________.

his emphasis on societal stability obscures the subjective meanings that individuals give to social phenomena

Some nations, such as Japan and North Korea, mostly include people who share a common culture and who are typically from similar social, religious, political, and economic backgrounds. These nations are referred to as __________.

homogenous societies

Disney-like theme parks constitute a form of seduction that substitutes real power with symbolic power. From this perspective, amusement park visitors may feel like survivors after enduring the rapid speed and gravity-defying movements of roller-coaster rides or see themselves as winners after surviving fights with hideous cartoon villains. The term Baudrillard used to refer to this social and cultural creation is __________.

hyperreality

A sociologist who is conducting a study on the relationship between social media use and narcissism formulates the following statement: Regular use of social media increases narcissism among people. This statement is a(n) __________.

hypothesis

"American society stands for equal opportunity for all." This statement exemplifies __________, which refers to the values and standards of behavior that people in a society profess to hold.

ideal culture

Which of the following was one of the problems that led social thinkers to study societal changes?

inadequate housing

When studying the relationship between social integration and suicide, a researcher hypothesizes that a low degree of social integration causes suicide. In this case, the degree of social integration is a(n) __________.

independent variable

LeBron has developed the hypothesis that the stress felt by single parents increases the probability of child abuse. In this case, stress would be considered the __________ variable and child abuse would be considered the __________ variable.

independent; dependent

According to sociologist Robin M. Williams Jr., the core value of __________ pushes people in the United States to be responsible for their own success or failure.

individualism

Interest in the systematic study of people's behavior and ideas became prevalent during the nineteenth century primarily in response to __________.

industrialization and urbanization

__________ are norms considered to be less important, are unwritten, and are commonly understood standards of behavior among people who share an identity.

informal norms

A(n) __________ is a biologically based behavioral pattern common to all members of a species under certain environmental conditions.

instinct

Breanna believes that Jarrod is upset with her because she interprets his tone of voice as angry. Although Jarrod states that he is not angry, from a symbolic interactionist perspective, it is Breanna's __________ of the situation that is most real or believable to her.

interpretation

Robert K. Merton defined a manifest function as one that __________.

is intended by the participants in a social unit.

Language is considered an important component of culture because __________.

it helps people create and transmit culture from one generation to the next by manipulating symbols

A major criticism of Spencer's theory of social Darwinism is that ______________.

it may be used to justify racial/ethnic, gender, and class inequalities in society

Words have positive connotations when relating to male power, prestige, and leadership; when relating to women, they carry negative overtones of weakness, inferiority, and emotional immaturity. This differentiation demonstrates how __________.

language and gender are intertwined

Anne, a teenager, is constantly bullied by her peers in school because of her dark skin color. She frequently hears her peers say remarks such as "You are so unattractive" and "You are inferior." Despite being a good student, Anne develops an inferiority complex and starts believing that she is ugly. This leads to her being aloof and actively shying away from social events. This scenario most likely illustrates that __________.

language can determine reality

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that __________.

language not only helps people express their thoughts and perceptions but also influences their perception of reality

Conflict theorists are most likely to be criticized for __________.

largely focusing on the societal discord and the divisiveness of culture

When students go to college, they often make lifelong friends and may even find their life partners. Robert Merton would consider this a(n) __________ of education.

latent function

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 of the U.S. Constitution states that employment discrimination based on race and gender is illegal and specifies the penalties for those who violate Title VII. In this context, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is an example of a __________.

law

Angela, a scientist, identifies a strain of DNA that is resistant to AIDS. This information was previously unknown and is therefore of significant importance in the medical world. In this scenario, Angela has __________.

made a discovery

Which of the following groups has the highest rate of suicide?

males in high-income countries

Students who attend nursing schools aim to learn skills that would enable them to work in the health care industry in the future. Sociologist Merton would consider this a __________ of their education.

manifest function

All human beings create shelter to protect themselves from the weather and to give themselves privacy. This exemplifies how __________.

material culture acts as a buffer against the environment

Several groups of people in some African nations believe that female circumcision is necessary to ensure the purity of girls until their marriage. As a result, young girls are forced to undergo circumcision. A sociologist who studies this practice from the perspective of cultural relativism is likely to justify the behavior of these groups. This scenario demonstrates how cultural relativism __________.

may be used to excuse customs that violate human rights

Marx termed the tools, land, factories, and money for investment that form the economic basis of a society the __________.

means of production

Martha, a sociologist, is conducting a study on terrorism. Instead of examining social structures such as family, education, religion, and government to evaluate their roles in advancing terrorism, Martha is studying small groups of people comprising the family members of various terrorists. In this case, Martha is conducting a __________.

microlevel analysis

A significant difference between high- and low-income countries is that low-income countries tend to be __________.

more agrarian

__________ are strongly held norms with moral and ethical connotations that, if violated, may result in serious consequences within a particular culture.

mores

Jeffrey Dahmer was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was also a cannibal. In this situation, the act of murder can be described as violation of __________, while cannibalism can be described as violation of __________.

mores; taboos

During a classical music performance, a concertgoer talks loudly to the person sitting next to her. A man in another seat turns around, frowns at her, and says "Shh." This illustrates a __________.

negative informal sanction

Luis has just received a stern lecture from his mother about his poor grade in algebra. His mother's lecture is an example of a __________.

negative sanction

Nonhuman animals cannot use symbols to transmit the complex aspects of their culture to their offspring because __________.

nonhuman animals use symbols with fixed meanings and thus cannot manipulate these symbols to express abstract concepts or rules

Democracy, belief in a Supreme Being, and understanding English are examples of __________.

nonmaterial culture

Rotating a finger to indicate that someone is "crazy" is an example of a gesture. Gestures are a component of __________.

nonmaterial culture

The purchase of wristbands that make a statement or support a cause is an example of a(n) __________.

object fad

The Livestrong bracelet, a wristband developed by a nonprofit organization that aids cancer patients and had Lance Armstrong as its ambassador, became very popular in 2004 and was worn by many cyclists. However, its popularity was short-lived, and it soon lost its novelty. On the contrary, football has been in vogue for many decades and is followed religiously by masses all over the world. Being a football fan is considered a valued style of behavior and thinking. In this context, the Livestrong bracelet is an example of a(n) __________, whereas football is an example of a(n) __________.

object fad; fashion

To understand the process coroners use to determine whether or not a death is a suicide, a sociologist works for six months in the coroner's office and spends as much time as possible observing coroners at work. This is an example of __________.

participant observation

According to feminist theorists, we live in a(n) __________, a system in which men dominate women and in which things that are considered to be "male" or "masculine" are more highly valued than those considered to be "female" or "feminine."

patriarchy

The basis for Durkheim's theory of society is the principle that _____________.

people are the products of their social environments

Emile Durkheim refused to accept that suicide is merely a(n) __________.

personal trouble

One couple's inability to keep their marriage intact may be an example of a __________, whereas widespread divorce as a result of changes in the economy or other social factors is an example of a __________.

personal trouble; public issue

A majority of upper-class people in a society attend opera, ballet, and live theater. These people have the time, money, and knowledge to understand and appreciate these activities. On the contrary, people of the subordinate classes usually attend rock concerts and spectator sports as they lack the financial resources available to the elite. In this context, people of the subordinate classes most likely appreciate and participate in __________.

popular culture

During the Olympics, competition and a spirit of nationalism and patriotism encourage people to think of their own nation as "the best." This is an example of __________.

positive ethnocentrism

After having successfully negotiated an important business contract with a major client, Jocelyn's boss congratulated her and promised her a significant pay raise. In this case, Jocelyn is receiving what sociologists term a(n) __________.

positive sanction

French philosopher Auguste Comte's belief that the world can best be understood through scientific inquiry became known as __________.

positivism

According to the __________, the classical theories of sociology have been unsuccessful in explaining social life in contemporary societies that are characterized by consumerism, global communications, and information explosion.

postmodern perspective

Both Karl Marx and Max Weber were in agreement that economic conditions played a role in producing inequality in society. However, Max Weber also suggested two other sources of social inequality and conflict. These sources are __________.

power and prestige

C. Wright Mills used the term __________ to refer to a small clique composed of top corporate, political, and military officials who hold the most power in society.

power elite

__________ state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable. For example, persons making a certain amount of money are expected to file a tax return and pay any taxes they owe.

prescriptive norms

In the Marxian framework, the __________ consists of those who sell their labor because they have no other way to earn a living.

proletariat

Tom works on the assembly line at the local Ford automobile factory. In the context of the Marxian framework, Tom would be considered a member of the __________ because he does not own the means of production.

proletariat class

According to Mills, the sociological imagination enables one to distinguish between personal troubles, which must be solved within the immediate social setting, and __________, which affect large numbers of people and often require solutions at the societal level.

public issues

Researchers in one study systematically analyzed the content of the notes of suicide victims to determine recurring themes, such as feelings of despair or failure. Through the study of the words used in the notes, the researchers hoped to determine if any common underlying meanings were present across the notes that would help them understand why people kill themselves. This is an example of __________.

qualitative research

With __________, interpretive descriptions (words) rather than statistics (numbers) are used to analyze underlying meanings and patterns of social relationships.

qualitative research

With __________, the goal is scientific objectivity, and the focus is on data that can be measured numerically.

quantitative research

__________ is a socially constructed concept used by many people to specify groups of people based on their physical characteristics such as skin color.

race

People may claim to be law-abiding but may still engage in behaviors that are illegal. This behavior is an example of __________, which refers to the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow.

real culture

Soledad has developed a scale to assess job satisfaction among temporary workers. She is afraid that workers in her study will each interpret the scale items in a different way. Soledad is concerned about the __________ of her scale.

reliability

Kevin, a sociologist, decides to study the relationship between stress and aggression. He develops a hypothesis and conducts an experiment with a group of participants to systematically gather data. After analyzing the results, Kevin concludes that there is a positive correlation between stress and violence. In this scenario, Kevin is using __________ to test his hypothesis.

research

A researcher who is conducting a study on how religious views impact the voting behavior of the elderly sends an e-mail with a questionnaire to all members of the population being studied. The people who complete the questionnaire and thereby provide data for analysis are called __________.

respondents

Asher decides to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the Gardasil vaccine but lacks time and money to gather his own data. As a result, he analyzes the data that were gathered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this case, Asher is conducting __________.

secondary analysis

In __________, researchers use existing material and analyze data that were originally collected by others.

secondary analysis

Barbara was born female, which refers to her __________; she acts very feminine, which refers to her __________.

sex; gender

German sociologist Georg Simmel analyzed how social interactions vary depending on the __________. He concluded that interaction patterns differ between a dyad and a triad.

size of the social group

Comte believed that societies are made up of social statics, or forces for order and stability, as well as __________, or forces for social change.

social dynamics

In her work, sociologist Harriet Martineau strongly advocates __________.

social equality and reform

French sociologist Emile Durkheim coined the term __________ to refer to the patterns of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside any one individual but that exert social control over every person in society.

social facts

When studying the problem of suicide, sociologists are most interested in explaining its __________.

societal patterns

A __________ is a large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.

society

Sociologist C. Wright Mills coined the term __________ to refer to the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society.

sociological imagination

A __________ is a category of people who share distinguishing attributes, beliefs, values, and/or norms that set them apart in some significant manner from the dominant culture.

subculture

In December, many Jewish families who live in the United States celebrate Hanukkah, the festival of lights. They serve special food and engage in activities unique to their religious faith. In this context, members of the Jewish faith in the United States most likely represent a __________.

subculture

A(n) __________ is a method most commonly used to study people's behavior and beliefs.

survey

A __________ is anything that meaningfully represents something else and includes signs, gestures, written language, and shared values.

symbol

Signboards with a skull and crossbones are used to represent danger and to warn people. In this context, the skull and the crossbones together constitute a __________.

symbol

George, a sociologist, believes that people change and maintain culture through their daily communication with others. He also believes that people reinterpret their values and norms to determine the appropriate behavior for a specific situation. In the context of the major sociological perspectives, George is most likely a __________.

symbolic interactionist

The __________ focuses on the immediately reciprocated communication between two or more people and the part that facial gestures, posture, tone of voice, and other gestures play in that communication.

symbolic interactionist perspective

In a study of education in the United States, __________ would emphasize the daily activities and the various forms of communication between teachers and students. They would also examine the influence of peer groups and look at the reaction when school rules are either broken or followed.

symbolic interactionists

The "thumbs-up" gesture signifies approval in some cultures, but this gesture is considered obscene in other cultures. The variation in the interpretation of the "thumbs-up" gesture across cultures illustrates that __________.

symbols may have different meanings among different groups of people

Sociology is the __________.

systematic study of human society and social interaction

The strongest mores are referred to as __________. They are so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable.

taboos

Sociologists define __________ as the knowledge, techniques, and tools that make it possible for people to transform resources into usable forms and the knowledge and skills required to use them after they are developed.

technology

Which of the following is not considered a component of nonmaterial culture?

technology such as iPads

Which of the following is an example of material culture?

technology such as smartphones

Which of the following exemplifies how language is a reflection of one's cultural heritage?

the use of dichos, which are proverbs that are unique to the Spanish language, by Latinos/as in New Mexico and south Texas

Which of the following is most likely to lead to an advancement in material culture and may therefore contribute to cultural lag?

the discovery of a cure for progeria

Which of the following is an example of cultural lag?

the lack of acceptance of genetically engineered foods by people who believe that such foods may lead to health and environmental problems

Which of the following is most likely to be determined by nurture?

the language a person speaks

A __________ is a set of logically interrelated statements that attempts to describe, explain, and (occasionally) predict social events.

theory

Culture could not exist without symbols because __________.

there would no shared meanings among people in the absence of symbols

Subcultures are important because __________.

they help people adapt to abrupt cultural change

Sociologist Ann Swidler coined the expression __________ to refer to human culture or symbols, stories, rituals, and worldviews, which people may use in varying configurations to solve different kinds of problems.

tool kit

__________ refers to the process by which an increasing number of people live in cities rather than rural areas.

urbanization

__________ is the extent to which a study or research instrument accurately measures what it is supposed to measure.

validity

Brenda donates generously to a number of local charities; however, she also strongly believes in the value of hard work and "earning your own keep." Sociologists would characterize Brenda's thinking as a __________.

value contradiction

The term __________ refers to values that conflict with one another or are mutually exclusive, meaning that achieving one value makes it difficult, if not impossible, to achieve another.

value contradictions

The belief of a group of people of a distinct race that their culture is superior to other cultures is an example of a __________, but the law that prohibits people from showing discrimination against others on the basis of race is an example of a __________.

value; norm

__________ are collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture.

values

A researcher is conducting a longitudinal study on how age affects the learning of a new language. In this study, age is a factor that differs for each participant. The learning capacity of each participant also differs based on his or her age. In this context, age and learning capacity are both measurable traits that are likely to differ from one time to another. Therefore, age and learning capacity are examples of __________.

variables

Angela, a sociologist, is conducting a study on divorce and the factors that affect it. She personally believes that modern couples do not take relationships seriously and is of the opinion that married couples should stick together through thick and thin. However, she knows that she should be objective in her study and, therefore, employs an approach that allows her to gain the ability to see the world from the perspective of others. Which of the following approaches is Angela most likely using?

verstehen