Sociology Unit 1 Quiz Questions

Which of the following is an example of a stereotype? Women should be paid the same as men. More people are unemployed this year compared with last year. Keri is spoiled because she came from a wealthy family. Children with poor nutrition tend to score lower in school.

Keri is spoiled because she came from a wealthy family.

Which of the following is the best example of the generalized other? Kerry knows she will be expected to wear black when attending a funeral. Friends decide to run together on a regular basis. Many different strangers sign the same online petition. A group of people make a bold decision to gather and hold a protest.

Kerry knows she will be expected to wear black when attending a funeral.

Which of the following have sociologists observed about laughter? There are no conventions regarding when it is appropriate to laugh. Laughter is an emotional performance. Unlike the expression of other emotions, laughter is always a random outburst. Laughter appears to be a random outburst, but in fact people are careful to take turns when laughing together.

Laughter is an emotional performance.

Which of the following is an example of what Erving Goffman described as the "presentation of self"? People often calculate the amount of time it takes to complete tasks in order to manage their schedules. People attend to the details of their social media profiles. People experience punishment when they are caught breaking the law. People receive information about themselves when interacting with others.

People attend to the details of their social media profiles.

People sometimes signal with a long pause that they do not want to engage in a conversation. What is the name for this type of signal? looking-glass gesture conversational repair role conflict disaffiliative gesture

disaffiliative gesture

Which of the following concepts refers to W. E. B. Du Bois's idea that unlike white Americans, black Americans must live multiple lives, one as a black person and one as an American? double consciousness ethnocentrism social closure dual social networks

double consciousness

The sociological subfield that refers to the study of the methods people use during everyday interactions is known as __________. epistemology generalized other social work ethnomethodology

ethnomethodology

Social theories are __________. only written by sociologists ideas that refuse to explain the relationship between any two entities systematic ideas that help explain the relationship between individuals and society completely accurate and reliable ways of explaining social life

systematic ideas that help explain the relationship between individuals and society

Theories that are very grand or "macro" in nature typically seek to explain __________. universal features of societies spiritual phenomena, such as the existence of God single topics, such as race, gender, or religion abnormal features of individuals

universal features of societies

Who coined the term "sociology"? Auguste Comte Emile Durkheim John Commons Karl Marx

August Comte

Which of the following best describes what it means to connect individual biographies to history? Connecting biography to history means understanding how an individual's problem is really a social problem affecting many individuals. Connecting biography to history means understanding how biographers have systematically altered our understanding of history. Connecting biography to history means understanding how history can be understood by analyzing biology. Connecting biography to history means understanding how sociology was created by historians.

Connecting biography to history means understanding how an individual's problem is really a social problem affecting many individuals.

Which social theorist was most interested in understanding how people interpret and give meaning to the world around them? Emile Durkheim Georg Simmel Max Weber Karl Marx

Max Weber

Which of the following statements best reflects the relationship between norms and whether an individual "fits in" to society? Norms regularly challenge social hierarchies and disrupt the ability of people with high-status positions from "fitting in" at their high-status jobs. Norms are the result of a psychological process and regulate whether we feel we "fit in." Norms derive from hormones and regulate whether we feel we "fit in." Norms are the rules about what is and isn't acceptable by our community and must be followed to "fit in."

Norms are the rules about what is and isn't acceptable by our community and must be followed to "fit in."

Which of the following statements best describes why a sociological imagination is important for understanding society? The sociological imagination allows us to refine our emotional biases in research settings. Only when we develop this ability can we start to see how larger issues in society relate to personal problems. The sociological imagination gives us the creativity to examine whether personal problems are real or fake. The sociological imagination allows us to think about the social consequences of social issues.

Only when we develop this ability can we start to see how larger issues in society relate to personal problems.

What is one of the conclusions ethnographer Christena Nippert-Eng made about the items found in people's wallets and purses? Wallets, purses, and other accessories inhibit people from expressing their true self. Americans spend 30 percent more time shopping than their European counterparts. People carefully consider what aspects of their identities they want to reveal and under what circumstances they want to reveal them. People have relatively static identities that resist change over time.

People carefully consider what aspects of their identities they want to reveal and under what circumstances they want to reveal them.

In what sense are individuals unique despite the fact that they may share common identities based on gender, race, and class? People experience a unique array of social interactions that shape their identities. People are socially identical, but their genetic distinctiveness makes them appear unique. People are socially similar, but pretend to be unique. Every person is born into a one-of-a-kind institution that endows him or her with a unique identity.

People experience a unique array of social interactions that shape their identities.

According to the chapter, why do people sometimes follow informal rules, even when they contradict formal rules? People from high status groups follow informal rules, while people from low status groups follow formal rules. People only apply informal rules when they do not understand formal rules. People interpret situations and apply informal rules so that the social world runs more smoothly. People only follow informal rules when attempting to be deviant.

People interpret situations and apply informal rules so that the social world runs more smoothly.

Which of the following have ethnomethodologists observed about emotion? Dancing at funerals is a universal taboo among human societies. People only control emotions during social interaction in parts of east Africa and along the Satpura Range in India. People often exercise control over their emotions, and the way they express emotion differs from society to society. People exercise control over their emotional expressions with the exception of laughter, which is the one expression beyond human control.

People often exercise control over their emotions, and the way they express emotion differs from society to society.

What does the chapter author observe about emoticons? People use emoticons and other signs to avoid confusion. People who use emoticons are known as deviants. People use emoticons to express civil inattention. People use emoticons because digital communication is destroying human creativity.

People use emoticons and other signs to avoid confusion.

Which of the following observations comes from analyzing people's methods during conversations? Conversations are surprisingly democratic. People with more status and power rarely interrupt those with less. Hand gestures have multiple meanings, but words such as "love" and "kill" have fixed meanings. People who have more power and status often interrupt those who have less. People always deny requests by saying "no" just as quickly as they accept requests by saying "yes."

People who have more power and status often interrupt those who have less.

Which of the following best characterizes the focus of symbolic interactionism? Symbolic interactionism focuses on the nuances of how people in society compete for scarce resources. Symbolic interactionism focuses on how people interact and create shared meaning. Symbolic interactionism focuses on the ways social institutions complement each other. Symbolic interactionism focuses on the economic differences between racial groups.

Symbolic interactionism focuses on how people interact and create shared meaning.

Which social theorist is primarily associated with the development of structural functionalism? Friedrich Engels Georg Simmel Talcott Parsons W. E. B. Du Bois

Talcott Parsons

Tam is able to attend a highly competitive college because his parents have enough income to pay the tuition. Lai is only able to attend night classes at a less competitive college because she has to work during the day to pay tuition. Which statement best describes how the notion of a "social context" can be used to describe this scenario? Tam and Lai are experiencing the same social context. Lai is experiencing a social context, but Tam is not. Lai's and Tam's educational experiences are not related to the notion of a social context, and they will only begin experiencing a social context after their formal education. Tam and Lai are experiencing different social contexts, which will likely have an impact on the type of opportunities each encounters in life.

Tam and Lai are experiencing different social contexts, which will likely have an impact on the type of opportunities each encounters in life.

Tannistha stood up to a classmate who was bullying another classmate. In the language of the sociology of interaction, which of the following describes what Tannistha did? Tannistha instigated a "significant gesture." Tannistha engaged in a "status swap." Tannistha created a "collective effervescence." Tannistha "took the role of the other."

Tannistha "took the role of the other."

Which of the following describes the central questions all sociological theories face? What is the nature of the individual? What are the circumstances under which a society will morph? What are the circumstances under which societies change? What is the nature of the individual? What is the basis for social order? What are the circumstances under which societies change? What is the basis for the division between civilization and the state of nature? What is the basis for social order? What are the circumstances under which societies change? When did humans invent tools? When did humans master fire? When did humans master agriculture?

What is the nature of the individual? What is the basis for social order? What are the circumstances under which societies change?

Which of the following describes the central questions all sociological theories face? What is the nature of the individual? What are the circumstances under which a society will morph? What are the circumstances under which societies change? What is the nature of the individual? What is the basis for social order? What are the circumstances under which societies change? When did humans invent tools? When did humans master fire? When did humans master agriculture? What is the basis for the division between civilization and the state of nature? What is the basis for social order? What are the circumstances under which societies change?

What is the nature of the individual? What is the basis for social order? What are the circumstances under which societies change?

Which of the following is the best definition of the self? a type of consciousness that is fully formed at birth a term that designates the mathematical center of a social network personality traits you are born with an identity developed through social interaction

an identity developed through social interaction

Which of the following terms describes the idea that capitalists are driven to push down the wages of workers, which is in direct conflict with the goals of workers, who seek to secure higher wages? socialist struggle the communist imperative class struggle social solidarity

class struggle

Which theoretical perspective focuses on how social and economic inequalities persist because powerful individuals and groups work to protect their advantages? conflict theory symbolic interaction structural functionalism network analysis

conflict theory

People use the word "love" to express their preferences for flavors of ice cream as well as their feelings toward their children, but it is safe to say that the word means something different in each of these situations. This is an example of the way __________ give(s) meaning to words and situations. generalized others the looking-glass self context significant others

context

Which of the following describes individuals who have a powerful impact on how we behave because they are so close? deviants significant other judgmental dopes generalized other

significant other

Which of the following best defines the term "generalized other"? social control exercised by commonsense understandings of what is appropriate in a specific time and place individuals who are incorporated into a group through conversational precision modeling one's behavior on the actions of particular individuals in a group the process of excluding people from a group or organization

social control exercised by commonsense understandings of what is appropriate in a specific time and place

Family, marriage, education, government, and religion are all examples of __________. social institutions subcultures prejudices social networks

social institutions

Which of the following themes can be readily found in Emile Durkheim's theoretical work? gender inequality social surveillance communism social solidarity

social solidarity

Forming a good sociological question requires that we learn not to take __________ for granted. the knowledge of economists stereotypes and commonsense data book knowledge

stereotypes and commonsense

Social theorists working in the tradition of __________ theorized that social change happened much like the theory of __________. structural functionalism; relativity symbolic interaction; fluid dynamics structural functionalism; evolution conflict theory; evolution

structural functionalism; evolution

Which of the following is the best definition of civil inattention? the tendency to engage with people who are most similar to ourselves the growing number of people in a democratic society who choose not to vote the conflict one feels in regard to conflicting public and private roles the act of ignoring other people to an appropriate degree even when you notice they are nearby

the act of ignoring other people to an appropriate degree even when you notice they are nearby

From a very young age, a child is told by his parents that he is good at sports. As he gets older, he tries out for many different sporting teams, spends time practicing, and eventually becomes an excellent athlete. This scenario illustrates __________. interactional repair the effects of role conflict on an individual the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy the impact of conversational inequality

the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy

Conversational precision refers to __________. the inability to improvise while conversing with others the often subtle physical and verbal cues people deploy to converse successfully with others the process by which someone comes to fulfill the expectations that another person places on him or her during a single conversation earlier in life how one's self-understanding depends on the signals received while conversing with others

the often subtle physical and verbal cues people deploy to converse successfully with others

According to labeling theory, how do people become deviant? Informal syndicates mentor people in crime and teach them how to engage in deviant behavior. A person or institution may label a person or group as good, but the stress of the "good" label leads individuals to embrace deviant behavior. Due to a cognitive deficiency, some individuals are unable to identify which behaviors society has deemed as deviant, and they engage in those behaviors accidentally. A person or institution labels a person or group deviant, and that label may influence future behavior.

A person or institution labels a person or group deviant, and that label may influence future behavior.

Which of the following best describes how people commonly develop stereotypes? One person believes another person possesses a given characteristic because he or she has spent a long time getting to know the person. A person assumes that the characteristics of one group are also the characteristics of another group. A person believes that a group has a particular characteristic based on recent sociological research. A person perceives that a group is distinct because of a certain characteristic, then assumes that an individual from that group must have that characteristic.

A person perceives that a group is distinct because of a certain characteristic, then assumes that an individual from that group must have that characteristic.

Sociologist C. Wright Mills suggested that the sociological imagination is a concept that lets us think systematically about the relationship between the personal and the social. Using your sociological imagination, how might the personal problem of unemployment be tied to greater social issues? A person will face unemployment if he or she is not willing to put in extended hours. A person will face unemployment if he or she is not sufficiently motivated to work. A person will face unemployment if he or she has mental health issues that make the person a poor worker. A person will face unemployment due to a recession that resulted in fewer available job openings for job seekers.

A person will face unemployment due to a recession that resulted in fewer available job openings for job seekers.

Which of the following statements best describes how roles are related to social institutions? A role is a position within an institution or organization that comes with specific social expectations for how to behave and be treated. Institutions can only exist if individuals disregard the social hierarchy of roles. Roles are produced by the psychological processes of individuals, which then produce institutions. Roles are institutions, which individuals must always occupy.

A role is a position within an institution or organization that comes with specific social expectations for how to behave and be treated.

Which of the following best explains the relationship between a sociological imagination and stereotypes? Social stereotypes are the building blocks of social roles, and social roles are the building blocks of a sociological imagination. A sociological imagination challenges stereotypes by raising questions about where they come from. A sociological imagination helps us see the value in stereotypes as they dictate social norms. Sociological imagination is another word for stereotype.

A sociological imagination challenges stereotypes by raising questions about where they come from.

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between changing roles and role expectations? Taking on new roles sometimes matters and sometimes doesn't. Role changes never result in role conflicts. Changes in roles confer different challenges and opportunities for individuals. Role changes have little effect on the behavior of well-rounded individuals, as long as they have strong social networks.

Changes in roles confer different challenges and opportunities for individuals.

A student notices that very few women in his university are studying to become engineers. What sort of sociological question could be based on this observation? Why are women biologically unequipped to compete with men in engineering? Despite the fact that many people say women can succeed in any field they choose, are there invisible barriers in higher education that prevent women from studying engineering? Despite the fact that many people say women can succeed in any field they choose, why are men logical thinkers, as opposed to women, who are emotional thinkers? Is there a neurological pathway in the female brain that causes women to avoid studying engineering?

Despite the fact that many people say women can succeed in any field they choose, are there invisible barriers in higher education that prevent women from studying engineering?

A teenager notices that his new employer likes to boast that no matter the background and identity of new applicants, she always gives people equal consideration when it comes to hiring. What sort of sociological question could be based on this teenager's observations? Does the type of font used on a resume have an impact on whether a person gets hired? Which of the important skills I listed on my resume made the biggest impression on my employer? Do employers like this one actually give people equal consideration, or do they just say they do? Given that employers do not discriminate, how do job seekers so often screw up their chances to get hired?

Do employers like this one actually give people equal consideration, or do they just say they do?

A good sociological question does not simply rely on stereotypes. Which of the following is a good sociological question? Do successful women have more tenacity than unsuccessful women? Why are people who are on welfare so lazy? Do higher-income people work harder at their jobs? Does being born into poverty increase the chances that a person will stay in poverty?

Does being born into poverty increase the chances that a person will stay in poverty?

Edward is introduced to Jessah and intends to kiss her cheek in greeting. Inadvertently, he ends up kissing her on the lips. Both Edward and Jessah laugh and feel embarrassed by this mistake. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn based on this scenario? Edward and Jessah inadvertently established a new social hierarchy. Edward likely created a new set of rules. Edward accidentally created a new norm. Edward's mistake was a violation of social norms.

Edward's mistake was a violation of social norms.

Imagine you are a sociologist interested in designing a research study to investigate whether there are differences in college students' academic outcomes depending on whom they have in their social networks to help them through college. Which of the following social theorists might be most useful in helping you with this research? Georg Simmel Emile Durkheim Friedrich Engels Karl Marx

Georg Simmel

Which of the following statements best explains the relationship between formal and informal rules? Formal rules are only used in cases of conversational precision, whereas informal rules exist in various social settings. Informal rules dictate our behavior in legal situations and formal rules in casual situations. Informal rules are universal, whereas formal rules are always applied to specific situations. Informal rules fill the spaces between formal rules by allowing for exceptions in social behavior that are generally acceptable.

Informal rules fill the spaces between formal rules by allowing for exceptions in social behavior that are generally acceptable.

Which of the following is the best definition of the term "institution"? Institutions refer to important architectural structures, including ones that are unoccupied. Institutions are groups and organizations that can only be called upon during desperate times. Institutions are important sets of practices that society has followed for a long time. Institutions are unique types of organizations that seek to destroy societies.

Institutions are important sets of practices that society has followed for a long time.

Jace is known among his friends as a loud-mouthed practical joker, but his family sees him as a quiet, responsible young man. What will likely happen if Jace invites his friends over to meet his family? Jace's family will become a generalized other. Jace will likely become a significant other for his friends. Jace will likely experience civil inattention. Jace will likely experience role conflict.

Jace will likely experience role conflict.

The social sciences were first founded in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Why was this the case? People first started to have questions about society during that period because they had more leisure time. Rapid industrialization and urbanization of the time resulted in the need to study society and its groups. The social sciences formed to address this need. Sociology was going through a process of "spinning off" new social science disciplines, such as African American studies. Western societies were undergoing a period of great continuity, and the social sciences were founded in order to understand why.

Rapid industrialization and urbanization of the time resulted in the need to study society and its groups. The social sciences formed to address this need.

Which of the following scenarios describes how a person's identity might have an impact on his or her opportunities in life? Rob had an accident at work and now experiences chronic back pain, which limits his freedom of movement. Carl has always had an exceptional ability to make small talk with random people. One day, after having a nice conversation with a stranger on a train, Carl was surprised when the stranger offered him a job. Shelly notices that her classmates are less likely to question male professors than female professors. She wonders whether the relative lack of criticism for male professors means male professors in the university will be more successful than their female colleagues. Jared seems to have a natural ability to excel in statistics and, true to form, by the end of the semester, he receives the highest grade in his statistics class.

Shelly notices that her classmates are less likely to question male professors than female professors. She wonders whether the relative lack of criticism for male professors means male professors in the university will be more successful than their female colleagues.

Which of the following statements best reflects the relationship between sociology and different units of analysis? For sociologists, the unit of analysis is always the individual. Sociological explanations of how the world shapes people's behavior often take into account different units of analysis. The unit of analysis is a reference to the metric units employed in sociological studies, which sociologists routinely use to conform to the standards of their European colleagues. Sociological explanations of how the world shapes people's behavior only take two different units of analysis into account.

Sociological explanations of how the world shapes people's behavior often take into account different units of analysis.

Sociologists can ask a broad array of questions. Which of the following best identifies what these sociological questions all have in common? Sociological questions are not about things that are obvious, but about only things that people disagree on. All sociological questions ask about the effects of society on families. Sociological questions consider how social contexts matter. Sociological questions rely on commonsense aphorisms.

Sociological questions consider how social contexts matter.

Which of the following statements best reflects the relationship between sociology and other social science disciplines? Sociology has been entirely ostracized by other disciplines, including psychology and economics. Sociological findings have not had a great impact on other social science disciplines. Sociology has given birth to a number of other disciplines, including African American studies, gender studies, demography, and criminology. Sociology has a track record of insulating itself from other disciplines, such as psychology and economics.

Sociology has given birth to a number of other disciplines, including African American studies, gender studies, demography, and criminology.

Which social psychologist conducted a famous conformity experiment in 1963 in which people believed they were being asked to administer painful electric shocks to others? Emile Durkheim Erving Goffman Robert Merton Stanley Milgram

Stanley Milgram

Baby Alyssa is born in a hospital with a lot of resources, staff, and modern equipment. Baby Brandi is born in a hospital with older equipment, few staff, and little resources. Which statement best describes this scenario? The two babies are born into different social contexts, but studies show that the social development of children is not impacted by institutions such as the health care system. The two babies are born into different social contexts, which will have an impact on their social development. The two babies occupy similar positions in the social hierarchy and will therefore develop in a nearly identical manner. Alyssa and Brandi will receive the same level of care because hospitals, no matter where they are located, belong to the same social institution.

The two babies are born into different social contexts, which will have an impact on their social development.

One worker at a local grocery store chain is unhappy with the company's sick leave policy. The worker wants to start a petition to present to upper management. According to what sociologists know about social conformity, which of the following situations would most likely result in the worker actually starting the petition? The worker is not supported by coworkers. The worker calls the store manager to ask permission first. The worker loses their job because they called out sick. The worker has at least one other ally to support the petition

The worker has at least one other ally to support the petition

What do synagogues, political organizations, and schools have in common? They are all types of organizations that sociologists refuse to examine or write about. They are all social structures that have no bearing on our development. They are all contexts where people might gain special opportunities. Sociologist C. Wright Mills referred to these three organizations as the holy trinity of sociological observation.

They are all contexts where people might gain special opportunities.

How did urbanization lead to the development of sociology? Urbanization led to the Great Depression, and sociology was originally developed to study the Great Depression. Urbanization caused sociologists to move their practices from the countryside to the city. Urbanization led to the creation of biology as a science, and a small group of biologists created sociology. Urbanization caused various social problems, such as growing levels of poverty, and governments and scholars wanted to understand these problems.

Urbanization caused various social problems, such as growing levels of poverty, and governments and scholars wanted to understand these problems.

Different theoretical traditions offer __________ answers to the question, "What are the circumstances or conditions under which societies change?" few irrelevant different identical

different

The field of sociology has spawned other areas of study. Which of the following is an area of study spawned by sociology? history psychology gender studies genetics

gender studies

Race, gender, and religion are all examples of __________. identities our physiology our biology a thought experiment

identities

Which of the following concepts would symbolic interactionists most likely use in their research? capitalism impression management social systems economic inequality

impression management

In the late 1800s, the United States went through a period of __________, which refers to a pronounced growth in factories and cities. industrialization socialization social interaction economic depression

industrialization

Relative to other disciplines, such as economics and political science, sociology __________ engage(s) in interdisciplinary research. is the least likely discipline to actively opposes efforts to is the most likely discipline to always

is the most likely discipline to

Which of the following terms refers to the idea that how we understand ourselves depends on how others view us? reference groups the quantified self looking-glass self role conflict

looking-glass self

A parent tells a child he is not supposed to eat food off the ground. This rule is an example of __________. prejudice a norm status training a role

norm

All individuals associate themselves with __________, or groups of people who share similar preferences or social positions. gesture groups social facts clans reference groups

reference groups

A __________ is a distinct social category, such as a parent or a teacher, and it has associated with it a set of expected behaviors. status generalized other role significant other

role

When meeting the expectations of one role precludes a person's ability to meet the expectations of another role, the person is experiencing __________. role set role conflict civil inattention generalized other

role conflict

Ron decides to go to the same college as his best friend Ken. Which of the following terms best describes Ken's position for Ron? deviant generalized other projected self significant other

significant other