Sociology

Leon, who lives in Alabama, gets a job offer in Colorado where the pay is excellent, living conditions are good, and there are more single women. Leon's decision to migrate is based on A) pull factors B) push factors C) industrial factors D) demographic factors E) None of the above

A. Pull factors refer to the reasons one migrates to a particular area. Leon is moving to Colorado because he has a good job and there are more potential dating partners.

The main cause of the large increase in single-parent families is the A) dramatic increase in divorce B) soaring illegitimacy rate C) social pressure to get married once pregnant D) decrease in extended families E) None of the above

B. The increase in single-parent families is the result of more women having children out-of-wedlock. This trend is apparent across all social classes and groups of women.

A widespread desire to own toys and dolls based on a particular television show is an example of a A) social movement B) fashion C) mob D) fad E) none of the above

D. A fad is an unconventional social pattern that people engage briefly but enthusiastically.

A professor has certain rights and obligations associated with her status, such as meeting with her students and preparing lectures. These rights and obligations associated with a status are known as A) master statuses B) ascribed statuses C) achieved statuses D) roles E) impression management.

D. A role is a behavior expected of a certain status. The expected behaviors of a professor are to meet with her students and prepare lectures.

A general difficulty confronted in doing social research is that... I. ethical considerations prevent certain types of research from taking place. II. it deals with subjects who are self-aware and whose behavior is not always predictable. III. social researchers are part of the phenomenon they study. IV. the methods of social research are more advanced than those of other disciplines. A) II only B) III only C) IV only D) I and III only E) I, II, and III only

E. Social research is more difficult to perform than other forms of research for a variety of reason. Firstly, objectivity is impossible because social researchers are studying the same species as themselves. Secondly, humans, as opposed to other animals, are self-aware and are capable of manipulating their behavior under study conditions. For example, an individual may give a researcher the answer she thinks is desired. Finally, operations performed on animals or molecules cannot be performed on humans for ethical reasons.

Which of the following have contributed to the increased homeless rate? I. A shortage of inexpensive housing II. A decline in public welfare benefits III. A decline in the demand for unskilled labor IV. An increase in personal disabilities such as alcoholism A) II only B) III only C) II and IV only D) I, II, and III E) I, II, III, and IV

D. A decline in public aid, inexpensive housing, and in the need for unskilled labor have all contributed to the increased homeless rate. The economy has moved from producing goods to producing services which has had the negative impact of a declining need for unskilled workers. This, coupled with cutbacks in aid and inexpensive housing during the Reagan administration, have led to an increase in homelessness.

Workers with a high degree of autonomy report A) lower salaries B) being unchallenged C) less job satisfaction D) greater job satisfaction E) None of the above

D. Individuals who have a high level of autonomy in their jobs report high satisfaction levels. They feel as if they have a choice in the decisions they make, and that their bosses trust them.

The "culture of poverty" concept attempts to explain poverty in all of the following ways except A) the values of the poor are responsible for their poverty. B) poverty is passed from one generation to the next due to flaws inherent to their culture. C) laziness and a present-time orientation create poverty. D) structural barriers prevent some people from attaining an adequate economic position. E) All of the above.

D. The "culture of poverty" concept seeks to explain poverty as stemming not from structural forces, but cultural forces.

The most radical and complete resocialization is achieved in... A) a total institution. B) a bureaucracy. C) late adolescence. D) a subculture E) none of the above.

A. In a total institution, such as a prison or mental hospital,all aspects of an individual's life are controlled, in order to strip down and rebuild the self.

In some groups where the practice of infanticide has resulted in a shortage of eligible female marriage partners, the practice of _______ is relatively common. A) polyandry B) polygamy C) exogamy D) polygyny E) monogamy

A. Polyandry is the practice of one woman marrying more than one man.

Which of the following characteristics best describes the group least likely to vote? A) White; under 40; receptionist earning $17,000/year B) Asian; over 40; bar owner earning $42,000/year C) White; under 40; used car salesperson earning $65,000/year D) African-American; under 40; profession earning $45,000/year E) White; over 40; office manager earning $21,000/year

A. Social class is the biggest predictor of voting behavior, with the higher classes more likely to vote than the lower classes. Age is another strong correlate to voting behavior, with elderly peopl more likely to vote than the young.

Social stratification is a profoundly important subject because I. Almost every aspect of our lives, from family size to occupational aspirations to eating habits, is linked to our position in the social hierarchy. II. Most societies are committed to the elimination of structured inequality. III. A significant reduction in our life chances will occur if we are members of the social hierarchy. IV. People in pre-industrial societies are less status-conscious than people in post-industrial societies. A) I only B) II only C) I and III only D) II and IV only E) I, II, and IV only

A. Social stratification, or structure inequality, is so vital to understand because every aspect of our lives is influenced by where we fall in the hierarchical system. Our access to socially valued goods and rewards( i.e., money, education) is dependent upon our place in the stratification system.

Stephanie, a plastic surgeon, finds time in her busy schedule to play on a soccer team and attend weekly church functions. Her church and soccer activities make up her... A) subordinate statuses B) master statuses C) role inconsistencies. D) ascribed statuses. E) none of the above.

A. Subordinate statuses refer to the statuses one occupies that are not the master status.

Regarding prejudice, the authoritarian-personality theory of aggression is best at explaining A) extreme prejudicial attitudes of a few. B)how prejudicial attitudes are transmitted across generations. C) the benefits a dominant group receives by subjugation a minority group. D) why all people, to some dgree, have prejudices. E) None of the above.

A. The authoritarian-personality theory of aggression explains prejudice as residing in individuals who carry a particular personality trait(extreme conformity, obedience to high authority). This theory, then, is only able to explain prejudice in those few people who possess such personality configurations(i.e., Hitler). It is unable to explain the majority of the people who show some prejudices but do not possess such a personality.

The_________ perspective would probably try to understand a problem like drug abuse by looking to the power relations between those who abuse drugs and those who do not. A) conflict B) functionalist C) sociological D) capitalist E) socialist

A. The conflict perspective views society as being unequal in term of power.

Which of the following would be considered a defining characteristic of a closed stratification system? A) There are rigid boundaries between classes that are difficult or impossible for people to cross. B) Immigration from other nations is not allowed. C) The boundaries between classes are poorly defined, and people can cross them unnoticed. D) Hereditary position plays little role in determining a person's position in the stratification system. E) Achieved status is more important than ascribed status in determining a person's position in the stratification system.

A. The defining characteristic of closed systems is rigid boundaries between classes.

Researchers decide to test the correlation between the effects of a film on race relations with students' level of prejudice. In this case, the level of prejudice is the _________ variable. A) dependent B) independent C) control D) spurious E) none of the above

A. The dependent variable is the one we are trying to explain. In this question, we are trying to explain the level of prejudice; therefore, it is the dependent variable.

Which of the following is the best example of ethnocentrism? A) we travel to another country and realize their practice of worshipping many gods is both primitive and ignorant. B) we travel to a new society and find it difficult to adjust to the new food and language. C) we find the practice of eating raw fish by the japanese as unappealing. D) people move to a new state expecting to find more job opportunities. When they arrive and discover it does not work out that way, they become frustrated. E) john meets a student from brazil and finds the student's culture fascinating.

A. Ethnocentric means to judge another culture by the standards of your own and to place yours as superior.

Bob wants to move to the suburbs but is unable to do so. Bob is probably A) poor and less educated. B) educated and elderly C) middle class and less educated D) white and middle class E) working class and elderly

A. Although the first suburbanites were predominately white and wealthy, in the last four decades moving to the suburbs has come within the reach of middle and working class people. Bob is probably poor since he has been unable to move to the suburbs.

As Tom's perpetual tardiness becomes disturbing to the class, the other students scorn him. The behavior of the students is an example of a(n) A) informal sanction B) formal sanction C) norm D) value E) None of the above

A. An informal sanction is direct social pressure from those around us to conform. By scorning him, Tom's classmates are putting social pressure on him to come to class on time.

Efforts to count the homeless have been criticized because A) many studies have failed to count the hidden homeless. B) most people counted as homeless really are not. C) a good portion of those defined as homeless choose to live on the streets. D) some dtudies purposefully under count the homeless. E) All of the above

A. Attenmpts to count the homeless have been unsuccessful because a number of homeless individuals have escaped detection, which has resulted in a drastic underestimation of who really is homeless.

Dr. Shaw is an expert on African religions. She finds the widespread religious practice of performing clitoridectomies on young girls to be disturbing, but believes it can be studied and understood, given the social norms and values of the society. Dr. Shaw is adoping an attitude of A) cultural relativism B) multi-culturalism C) ethnocentrism D) ideal ritualism E) None of the above

A. Cultural relativism is the attempt on the part of researchers to not judge another culture by the standards of one's own. By trying to undersand the practice of performing clitoridectomies, without judging the practice as bad, or the culture as inferior, Dr. Smith is adopting an attitude of cultural relativism.

Sue, a tenured professor at an elite college, accepts an offer to teach at another elite college. Her move is an example of A) horizontal mobility B) vertical mobility C) intergenerational mobility D) status mobility E) none of the above.

A. Horizontal mobility is the movement of an individual horizontally. Since Sue is moving from one slite professorial position to another, she is neither moving up nor down.

During pre-modern times when agricultural societies prevailed, in order to increase the supply of labor, couples often had many children. Because today large families are an economic burden rather than an economic asset, couples have fewer children. This explanation of family size is most consistent with the _________ theory in sociology. A) conflict B) functional C) symbolic interaction D) micro E) institutional

B. A functionalist argument is based on the assumption that society's complex systems work together to maintain stability.

Regarding voter turnout, the United States can be described as having A) remarkably high voter turnout. B) one of the lowest voter turnouts in the democratic world. C) higher voter turnout for people of lower social classes. D) low voter turnout among the elderly. E) None of the above

B. A large share of the people eligible to vote in the United States do not. This pattern of voter apathy has been increasing over the last century to the point that the United States has nearly the lowest rate of voting in the democratic world. Fewer than 60 percent of eligible voters turned out for the 1992 election.

In order to get a sample of Los Angeles residents for a survey on political attitudes, Carmen selects every 1000th person from the Los Angeles city phone book. This is an example of __________ sampling. A) random B) systematic C) cluster D) stratified E) non-representative

B. A systematic sample is when the researcher selects every element for the sample.

In most pre-industrial societies, marriage is viewed as I. a formal arrangement between individuals who are bonded by romantic love. II. a polygamous arrangement between three individuals. III. a formal arrangement between two individuals who share similar social characteristics. IV. a practical economic arrangement. A) I only B) IV only C) II and IV only D) II, III, and IV only E) None of the above

B. Adults in pre-industrial societies generally view marriage as an economic arrangement. Marriage in these societies is typically an alliance made by two extended families. Uniting on the basis of romantic love is a relatively recent phenomenon, as well as a Western phenomenon.

Sally, who comes from a poor black family, finished college and graduate school to become a nuclear physicist. For Sally, being a nuclear physicist is a(n) A) master status B) achieved status C) status attainment D) ascribed status E) status hierarchy.

B. An achieved status is a social position based largely on one's merit.

Which of the following lists of characterisstics best describes the group with the highest unemployment rate? A) Black; female; over 50 B) Black; male; under 50 C) White; female; under 50 D) Black; male; over 50 E) White; male; under 50

B. Black male youth have among the highest unemployment rates in the United States, double that of their white male counterparts.

The poplulaiton has boomed in many developing countries because I. the birth rate has increased dramatically II. people from these countries engage in sex more frequently and at younger ages. III. while the birth rate has remained relatively stable, or declined only slihtly, the death rate has dropped sharply. IV. both birth and death rates have increased sharply. A) I only B) III only C) IV only D) I and II only E) I, II, and IV only

B. Due to improvements in nutrition and health care across the globe, the death rate has declined in all countries. This has been responsible for a boom in the population because people are no longer dying at such young ages.

Which of the following is the best example of Durkheim's theory of anomie suicide? A) after divorcing his wife and moving away his family, feeling lonely and depressed, Tom decides to kill himself. B) the massive political and economic changes accompanying the breakup of the Soviet Union has resulted in an increased number of suicides among Russian citizens. C) Bob, a captured terrorist, chooses to commit suicide rather than reveal the secrets of his organization. D) feeling isolated and lonely her first year away at college, Jane decides to kill herself. E) Susan, member of the Branch Dividian cult, commits mass suicide with the other members of her organization.

B. Durkheim believed that atomic suicide resulted from norm lessens. When norms of a society are suddenly altered, it may result in people's being confused about the boundaries of their society.

According to Goffman, a professor presenting herself to her students as competent and knowledgeable is involved in A) status inconsistency. B) impression management activities C) skilled cooperation D) status performance E) none of the above

B. Impression management refers to the conscious manipulation of role performance.

Regarding the census, information on _______ is often not included. A) elderly B) illegal aliens C) prisoners D) students E) all of the above

B. Information on illegal aliens is very difficult to obtain since keeping anonymous is so important for remaining in the country.

Marx referred to the owners of the means of production as the A) owners B) bourgeoisie C) elite D) proletariat E) upper class

B. Karl Marx referred to the owners of the means of production as the bourgeoisie.

The type of social cohesion that binds people who do similar work and have a similar world view is referred to by Durkheim as A) organic solidarity B) mechanical solidarity C) cohesive solidarity D) virtual solidarity E) None of the above

B. Mechanical solidarity is Durkheim's term for social bonds that based on shared moral sentiments. Usually these types of bonds were found among people living in pre-industrial societies.

Which of the following characterisitics best describe people who first moved to suburbs? A) Racially and ethnically diverse B) Wealthy C) Working class D) Agricultural workers E) None of the above

B. Originally, people who moved to the suburbs were wealthy and largely white. This was because transportation was poor and only those with financial resources could afford the expense of trains and automobiles. As public transportation improved, more classes and races of people had access to the suburbs.

The sociologist's interest in race is due to the fact that... I. race, as a biological fact, helps to determine and explain people's behavior. II. stratification on the basis of race predates all other forms of stratification. III. people attach meaning and values to real or imagined group differences. IV. race is the basis for discrimination against all minority groups. A) I only B) III only C) I and II only D) II and IV only E) None of the above.

B. Race is not a biological fact, but a social construction. The sociologist's interest in race, then, is how meaning and value are attached to differences, both real and perceived, between groups.

Recent studies suggest power over and subordination of another are most likely to be the motivations for which of the following crimes? I. Car theft II. Embezzlement III. Rape IV. Jaywalking A) I only B) III only C) I and II only D) I, II, and III only E) I,II, III, and IV

B. Studies interviewing rapists that the motive for rape is not the desire for sex, as one might think, but rather power and domination. Rapists are looking not for sex, but for control, which is evidenced by the fact that most are married or have sexual partners.

Evidence regarding teacher-student interactions and student performance suggests A) teachers have littele influence on students' self-concepts. B) teacher expectation greatly influences student performance. C) teachers have little or no influence on student performance. D) teachers influence all students equally. E) the student alone determines academic performance.

B. Studies show that teacher perceptions greatly influence student performance. Students tend to perform to the level of expectations a teacher sets for them, whether high or low. A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when students internalize their teacher's image of them, and in turn, conform to that image. Carol Gilligan's work using the concept of the looking glass has illustrated this process occurring in the classroom. The teacher is a mirror, or looking glass, reflecting an image of ourselves. Our self-image, then, is based on how others, including teachers, respond to us.

Early sociological arguments addressing the different social positions of ethnic groups were generally rooted in Darwinism, meaning that A) groups were ranked hierarchically on the basis of skin color, with lighter skinned ethnic groups occupying positions superior to darker skinned groups. B) different positions were explained as reflecting a difference in genetics. C) cultural values dictated where an ethnic group was located, with those groups possessing values of hard work and education occupying higher positions than those lacking such values. D) factors such as "selective migration" best explained an ethnic group's level of success upon arrival. E) None of the above.

B. The earliest arguments for why some ethnic groups seemed to be in better economic positions than others was rooted in Darwinism and the concept of "survival of the fittest." This perspective suggests that those possessing better genes would be more likely to survive and thrive, while those possessing flawed genes would suffer from poverty and misery. Other generations, those with flawed genes would die out.

The extended family declined during industrialization because A) living in a small residence, such as an apartment, was preferred to a large residence, such as a house. B) greater geographic mobility was required C) economic development meant families were no longer dependent on one another D) the increased wealth accompanying industrialization meant families increased their non-kin relationships. E) All of the above

B. The extended family is a family unit that includes not only parents and their children, but other kin as well. This family form declined during industrialization because a small family was more functional in a changing economy. As the agricultural sector declined and manufacturing increased, families were forced to move where work was available. This often meant moving to smaller residences in cities.

Studies concerning human instincts suggest that A) many aspects of culture are transmitted genetically in the form of instincts. B) human beings do not inherit complex patterns of social behavior and, therefore, have no true instincts. C) among people of primitive societies, instincts can be observed. D) humans are instinctively aggressive. E) sexual behavior is the only genetically transmitted instinct.

B. The variation in behavior cross-culturally suggests that culture and patterns of behavior are not instinctual, or transmitted genetically.

Immigration policy throughout the early part of this century maintained a quota system, meaning that A) those groups possessing greater skills and education were favored. B) those groups in a position to easily assimilate were favored. C) those groups coming from predominantly Catholic countries were prohibited from entering. D) Chinese immigrants were prohibited from entering. E) None of the above

B. Those groups who would maintain the sociological content of the American population were favored. Simply put, those who could easily assimilate were given preference to those who physically and culturally were different from the majority.

One of the dysfunctions of the nuclear family is that A) children are viewed as an economic liability as opposed to an economic benefit. B) married couples may be deprived of support from other relatives. C) family size hinders group mobility. D) gender roles are less rigid than in other family forms. E) All of the above.

B. Through the process of industrialization, the extended family declined as families needed to be more geographically mobile. The nuclear family was therefore deprived of support from the extended kin.

Larry's math placement test shows he should be in the high math group. Larry's teacher are using a A) stratification system B) tracking system C) tiered system D) bureaucratic system E) None of the above

B. Tracking is the assignment of students to different types of educational programs. Larry is being placed in a high math "track" and is exposed to a different type of education program than those individuals placed into the medium or low math "track."

When the architectural firm Gary works for merges with another, he leaves his position as office manager and finds a secretarial job in a new office. This is an example of _________ mobility. A) horizontal B) vertical C) intergenerational D) status E) None of the above

B. Vertical mobility refers to movement within the social system where the individual can move up or down. Mark is moving from an office manager down to a position of a secretary.

Newpark, an old rundown part of the city, has recently been bought by a wealthy businessman who has repaired the area and is now renting to mainly white, middle-class professionals. This process is referred to as A) industrialization B) over-urbanization C) gentrification D) suburbanization E) centralization

C. Gentrification is when a rundown section of a city has been repaired and revitalized and has become attractive to a middle-class population.

John, who is 15, will be entering the labor market shortly after the turn of the century. In which sector will he be most likely to get a job? A) Manufacturing B) Agricultural C) Service D) International E) Government

C. In the last three decades, our economy has moved from producting goods to producing services. The servicde sector of the economy is the fastest-growing sector. As an employee of the twenty-first century, John will have the best luck finding a job in the growing service sector.

In Boston, an Irish-American community exists, complete with a distinctive religion and ethnic lifestyle. This group can be categorized as a(n) A) counterculture B) non-material culture C) subculture D) ethnocentric culture E) deviant subculture

C. A subculture is a culture within a culture. This Irish-American community possesses its own unique culture while still operating within the larger American society.

Stratification on the basis of race I. is based on biological differences in groups of people which are translated, genetically, into different behavioral and personality traits. II. is synonymous with slavery since historically people have been enslaved on the basis of skin color. III. has often been justified by an ideology(racism) which contends that some races are innately superior to others. IV. is insignificant compared to other stratification systems such as those based on age or gender. A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I and IV only E) I, II, III, and IV

C. An ideology of racism, which states that some races are innately superior to others, has been used to justify stratification systems based on race. If people of a certain race are unequal, it is because they are innately inferior.

An informal sanction of shoplifting would be A) receiving a fine from the store B) a judge requiring you to perform 20 hours of community service. C) your date Friday night canceling because he doesn't want to be seen with a thief. D) imprisonment for a week. E) All of the above.

C. An informal sanction is direct social pressure from those around us to conform. The term "informal" suggests that the pressure is not coming from a formal or legal institution such as the criminal justice system. Instead the pressure to conform may be coming from our family or peer group.

According to Paula, the norms and values of her culture are more rational and advanced than the norms and values of other cultures she has come into contact with. Paula is A) stereotyping another culture. B) expressing prejudice. C) being ethnocentric. D) expressing individual discrimination. E) selectively perceiving those events which reinforce her stereotype.

C. Ethnocentric means to judge another culture by the standards of one's own.

Which of the following is not a goal of feminism? A) To change the present system which provides only limited choices in women's roles B) To promote sexual autonomy and the right of women to have great jurisdiction over sexuality and reproduction C) To reverse the sexist ideology that claims men are innately superior, and instead, promote the superiority of women D) To end violence directed at women E) All of the above

C. Feminism does not hold that women are innately superior to men. That is a sexist notion, not a feminist one.

According to sociologists, an important difference between folkways and mores is that A) violation of a folkway leads to severe punishment B) mores are found only among the upper classes. C) folkways include customary behaviors. D) violations of mores are not considered crimes. E) folkways apply only to sexual behavior.

C. Folkways are social norms governing less important areas of behavior such as table manners or proper attire for events. Mores are social norms which concern more serious issues such as laws against murder or incest.

In order to find out more about seatbelt wearing behavior, John stands unnoticed on a corner and marks down the sex and car type of those who do not wear seat belts. He is conducting A) a survey B) obtrusive research C) unobtrusive research D) experimental research E) participant-observation research

C. In unobtrusive research, no interaction takes place between the research and subject study.

Regarding segregation, studies indicate that.... I. blacks show a preference for segregation and prefer to live in predominantly black neighborhoods. II. whites prefer to maintain a segregated system in terms of public accommodations and housing. III. blacks, more than whites, prefer to live in integrated neighborhoods. IV. whites, more than blacks, prefer to live in integrated neighborhoods. A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I and II only E) None of the above

C. Interviews with both blacks and whites suggest that blacks, more than whites, desire integrated neighborhoods. Blacks prefer to live in neighborhoods that are racially mixed, although most express a fear of being the first black family in a white neighborhood.

Religion, according to Karl Marx, is I. an institution of the elite. II. the center of all conflict. III. appealing to the masses because it provides an escape from reality. A) I only B) II only C) III only D) II and III only E) I, II, and III

C. Karl Marx contended religion was the "opiate of the masses," as it allowed them to escape, if only temporarily, the miserable conditions they lived in. For the masses, the present was a hopeless, futile state of living.Through religion, they could focus on the after-life and the good things to come.

Compared to the early suburban population, today's suburbanites are A) mostly upper-middle class B) mostly working class C) as diverse as urbanites D) mostly of minority backgrounds E) None of the above

C. Originally, those who moved to the suburbs were well-to-do and mostly white. Following World War II, when the economy boomed and automobiles became within reach of average Americans, suburban areas boomed. Today, suburbanites are as diverse as urbanites.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about secularization and the future of religion in the United States today? A) We are becoming increasingly more secularized, and the role of religion is diminishing. B) The role of the other institutions, such as government, science, and education, have completely taken over the role of religion. C) In spite of the changes occurring, the institution of religion remains a fundamental component of every society. D) Religion is an important institution mainly among the working class. E) None of the above.

C. Regardless of the fact that we are a secular society, religion is in no way losing its role in society. Ninety-four percent of Americans report believing in God, and religion remains a central institution in virtually every culture on earth.

Research on children in isolation suggests that A) with little or no interaction, children can develop fairly normally. B) socialization plays a role in human development. C) continual human interaction is necessary for normal human development. D) genetics is almost wholly responsible for human development. E) none of the above.

C. Research on children raised in isolation suggests that in order to develop and be fully human, people need continual interaction.

Rigid endogamy is associated with which type of system? A) Stratification B) Class C) caste D) Polygamous E) None of the above

C. Rigid endogamy refers to marriage within one's only group. A caste system is a system of stratification where groups are strictly ranked on the basis of ethnic group. Marriage across these groups is unlawful and uncommon.

Which of the following is best explained by the Strain theory? A) Voyeurism B) Marijuana use C) Robbery D) Speeding E) Jaywalking

C. Strain theory asserts that people commit crime when their means for achievement are obstructed. According to this theory, all of us desire the "American Dream" but only some of us are put in positions to achieve that dream. The consequence is that those people blocked from achievement find illegitimate means to succeed. This theory, therefore, is best at explaining crime among the less advantaged. Committing robbery, according to this theory, suggests that a disadvantaged individual is stealing because he may acquire goods and possessions that we all desire.

One reason lower class youth are more often arrested than individuals of other social classes is that A) they commit more dangerous crimes B) there are greater numbers of police in their neighborhoods. C) police are guided by particular status cues such as demeanor, dress, and race. D) they are more likely to commit crimes that are reported. E) they commit more of all types of crimes.

C. Studies suggest that police take race and class cues into account in the arrest process.

Which of the following is true of welfare recipients? A) The majority are women who have many children B) Most are males who are unwilling to work. C) Most are children D) Few ever get off welfare. E) None of the above.

C. The majority of welfare dollars go to children, who are the biggest group falling below the poverty line.

A sociologist is interested in studying American college sudents' opinions on euthanasia. What is the population of her study? A) College students on her campus B) The students randomly chosen for a response C) All college students D) An individual student E) All people between the ages of 18-21

C. The population of the study is the people who are the focus of the research; the group to whom you are trying to generalize.

Which of the following are forms of institutional discrimination addressed by affirmative action? I. Rules requiring that only English be spoken in the workplace. II. Restrictive employment leave policies which work against employed mothers. III. Credit policies which prevent lending in minority neighborhoods. IV. Landlords who overtly refuse to rent to minorities. A) I only B) II only C) I and IV only D) I, II, and III. E) I, II, III, and IV

D. Affirmative action programs attempt to address institutional discrimination. Prejudice becomes built into institutions and disproportionately disadvantages minorities. Institutional discrimination is covert and difficult to detect. Affirmative action policies have attacked work places that allow no other languages besides English to be spoken. Another form of institutional discrimination which has been addressed by affirmative action is policies that prevent women from taking time off to have a baby. In many workplaces women who left to have a baby were not guaranteed their job back upon their return. Affirmative action policies have also addressed discriminatory lending policies, making certain that individuals of minority backgrounds are given opportunities to buy homes and businesses.

Which of the following ethnic groups has an unemployment rate often exceeding 50 percent? A) African-Americans B) Asian-Americans C) Latinos D) American Indians E) All of the above

D. American Indians have the highest unemployment rate in the United States. On some reservations the rate soars to about 90 percent.

Mr. Clark, a kindergarten teacher, has his students say the pledge of allegiance and sing "America the Beautiful" everyday before class. He is teaching his students about American A) religion B) secularization C) socialism D) civil religion E) None of the above

D. Civil religion is a quasi-religious loyalty binding individuals in a secular state. The citizen's loyalites are to the staet, rather than to a specific religion.

A researcher studying the diaries of Holocaust victims would be using which method to carry out her research? A) A survey B) Participant observation C) Obtrusive research D) Content analysis E) None of the above.

D. Content analysis is a method in which the researcher uses artifacts and exisiting data.

The "Zorn," an ethnic group in the country of "Plorn," migrated voluntarily more than three centuries ago. Over time, they have completely adopted the norms, values, and language of the dominant group. Contact between the two groups, however, is still somewhat limited. "Zorns" have only some political representation, and economic inequality, though not drastic, still exists. Intermarriage between the two groups is remarkably low, and neighborhoods are not well integrated. "Zorn" assimilation can be characterized as... A) low cultural assimilation; low structural assimilation. B) moderate cultural assimilation; moderate secondary structural assimilation; low primary structural assimilation. C) moderate cultural assimilation; low structural assimilation. D) high cultural assimilation; moderate secondary structural assimilation; low primary structural assimilation. E) high cultural assimilation; moderate secondary structural assimilation; moderate primary structural assimilation.

D. Cultural assimilation refers to how well a group has adopted the norms, values, customs, and language of the dominant group. Because the "Zorn" have completely done so, their cultural assimilation has been high. Secondary assimilation refers to how well integrated the group is on a macro institutional level; that is, how equal they are in terms of money and political representation. The "Zorn" have some political representation, but because inequality still exists, they are only moderately assimilated. Primary structural assimilation refers to integration on a micro institutional level such as the family. In this example, neighborhoods are not well integrated and inter-marriage is remarkably low, so primary structural assimilation is low.

A lawyer whose client is convicted of selling marijuana argues against sending the first time offender to prison because of the likelihood of his learning more about crime. Which theory of deviance best supports his argument? A) strain theory B) labeling theory C) control theory D) cultural transmission theory E) deviance theory

D. Cultural transmission theory contends that crime is learned through cultural and subcultural norms.

Fecundity can be explained as A) the average number of children a woman has over her lifetime. B) the number of births per 1,000 women in the population. C) the ration of males to females D) the potential number of children a woman can have during her childbearing years. E) None of the above

D. Demographers use the term fecundity explain a woman's potential number of children. The average childbearing years are between the ages of 15-44. The number of children a woman can have during these years is referred to as fecundity.

Concerning the density of social networks, studies suggest that... I. Dense social networks are positively related to mental and physical health. II. Dense social networks are positively related to self-esteem. III. Loose social networks are causally related to poor health. IV. Gender is causally related to dense social networks. A) I only B) III only C) IV only D) I and II only E) I, II, and III only

D. Density of social networks has been shown to be health promoting, both mentally and physically, and a positive influence on self-concept.

Which of the following contributed to the early growth of suburbs? A) Decrease in birth rate B) Decline in agriculture C) Increased population of rural areas D) Advances in transportation E) All of the above

D. Following WWII, movement to the suburbs became popular. This movement was made possible by improvememts in transportation. Not only did public transportaion become more widespread, but automobiles became affordable to the middle and working classes.

Which of the following are forms of institutional discrimination? I. A geographic mismatch between workers and jobs following the move of a company from the inner-city. II. A landlord's distaste for Latino tenants causes him to reject all applicants with Hispanic surnames. III. During an economic downturn, a policy of "last hired = first fired" has resulted in a disproportionate layoff of women and minorities. IV. The administration of IQ and other standardized tests. A) I only B) I and II only C) II and III only D) I, III, and IV only E) I, II, III, and IV.

D. Institutional discrimination occurs when inequalities are built into institutions and disproportionately disadvantages and entire category of people based on nothing more than their group membership. Institutional discrimination is unintended and carried out by institutions, not individuals.

The primary reason corporations establish subsidiaries in other countries is to A) acquire cheaper natural resources. B)acquire more land. C) assist in development. D) acquire cheaper labor and taxes. E) All of the above

D. Multinational corporations establish subsidiaries in other countries primarily to access a cheap labor supply and decrease their taxes. By moving to developing countries, companies can find a pliant labor supply who will work at a fraction of the cost of American workers.

In developing nations, the proble of _________ often occurs in cities where the population grows faster than the supply of housing and jobs. A) industrialization B) gentrification C) under-urbanization D) over-urbanization E) none of the above

D. Over-urbanization is when the population grows too quickly for the infrastructure to handle. Housing and jobs become difficult to find and the city is unable to absorb the new population.

Which of the following equations best illustrates pluralism? A) A+B+C=A B) A+B+C=D C) A+B+=C+D D) A+B+C=A+B+C E) None of the above

D. Pluralism is when an ethnic minority group attempts to maintain their own distinctive culture, even though they live in a larger society that is sometimes at odds with their beliefs, norms, and values. (D) illustrates that the three ethnic groups (A,B, and C) maintain their unipueness and do not change during contact with other groups.

Which of the following lists best describes push factors? A) Cold climate; good job; close to relatives B) Warm climate; loss of a job; close to good schools C)Nice neighborhoods; good job; close to good schools D) Cold climate; loss of a job; religious prosecution E) None of the above

D. Push factors of migration refer to the reasons an individual leaves a certain area. The cold weather, losing a job, and experiencing religious persecution are all reasons an individual would want to leave an area. Pull factors refer to the reasons an individual is pulled to a certain location; why they desire to live in a particular place.

Newpark is a diverse town, both ethnically and racially. The distribution of wealth and earning among the town members tends to be similar, regardless of race or ethnicity. In Newpark prejudice is A) likely to develop due to the competitive atmosphere. B) likely to develop due to the presence of many racial and ethnic groups. C) less likely to develop due to the inequality existing among groups. D) less likely to develop due to the economic parity and equality among the groups. E) None of the above.

D. Research on prejudice suggests that in a non-competitive atmosphere, when individuals from different ethnic backgrounds come together, there is likely to be little conflict.

Because urban and suburban populations have become more alike, an increased number of people have moved A) out of the country B) to the snow-belt region C) back to the urban center D) to rural areas E) None of the above

D. Since the 1950's, urban decentralization has been taking place where families are relocating in the suburbs. But this has not always been without problems. Suburbs, too, have become very populated and experienced decay. This has resulted in a more recent move to rural areas.

Which of the following does the sociology of religion focus on? A) Theological questions, such as the existence of God B) How accurate ideas of the supernatural are C) The ability of the major religions to answer the fundamental questions of our existence D) The social characteristics and consequences of religion E) All of the above

D. Sociologists who study religion are interested in religion as a social institution. Sociologists look at characteristics of certain religions as well as characteristics of the individuals making up these institutions.

Regarding marriage, the majority of couples share which of the following characteristics? I. Social class background II. Educational level III. Racial background IV. Personality traits A) I only B) III only C) III and IV only D) I, II and III only E) I, II, III, and IV

D. Studies show that most people marry within their social class background and educational background, and even more marry within their race. Class, education, and race appear to be more important than similar personality characteristics when looking at potential marriage partners, as few people marry someone with a similar personality configuration.

Sally, a social researcher studying education level and condom use, finds subjects who graduate from college are no more likely to use condoms than those who do not graduate from college. Her findings suggest that A) education and condom use are positively correlated. B) education and condom use are negatively correlated. C) a cause-and -effect relationship exists between education level and condom use. D) no apparent relationship exists between the two variables. E) a spurious relationship exists between the two variables.

D. That education level has no bearing on whether or not someone uses condoms suggests that no relationship exists between these two variables.

The Sapir-whorf hypothesis suggests that speakers of different languages A) are predisposed to holding contrasting ideals and behaviors due to their divergent linguistic backgrounds. B) can perceive the world in identical ways. C) hold the same ideas and values due to the cognitive process of learning language. D) are predisposed to certain attitudes and interpretations of reality through language. E) none of the above.

D. The Sapir whorf hypothesis says that people think through language. Language is not just the vehicle through which we express ourselves; language also shapes our thoughts.

The sacred, according to Emile Durkheim, is the symbolic representation of A) Jesus B) the family C) one's parents D) society E) none of the above

D. The sacred, referring to that which is defined as inspring a sense of awe, reverence, and even fear, according to Durkheim, sysmbolically represents society. The sacred, or "forbidden," is set apart from the profane, or "mundane."

Which of the following characteristics most likely describes Molly, a single mother with two children? A) Molly lives with her grandparents. B) Molly lives with the father of her children. C) Molly lives in an urban area. D) Molly lives at or below the poverty line. E) None of the above

D. Twenty-five percent of white single mothers fall below the poverty line, and 50+ percent of Latino and African-American single mothers fall below the poverty line.

In order to learn about a particular social phenomenon, Max Weber believed one needed to understand the point of view of the subject. The term used to describe this method is A) social view B) the looking-glass self. C) symbolic interaction D) verstehen E) social statics

D. Verstehen was the term Weber used to describe his method for analyzing a particular social phenomenon.

Which of the following is true of family violence? I. Husbands who abuse their wives are largely concentrated in the working class. II. Women are more likely than men to suffer serious injuries as a result of family violence. III. Almost one-third of women who are murdered are killed by spouses, or unmarried partners. IV. Men who abuse their wives and/or children are often abused themselves. A) I only B) IV only C) II and IV only D) II, III, and IV only E) I, II, III and IV

D. Women are more likely to sustain injuries in a family dispute, although men and women are equally likely to get killed in family arguments. Studies suggest that abusers, both men and women, are often abuse victims thmeselves. Studies also show that women who are killed are very often the victim of their spouse, ex-spouse, or sexual partner.

Studies show taht as one's education level increases, prejudice decreases, illustrating a ________ relationship between educagtion and prejudice. A) spurious B) definitive C) causal D) positive correlation E) negative correlation

E. A negative correlation is an association between two variables so that as one increases the other decreases, as is the case with education and prejudice in this example.

which of the following lists of characteristics best illustrates ascribed statuses? A) Female, Asian, Olympic athlete B) Male, Jewish, rabbi C) Female, married, pregnant D) Female, age 27, pediatrician E) Male, African-American, age 45

E. Ascribed statuses are those statuses which are involuntary and in no way relate to individual merit. Sex, race, and age are all involuntary, or unchosen, statuses.

After centuries of occupying a subordinate status and being exploited by the "Plorn," the "Zorn" attempt to form their own country, separate from the "Plorn." Their movement can be classified as A) pluralist B) assimilationist C) segregationist D) expulsion E) None of the above.

E. By attempting to create their own country, the "Zorn" movement can be classified as secessionist, which is not an answer choice.

The net increase/decrease of a population depends on which of the following factors? I. Migration II. Fertility III. Mortality IV. Urbanization A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I and IV only E) I, II, and III only

E. Fertility, mortality, and migration all affect a society's population. Fertility is the incidence of childbearing in a society's population. Mortality is the incidence of death in a society's populaiton. Migration is the movement of people into and out of a specified territory.

When looking at age-sex population pyramids of the United States and Mexico, one finds that I. the United States' pyramid is heavy at the bottom and top, but thinner in the middle. II. the Mexican pyramid is heavy at the bottom and top, but thinner in the middle. III. men outnumber women in most age groups in both the United States and Mexico. A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I and II only E) None of the above

E. None of the statements are correct. An age-sex population pyramid is a graphic representation of the age and sex of the population. Rather than having a pictorial representation that is heavy at the top and bottom, in the United States, the middle of the age-sex pyramid is thickest (ages 20-39). The Mexican representation is very heavy at the bottom(0-19) and gets increasingly thinner as age groups in all societies, women outlive men.

John grows up in a society founded upon prejudicial and racist principles. He internalizes these prejudicial values and norms, eventually becoming prejudiced himself. What theory best explains why John is prejudice? A) Power-conflict B) Frustration-aggression C) Authoritarian personality D) Scapegoat E) Normative

E. Normative theory of prejudice states that individuals become prejudiced when such attitudes are so ingrained in their society's norms and values that they get passed on from generation to generation without question.

Opponents of affirmative action argue which of the following? I. Enhancing the opportunities for one group means unfairly limiting the opportunities of another. II. Such programs only help those minorities who are skilled and educated, and do little to help those who are poor and lack skills. III. Race consciousness and conflict will be more acute as job opportunities for non-minorities are lessened. A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I and III only E) I, II, and III

E. Opponents to affirmative action argue that enhancing one group's opportunities is equivalent to reverse discrimination. Another point they argue is that such programs only help those minorities in a position to take advantage. Many jobs are available only to skilled workers and college graduates. The majority of minorities are not skilled or college educated; therefore, such programs do not help them. They are in greater need of programs that help them become skillled and educated so that they can eventually take advantage of opportunities available to them. Finally, opponents contend that minorities only suffer from such programs because they become labeled as an individual who got a job only as a hand-out. The result is that whites will feel as though their jobs are being unfairly taken by an unqualified minority, creating greater prefudice.

Cindy and Bobby, two siblings playing house, pretend they are their parents. According to George Herbert Mead, Cindy and Bobby are learning to internalize the values of their parents and are therefore taking on the role of the A) instinctual being B) socialized other C) looking-glass self D) verstehen E) generalized other

E. The generalized other is Mead's term for the cultural norms and values we use as references when evaluating ourselves. That the children are able to internalize these norms and values suggests they are capable of understanding another's position.

Which of the following perspectives would focus on how the prosecution and defense interpret each other's actions in a criminal trial? A) Structural functionalism B) Social conflict C) Ethnocentrism D) Socialization E) Symbolic interactionism

E. The symbolic interaction perspective looks to individual interaction and interpretation to explain social behavior. In the example, individual lawyers for the prosecution and defense interpret each others actions and reactions.

Research shows an inverse relationship between levels of education and extent of prefudice. As far as we know today, which of the following most likely accounts for at least some of that relationship? I. People who are less educated have greater contact with people of various ethnic and racial groups, thereby making them less prejudiced. II. As people attain more education they become more tolerant. III. People who are prejudice are less likely to pursue a higher education. IV. As people become more educated, they are more careful about revealing their prejudices. A) I only B) II only C) IV only D) I and II only E) II and IV only

E. Two opposing views have dominated discussion concerning the inverse relationship between level of education and prejudice. It has long been noted that as the level of education increases, the level os prejudice decreases. One view suggests that as the level of education increases, individuals become more critical thinkers and no longer accepthings at face value. The result is that they are less likely to endorse stereotylpes because they become more tolerant. Another view, however, suggests that educated people are no less prejudiced, but are only more careful about revealing it.

The gap between male and female earnings is due to which of the following? I. The failure of bosses to perceive women as competent and capable. II. Differences in how jobs are titled/labeled when filled by one sex rather than the other. III. The preference of all men to have their wives work in the home rather than in the labor market. IV. Women generally have less experience and skills, causing them to enter low-paying, female-dominated occupations. A) I only B) I and III only C) III and IV only D) II, III, and IV only E) I, II, and IV only

E. Women earn 60 percent of what men do for a variety of reasons. Firstly, bosses continue to see women as less capable than male workers and promote them less frequently. Secondly, jobs are titled differently depending on who fills it. The Equal pay act states that men and women filling the same position must be paid the same. Employers are getting around this by hiring a male as an "administrative assistant" and a woman as a "secretary." They are entitled to pay the "administrative assistant" more than the "secretary," in spite of the fact their job roles and tasks are the same. Finally, women are paid less because they often have less labor market experience. In the process of child-bearing and rearing, many women do not have continuous labor market experience, which enables employers to pay them less.