Midterm: chapters 1-7 Society the basics

Typically, many roles are linked to a single status. A) True B) False

Answer. A) True

Which of the following is the best example of a primary group? A) a family gathering for a religious holiday B) carpenters gathering at a work site C) a student government meeting D) a reunion of the graduating class of 1977

Answer. A) a family gathering for a religious holiday

According to Erving Goffman, people usually makes efforts to _________ their intentions. A) idealize B) honestly reveal C) hide all of D) play down

Answer. A) idealize

Which of the following concepts refers to the lifelong social experience by which human beings develop their potential and learn culture? A) socialization B) internalization C) naturalism D) behaviorism

Answer. A) socialization

Which of the following is the best example of a secondary group? A) a fraternity chapter meeting B) a Microsoft Corporation awards banquet C) a family sharing a meal with their neighbors D) a local group of girl scouts at a campsite

Answer. B) a Microsoft Corporation awards banquet

Which of the following is a way of understanding the world based on science? A) theology B) positivism C) tradition D) free will

Answer. B) positivism

According to George Herbert Mead, social experience is based on: A) using our five senses to understand the world around us. B) the exchange of symbols. C) a mix of biological instinct and learning. D) acting but not thinking.

Answer. B) the exchange of symbols.

The "framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change" is which of the following? A) the structural-functional approach B) the social-conflict approach C) the symbolic-interaction approach D) All of the above are correct.

Answer. B) the social-conflict approach

What concept refers to the beliefs, values, behavior, and material objects that, together, constitute a people's way of life? A) social structure B) social system C) culture D) society

Answer. C). culture

The ________ typically has the greatest influence on the socialization process; especially in the early years of life. A) peer group B) media C) school D) family

Answer. D) family

Herbert Spencer describes human society as having much in common with: A) animal societies B) the solar system C) the human brain D) the human body

Answer. D) the human body

The basic idea of the symbolic-interaction approach is that society is: A) an arena of conflict between categories of people. B) the reality people construct as they interact with one another. C) a system that operates to benefit people. D) All of the above are correct.

Answer. B) the reality people construct as they interact with one another.

In which way do men and women typically differ in their use of space? A) Men commonly try to control more space than women B) Women commonly try to control more space than men C) There is no difference: men and women use space in the same way D) Men typically allow women more personal space

Answer. A) Men commonly try to control more space than women

Being male or female or being black or white is an ascribed status. A) True B) False

Answer. A) True

Having "street smarts" really amounts to having the ability to control everyday reality. A) True B) False

Answer. A) True

Making use of the sociological perspective encourages: A) challenging commonly held beliefs. B) accepting conventional ideas. C) the belief that society is mysterious. D) people to become isolated from one another.

Answer. A) challenging commonly held beliefs.

Humor comes from: A) contrasting a conventional with an unconventional reality B) a reaction biologically "wired" into human behavior C) learning to laugh at what others laugh at D) understanding some situation in only one way

Answer. A) contrasting a conventional with an unconventional reality

Which of the following concepts refers to the biological distinction between males and females? A) sex B) sexual orientation C) gender D) gender roles

Answer. A) sex

The theoretical approach in sociology that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability is the: A) structural-functional approach. B) social-conflict approach. C) symbolic-interaction approach. D) None of the above is correct.

Answer. A) structural-functional approach.

People with less power typically have more personal choice about how they act in the presence of others. A) True B) False

Answer. B) False

The "status" someone occupies refers to the persons importance in the society or organization. A) True B) False

Answer. B) False

Drawing conclusions about all of humanity based on information drawn only from males describes the problem called: A) interference. B) overgeneralization. C) gender blindness. D) using double standards.

Answer. B) over-generalization.

The method of sociological research best suited to identifying cause and effect relationships is: A) the survey B) the experiment C) the use of questionnaires D) participant observation

Answer. B) the experiment

A sexual counter-revolution developed in the U.S. by: A) 1920 B) 1960 C) 1980 D) 1995

Answer. C) 1980

Two of sociology's early founders were: A) August Comte and C. Wright Mills B) C. Wright Mills and Karl Marx C) August Comte and Karl Marx D) Robert Merton and Emile Durkheim

Answer. C) August Comte and Karl Marx

Human beings' basic drives or needs are reflected in Freud's concept or: A) super-ego B) ego C) ID D) generalized other

Answer. C) ID

Which of the following concepts refers to a social position that is received at birth or involuntarily taken on later in life? A) status set B) master status C) ascribed status D) achieved status

Answer. C) ascribed status

The basic idea behind scientific management is: A) that both science and formal organizations are rational. B) that organizations benefit from employees having scientific knowledge. C) that management can use scientific principles to make a business more productive. D) All of the above are correct.

Answer. C) that management can use scientific principles to make a business more productive.

The concept "bureaucracy" refers to: A) a large, normative organization. B) any source of inefficiency in organizational operation. C) an organizational model that operates informally. D) an organizational model rationally designed to perform tasks efficiently.

Answer. D) an organizational model rationally designed to perform tasks efficiently.

Which of the following concepts refers to an individual persons fairly consistent pattern of acting, thinking, and feeling? A) socialization B) behavior C) human nature D) personality

Answer. D) personality