SOCI Exam One Study Guide
A manifest function of sports is ________ a. providing recreation and physical conditioning. b. fostering social relationships. c. generating jobs. d. teaching a society's way of life.
A
A social-exchange analysis states that ________ a. people typically seek mates who offer as much as they do. b. class differences are reflected in favored sports. c. people build reality as they introduce themselves. d. people who do more important work usually earn more pay.
A
A symbolic-interaction analysis of sports would conclude that ________ a. winning at sports means different things to different people. b. some categories of people benefit more than others from sports. c. sports help develop important cultural values. d. "stacking" is a type of racial inequality in sports.
A
About 1 million immigrants have entered the United States each year, and many (including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gloria Estefan) have become well known. These facts support the conclusion that ________ a. the world's nations are increasingly interconnected. b. other nations have little effects on life in rich countries such as the United States. c. people around the world share little in terms of their ways of life. d. sociology does not have to pay attention to nations other than the United States.
A
An accurate criticism of the structural-functional approach is that it ________ a. ignores inequality that can generate tension and conflict. b. focuses too much on social dysfunction. c. focuses too much on power divisions in society. d. is a politically liberal view of society.
A
Building social relationships and creating tens of thousands of jobs are two of the _________ of sports. a. manifest functions b. latent functions c. dysfunctions d. non-functions
A
C. Wright Mills claimed that the "sociological imagination" transformed ________ a. common sense into laws of society. b. people into supporters of the status quo. c. personal problems into public issues. d. scientific research into common sense.
A
Comte described the earliest human societies as being at which stage of historical development? a. Theological stage b. Metaphysical stage c. Scientific stage d. Post-scientific stage
A
In deciding what kinds of questions to ask in their research, sociologists are guided by ________ a. one or more theoretical approaches. b. their own common sense. c. our society's traditional wisdom. d. sheer chance.
A
In the United States today, the suicide rate is highest for which of the following categories of people? a. White males b. African American males c. White females d. African American females
A
Making use of the sociological perspective encourages ________ a. challenging many commonly-held beliefs. b. accepting all commonly-held wisdom. c. the belief that society is mysterious. d. people to be happy with their lives as they are.
A
Racial discrimination in professional sports is evident today in ________ a. the positions typically played by white and black players. b. the exclusion of African American players from professional sports. c. the fact that most managers and team owners are African American. d. the fact that women's sports attract less attention than men's sports.
A
Sarah is spending a summer living in another country where people have a way of life that differs from her own. A sociologist might expect that this experience would lead her to ________ a. end up with a greater understanding of both a new way of life and her own way of life. b. accept what people in the United States call "common sense." c. assume that people's lives simply reflect the choices they make. d.gradually understand less and less about her own way of life.
A
Sociologists cannot identify "laws of society" that allow us to precisely predict the behavior of an individual because ________ a. human behavior may be patterned, but it is also spontaneous. b. sociology is still very young. c. no sociologist ever tried to discover such laws. d.no sociologist would wish to predict human behavior.
A
The ________ approaches are macro-level, describing societies in broad, structural terms. a. structural-functional and social-conflict b. structural-functional and symbolic-interaction c. social-conflict and symbolic-interaction d. gender-conflict and symbolic-interaction
A
The chapter's sociological analysis of childbearing around the world suggests that the number of children born to a woman reflects ________ a. only her personal preference for family size. b. how many children she can afford. c. whether she lives in a poor or a rich society. d. simply the desires of her husband.
A
The early sociologists Auguste Comte and Emile Durkheim used the ________ a. the structural-functional approach. b. the social-conflict approach. c. the symbolic-interaction approach. d. theological approach.
A
The main characteristic of the ________ approach is its view of society as being orderly and stable. a. structural-functional b. social-conflict c. social-interaction d. tradition-based
A
The theoretical approach in sociology that assumes society is 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. tradition-based approach.
A
To evaluate a theory using evidence, sociologists ________ a. gather data or facts. b. accept the conventional wisdom of their society. c. are guided by their personal feelings about the issue. d.look to the past for guidance.
A
Unrecognized and unintended consequences of a social pattern are called ________ a. latent functions. b. manifest functions. c. operational functions. d.dysfunctions.
A
Using the social-conflict approach, a sociologist might highlight ________ a. income differences among young people in high school. b. gender inequality in college sports. c. racial inequality in a company's hiring and promotion practices. d. the functions of a social institution such as the family.
A
Which of the following concepts is used to describe relatively stable patterns of social behavior? a. Social structure b. Manifest functions c. Social functions d. Social dysfunctions
A
Which of the following disciplines defines itself as "the systematic study of human society"? a. Sociology b. Psychology c. Economics d. History
A
Which pioneering sociologist founded Chicago's Hull House to assist immigrants and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize? a. Jane Addams b. Harriet Martineau c. W. E. B. Du Bois d. Herbert Spencer
A
Which theoretical approach would highlight the fact that, on average, African American families have less income than white families? a. The race-conflict approach b. The gender-conflict approach c. The structural-functional approach d. The symbolic-interaction approach
A
Who helped launch the discipline of sociology by studying the evils of slavery and also by translating the writings of Auguste Comte? a. Harriet Martineau b. Jane Addams c. Elizabeth Cady Stanton d. Dorothea Dix
A
Who was the U.S. sociologist who distinguished between the manifest functions and the latent functions of social patterns? a. Robert K. Merton b. William Graham Sumner c. Talcott Parsons d. C. Wright Mills
A
_______ had an important influence on the development of the social-conflict approach. a. Karl Marx b. Talcott Parsons c. Emile Durkheim d. Herbert Spencer
A
A criticism of the symbolic-interaction approach is that it ________ a. calls attention to major social institutions. b. says little about the influence of structural factors such as culture, class, gender, and race. c. paints a very positive picture of society. d. says little about how individuals actually experience society.
B
A limitation of the symbolic-interaction approach is that it ________ a. is not concerned with the meaning people attach to behavior. b. is not focused on macro-level social structures. c. does not use the sociological perspective. d.does not focus on the widespread influence of culture.
B
A sociologist using the gender-conflict approach might state that ________ a. men and women share in the joys of family life. b. in many ways, men are in positions of power over women. c. gender functions in an important way to keep society operating. d. men and women enjoy equal rights and privileges in our society.
B
Almost all of Latin America (excluding Mexico) and almost all of Asia falls in the category of ________ a. low-income nations. b. middle-income nations. c. high-income nations. d. socially marginalized nations.
B
Among the historical changes that stimulated the development of sociology as a discipline was ________ a. the founding of the Roman Catholic church. b. the rise of the industrial economy and growth of cities. c. the power of tradition. d.a belief that our futures are defined by "fate"
B
An example of a latent function of college is ________ a. providing skills needed for later jobs. b. keeping young people out of a tight labor force, which may not have jobs for them. c. gaining the knowledge required to be an active and thoughtful citizen. d. giving young people experience living on their own.
B
Because there is more social isolation in rural areas of the United States than in urban areas, we would expect suicide rates to be ________ a. higher in urban areas. b. higher in rural areas. c. high in both urban and rural areas. d. low in both urban and rural areas.
B
By stating that the sociological perspective shows us "the strange in the familiar," the text argues that sociologists ________ a. focus on the bizarre elements of society. b. reject the familiar idea that people simply decide how to act in favor of the initially strange idea that society shapes our lives. c. believe that people often behave in strange ways. d.believe that even people who are most familiar to us have some very strange habits.
B
Countries in which average people's income is typical for the world as a whole and in which people are as likely to live in a rural area as in an urban area are categorized as ________ a. low-income nations. b. middle-income nations. c. high-income nations. d. socially marginalized nations.
B
Examples of people applying their knowledge of sociology at work include people in medicine ________ a. declining to treat certain categories of people. b. understanding patterns of health in a community. c. working as clinical sociologists. d. understanding that factors like race, class, and gender have no effect on well-being.
B
Gaining a global understanding is ________ a. unimportant because the United States is so rich and there is little reason for us to learn about other nations. b. important for college students because most new U.S. jobs involve international trade. c. unimportant since there is no longer very much poverty in the world. d. important although people the world over have ways of life that are mostly the same.
B
Identify the three sociologists who played a part in the development of sociology's structural-functional approach. a. Auguste Comte, Karl Marx, W. E. B. Du Bois b. Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim c. Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Auguste Comte d. Harriet Martineau, Robert Merton, W. E. B. Du Bois
B
If social marginality encourages sociological thinking, we would expect people in which category listed below to make the most use of the sociological perspective? a. The wealthy b. People who belong to a racial minority c. Politicians d. The middle class
B
In the feature about Barbara Ehrenreich working at low-wage jobs, we learned that she ________ a. was able to make a good living right from the start. b. worked very hard, but never made enough money to pay for her basic needs. c. found most of her coworkers to be dull and lazy. d. was eventually convinced that personal ability is everything.
B
Learning more sociology can help you ________ a. understand how people have little control over their lives. b. assess the opportunities and constraints in our lives. c. understand that people should just be happy with their lives. d. see how individuals guide their own lives through "free will".
B
Looking at the United States, high suicide rates are typical of areas in which people ________ a. live densely packed in cities. b. live spread apart in rural areas. c. have higher incomes. d.live in a warmer climate.
B
Robert Merton explained that what is functional for people in one category of a society's population ________ a. is always functional for everyone. b. may not be functional for people in another category. c. is unlikely to change over time. d. can never be functional in the future.
B
Social problems that exist in the United States, such as poverty and gender inequality, are ________ a. less serious in poorer countries. b. more serious in poorer countries. c. equally serious in poorer countries. d. unheard of in poorer countries.
B
The "framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change" is the ________ a. structural-functional approach. b. social-conflict approach. c. symbolic-interaction approach. d. tradition-based approach.
B
The basic idea of the symbolic-interaction approach is that society is ________ a. an arena of conflict between categories of people. b. the product of people interacting in countless everyday situations. c. a system that operates to benefit people. d. a system that generates social inequality.
B
The major goal of sociology's pioneers, including Auguste Comte and Emile Durkheim, was ________ a. to serve the powerful. b. to help build an "ideal society." c. to discover how society actually operates. d. to prevent disruptive social change.
B
The recognized and intended consequences of a social pattern are referred to as ________ a. latent functions. b. manifest functions. c. eufunctions. d. dysfunctions.
B
The social-conflict approach sometimes receives criticism for ________ a. focusing on values that everyone shares. b. being openly political. c. promoting the status quo. d. ignoring factors like class.
B
Thomas Hobbes's idea that society reflects a selfish human nature illustrates the thinking common at which of Comte's historical stages? a. Theological stage b. Metaphysical stage c. Scientific stage d. Post-scientific stage
B
Unlike simple stereotypes, sociological generalizations ________ a. apply to all individuals in some category. b. are based on all available facts. c. are motivated by bias. d. ignore facts.
B
W. E. B. Du Bois claimed that ________ was the major problem facing the United States during the twentieth century. a. class b. race c. gender d. ethnicity
B
We would expect the sociological perspective to be most likely to develop in a place that was ________ a. very traditional. b. experiencing many social changes. c. very poor. d. small and socially isolated.
B
What does the idea that the social world guides our actions and life choices just as the seasons influence activities and choice of clothing describe? A. The basis of what philosophy calls "free will" B. The essential wisdom of the discipline of sociology C. The fact that people everywhere have "common sense" D. The fact that people from countries all around the world make mostly identical choices about how to live
B
________ is a way of understanding the world based on science. a. Tradition b. Positivism c. Metaphysics d.Free will
B
A simplified description unfairly applied to every person in the same category is called ________ a. a sociological insight. b. a sociological generalization. c. a stereotype. d. an act of discrimination.
C
A social-conflict approach to sports would be an analysis of ________ a. the way in which sports help encourage competition. b. the importance of physical ability in success. c. how sports reflect social inequality. d. the different meanings people attach to games.
C
According to Auguste Comte, people begin to try to understand how social life operates as their society enters which stage of development? a. Theological stage b. Metaphysical stage c. Scientific stage d. Post-scientific stage
C
According to Auguste Comte, people living in Europe during the Middle Ages thought of society as ________ a. a system operating according to its own laws. b. chaotic and having little order or form. c. an expression of God's will. d. a system of behavior according to natural laws.
C
According to Auguste Comte, the type of thinking favored by people such as Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, becomes common in a society at which stage of societal development? a. Theological stage b. Metaphysical stage c. Scientific stage d. Post-scientific stage
C
According to Emile Durkheim, categories of people with a higher suicide rate typically have ________ a. more clinical depression. b. less money, power, and other resources. c. lower levels of social integration. d. higher self-esteem.
C
Sociologist Lenore Weitzman carried out research showing that women who divorce ________ a. typically remarry within one year. b. claim they are happier than before. c. suffer a significant loss of income. d. have a happier sex life.
C
Sociologists use the term "social marginality" to refer to ________ a. people who have little understanding of sociology. b. people who have special social skills. c. people who are defined by others as an "outsider." d. people who are especially sensitive about their family background.
C
Sociology first appeared as a formal discipline in ________ a. the United States. b. Japan. c. France. d. China.
C
The United States falls within which category of the world's nations? a. Low-income nations b. Middle-income nations c. High-income nations d. Socially marginalized nations
C
The ancient Romans saw the stars as being gods. Auguste Comte would classify Roman society as being in which of the following stages of history? a. Scientific stage b. Metaphysical stage c. Theological stage d. Post-scientific stage
C
The nations of Western Europe, Israel, Japan, and Australia fall into which category of countries? a. Low-income nations b. Middle-income nations c. High-income nations d. Socially marginalized nations
C
The pioneering sociologist who studied patterns of suicide in Europe was ________ a. Robert K. Merton. b. Auguste Comte. c. Emile Durkheim. d. Karl Marx.
C
The social-conflict approach draws attention to ________ a. how elements contribute to the overall operation of society. b. how people construct meaning in their interaction. c. patterns of social inequality. d. the stable aspects of society.
C
The structural-functional approach is concerned with ________ a. the meaning people attach to their behavior. b. patterns of social inequality. c. the consequences of social patterns for the operation of society. d. ways in which each person differs from all others.
C
The symbolic-interaction approach focuses on how ________ a. society held together. b. society is divided. c. people experience society. d. some people protect their privileges.
C
Understanding marriage using the structural-functional approach might prompt you to consider ________ a. what people think marriage means. b. how marriage benefits women and men unequally. c. the consequences of marriage for the operation of society. d. how can we help people find more pleasure in their marriages.
C
Understanding the differences between countries encourages ________ a. an increase in global poverty. b. increasing gender inequality. c. increasing our understanding of both of our own lives and the lives of others. d. increasing global wealth.
C
Using the symbolic-interaction approach, sports becomes ________ a. a structure that contributes to the functioning of society. b. a matter of social inequality. c. less a system than an ongoing process of interaction. d. just a game without any meaning.
C
What might a sociologist say about people's selection of marriage partners? A. People marry because they fall in love. B. When it comes to romance, it is all a matter of personal taste. C. Typically, a person marries someone of similar social position. D. When it comes to love, opposites attract.
C
When did sociology become established as an academic discipline in the United States? a. During the Middle Ages b. About 1800 c. About 1900 d. About 2000
C
Which early U.S. sociologist studied the African American community and served as a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)? a. Jane Addams b. Harriet Martineau c. W. E. B. Du Bois d. Herbert Spencer
C
Which early sociologist received the first doctorate ever awarded by Harvard University to a person of color? a. Jane Addams b. Harriet Martineau c. W. E. B. Du Bois d. Herbert Spencer
C
Which of the following examples illustrates a micro-level focus? a. The operation of the U.S. economy b. Patterns of global terrorism c. Two people on an airplane getting to know one another d. Class inequality in the armed forces
C
Which of the following statements best illustrates the career advantage a person gains by studying sociology? a. A researcher discovers a new and effective vaccine. b. A person in retail sales knows how to exceed the monthly sales target. c. A police officer understands which categories of people are at high risk of becoming victims of crime. d. A financial services worker devises a new type of hedge fund.
C
Which theoretical approach claims that it is not so much what people do that matters as much as what meaning they attach to their behavior? a. Structural-functional approach b. Social-conflict approach c. Symbolic-interaction approach d. Social-exchange approach
C
A limitation of the structural-functional approach is that it ________ a. is not concerned with the consequences of patterns of social behavior. b. is not focused on macro-level social structures. c. does not use the sociological perspective. d. focuses on stability at the expense of conflict.
D
A statement that explains how and why specific facts are related is called a(n) ________ a. approach. b. precept. c. concept. d. theory.
D
Following the thinking of C. Wright Mills, we would expect the sociological imagination to be more widespread in a population ________ a. during times of peace and prosperity. b. among the very rich. c. among very religious people. d. during times of social crisis.
D
Herbert Spencer described human society as a complex system having much in common with ________ a. animal societies. b. planets and stars. c. the human brain. d. the human body.
D
If we state that children raised in single-parent families are at high risk of being single parents themselves, we have constructed a ________ of family life. a. paradigm b. precept c. concept d. theory
D
Karl Marx, guided by the social-conflict approach, argued that the point of studying society was ________ a. to understand how society really operates. b. to compare U.S. society to others. c. to foster support for a nation's government. d. to bring about greater social equality.
D
Looking at the operation of U.S. schools guided by the social-conflict approach might lead a sociologist to conclude that ________ a. the function of schools is to teach needed skills. b. the meaning of schooling varies from child to child. c. schools have been a major path to social advancement. d. our society provides some students with far better schooling than others.
D
Most of today's sociologists agree with Auguste Comte's claim that ________ a. no society has reached the scientific stage of history. b. human behavior is not patterned and orderly. c. sociology should be based on religion. d. science has an important place in sociology
D
Peter Berger describes using the sociological perspective as seeing the ______ in the _______. a. good; worst tragedies b. new; old c. specific; general d.general; particular
D
Social structures sometimes have negative consequences for the operation of society as a whole. Which of the following concepts refers to these negative consequences? a. Social structure b. Manifest functions c. Social functions d. Social dysfunctions
D
Sociology differs from the older discipline of philosophy by focusing on ________ a. what the ideal society should be. b. human nature. c. the place of God in shaping human events. d. how society actually operates.
D
Sociology provides an advantage to students preparing for later careers by preparing them for work ________ a. only as teachers of sociology. b. only in criminal justice or social work. c. only as clinical sociologists. d. in teaching, criminal justice, business, and many other careers.
D
The term "sociology" was coined in 1838 by ________ a. Karl Marx. b. Herbert Spencer. c. Adam Smith. d. Auguste Comte.
D
Three campus roommates are talking about why they are in college. A sociological view of going to college highlights the effect of ________ a. only age, because college students tend to be young. b. only class, because college students tend to come from families with above-average incomes. c. only our place in history, because a century ago going to college was not an option for most people. d.age, class, and our place in history, because of these are all ways in which society guides college attendance.
D
W. E. B. Du Bois described African Americans as having a "double consciousness" because ________ a. most African Americans felt that, compared to white people, they had to be twice as careful in how they acted. b. there is a double disadvantage in being both poor and black. c. African Americans have to work twice as hard as whites to get the same reward. d. African Americans are American citizens who have a second identity based on skin color.
D
__________, one of the founding sociologists, urged sociologists to understand a social setting from the point of view of the people in it. a. Karl Marx b. Emile Durkheim c. Auguste Comte d. Max Weber
D