Sociology Final Exam

When there is no meaningful causal connection between two apparently associated phenomenon, sociologists refer to this as: A. A spurious relationship. B. An independent variable. C. A serendipitous relationship. D. An invalid relationship.

A. A spurious relationship.

From a sociological perspective, what is the relationship between sex and gender? A. Biology and culture determine both gender and sex but culture is more important in determining gender and biology is more important in determining sex. B. Physical differences determine one's gender; cultural expectations influence sex. C. Gender and sex are both completely socially created. D. In most societies, with the US an exception, there is no relationship between gender and sex.

A. Biology and culture determine both gender and sex but culture is more important in determining gender and biology is more important in determining sex.

How would a conflict theorist view deviance? A. Dominant classes influence both the definitions of what is deviant and the sanctions against deviance. B. White collar crime is rare in capitalist society and US courts should not take up time hearing cases. C. Dominant classes rarely commit crimes, which is the most common form of deviance. D. All of the above.

A. Dominant classes influence both the definitions of what is deviant and the sanctions against deviance.

What are social institutions? A. Established and organized systems of social behavior with a particular and recognized purpose. B. The alteration of society over time that has a given meaning. C. Organized pattern of social relationships and organizations. D. Social patterns that are external to groups.

A. Established and organized systems of social behavior with a particular and recognized purpose.

Which of the following terms best fits this definition: seeing cultural aspects only from the point of view of your own culture? A. Ethnocentrism B. Relativism C. Folkway D. Ethnomethodology

A. Ethnocentrism

Which of theoretical perspectives is reflected in the following view of sexual behavior: to understand sexual behavior, one must explore the power relationships that frame different sexual identities and behaviors as well as linking sexuality to other forms of inequality. A. Feminist Theory B. Functionalist Theory C. Symbolic Interactionism Theory D. Conflict Theory

A. Feminist Theory

Which of the following Theoretical Frameworks emphasizes consensus, stability, order and solidarity as being good for individuals and society? A. Functionalism B. Feminism C. Conflict Theory D. Symbolic Interactionism

A. Functionalism

The narrators in Race: The Power of An Illusion (PBS, 2003) discuss a significant "paradigm shift" that occurred when Jesse Owens competed in the 1936 Olympics. What is the paradigm shift? A. The shift from believing ideas of white superiority in all matters to white superiority in intellectual ability, conceding that African Americans may have been superior in physical based matters B. The shift to thinking that Jesse Owens, who identified as African American, was actually white, which confirmed the racist belief of white superiority in all matters C. The shift from thinking that class was the most important factor in understanding the social stratification system to thinking that race and ethnicity were the most important factors in the stratification system. D. The shift in rewarding white men who won an Olympic medal more money than all other competitors because Hitler believed in paradigms.

A. The shift from believing ideas of white superiority in all matters to white superiority in intellectual ability, conceding that African Americans may have been superior in physical based matters

What is the sociological significance of the mass media and popular culture? A. They have an influence on groups' belief and values including ideas about racism and sexism. B. Mass media has no role in sociology but popular culture has the most important role in sociology. C. They both refute the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis on the role of language in determining social structure. D. They are both forces that work against social change.

A. They have an influence on groups' belief and values including ideas about racism and sexism.

Stereotypes are: A. oversimplified statements of belief about members of a particular group. B. generally only applied to a few groups within any society. C. generalizations about minorities groups by the dominant group. D. understood to apply only to a few members of any particular group.

A. oversimplified statements of belief about members of a particular group.

What is the relationship between the concepts of sexual orientation and sexual identity? A Sexual orientation and sexual identity are dependent on physical attraction and sexual identity is determined by biology. B Sexual orientation is something deeply rooted in an individual; sexual identity develops within a social context. C. Sexual identity is biological; sexual orientation is socially constructed. D. One's sexual orientation determines one's sexual identity.

B Sexual orientation is something deeply rooted in an individual; sexual identity develops within a social context.

Who developed it and what is meant by the looking glass self? A. C. Wright Mills said that the looking glass self is the process by which our self emerges out of our image of our own appearance; how we imagine others judge us; and through our feelings about that judgment. B. Charles Horton Cooley said that the looking glass self is the process by which our self emerges out of our image of our own appearance; how we imagine other's judge us; and through our feelings about that judgment. C. C. Wright Mills said that the looking glass self is the process through which our perception of others' personalities emerges when we study their mirror images. D. Charles Horton Cooley said that the looking glass self is the process through which our perception of others' personalities emerges when we study their mirror images.

B. Charles Horton Cooley said that the looking glass self is the process by which our self emerges out of our image of our own appearance; how we imagine other's judge us; and through our feelings about that judgment.

What is the difference between class consciousness and false consciousness? A. Class consciousness is the perception that class exists along with a feeling of shared identity and false consciousness is a feeling that you are in the wrong class. B. Class consciousness is the perception that class exists along with a feeling of shared identity and false consciousness is when the lower class internalizes the views of the dominant class. C. Class consciousness is the perception of one's socioeconomic status and false consciousness is a feeling that you are in the wrong status. D. Class consciousness is the perception that class and status are real and false consciousness is a feeling that class and status are unreal.

B. Class consciousness is the perception that class exists along with a feeling of shared identity and false consciousness is when the lower class internalizes the views of the dominant class.

Which of the following Theoretical Frameworks emphasizes power, coercion, domination and societal resources? A. Functionalism and Feminism B. Feminism and Conflict Theory C. Symbolic Interactionism and Functionalism D. Conflict Theory and Functionalism

B. Feminism and Conflict Theory

According to our text, is gender an ascribed or achieved status? A. Gender becomes "apparent" at birth so it can be thought of as an ascribed status B. Gender is a social construct so it can be thought of as an achieved status C. Sex is an ascribed status but gender is neither achieved or ascribed. D. Both sex and gender are always ascribed statuses.

B. Gender is a social construct so it can be thought of as an achieved status

According to our textbook authors, which of the following four characteristics does most groupthink have in common? A. Illusion of vulnerability; incorporating antagonists; encouraging dissenting opinion; and unanimity. B. Illusion of invulnerability; a negative impression of antagonists; discouragement of dissenting opinion; and illusion of unanimity. C. Illusion of invulnerability; a negative impression of antagonists; encouragement of dissenting opinion; and illusion of unanimity. D. Illusion of vulnerability; positive impression of antagonists; discouragement of dissenting opinion; and illusion of unanimity.

B. Illusion of invulnerability; a negative impression of antagonists; discouragement of dissenting opinion; and illusion of unanimity.

Which of the following best describes racism? A. Perception of a racial or ethnic group as innately inferior. B. Perception and mistreatment of a racial or ethnic group or member of that group as intellectually, socially, and culturally inferior. C. Powerful groups venting their anger about experiencing downward social mobility toward a scapegoat group. D. The priority of assimilation over pluralism.

B. Perception and mistreatment of a racial or ethnic group or member of that group as intellectually, socially, and culturally inferior.

What are the main differences between quantitative and qualitative research? A. Quantitative uses numerical analysis and qualitative research uses statistics B. Quantitative uses numerical analysis and qualitative research uses more interpretation of actual behavior or accounts of behavior. C. Quantitative uses numerical analysis but is rarely used in sociology and qualitative uses interpretation of actual behavior and is almost always used in sociology D. Quantitative analysis uses interpretation and qualitative research uses numerical analysis.

B. Quantitative uses numerical analysis and qualitative research uses more interpretation of actual behavior or accounts of behavior.

What is the difference between role conflict and role strain? A. Role conflict is the struggle over scarce resources. Role strain is when you use all of your scarce resources. B. Role conflict is competing expectations across roles. Role strain is competing expectations within roles. C. Role conflict is competing expectations within roles. Role strain is competing expectations across roles. D. Role conflict is when your role set does not line up with your status set. Role strain is when you have too many roles.

B. Role conflict is competing expectations across roles. Role strain is competing expectations within roles.

Which of the following is an accurate statement? A. There is significant evidence for a biological basis for sexual identity. B. Some people claim that there might be some biological basis for sexual orientation but, at this point, there is no evidence. C. There is significant evidence for a biological basis for sexual identity but not for sexual orientation. D. All of the above are accurate.

B. Some people claim that there might be some biological basis for sexual orientation but, at this point, there is no evidence.

In sociology, in what context might we use the term" "discontinuous auto-biographical self? A. The context of anticipatory socialization in societal institutions. B. The context of resocialization in total institutions. C. The context of a symbolic interactionist view of socialization. D. The context of functionalist view of prisons and brain washing.

B. The context of resocialization in total institutions.

C. Wright Mills came up with the term and wrote a book entitled The Sociological Imagination (1959). According to our text, which of the following is the best description of the sociological imagination? A. an ability to think creatively about the way all societies work and function especially at the structural level. B. an ability to see the societal patterns that influence the individual as well as groups of individuals and the ability to see the distinction between social issues and personal troubles. C. an ability to identify the role that individuals play in social phenomenon, without worrying about societal influences. D. none of the above

B. an ability to see the societal patterns that influence the individual as well as groups of individuals and the ability to see the distinction between social issues and personal troubles.

A functionalist view of social inequality suggests: A. that talents of those at the bottom of the stratification system do not get recognized and that helps motivate them. B. that the purpose of social inequality is to motivate people to fill needed positions in society. C. that most people have a status that is not consistent with their function in society but due to ascribed statuses they may overcome their own inequality. D. that the purpose of social inequality is to keep the powerful in positions of power.

B. that the purpose of social inequality is to motivate people to fill needed positions in society.

What is the main difference between achieved status and ascribed status? A. Achieved status is what leads to status inconsistency and ascribed status is what leads to status confirmation. B. Achieved status is what your parent(s) obtained for you and ascribed status is based on your own hard work. C. Achieved status is obtained mostly through individual effort and ascribed status can be granted at birth. D. Achieved status is obtained mostly at birth and ascribed status is obtained mostly from your hard work.

C. Achieved status is obtained mostly through individual effort and ascribed status can be granted at birth.

Why is studying diversity important to the study of sociology? A. Because it helps us understand the norms that govern society. B. So we are able to distinguish acceptable from unacceptable behavior. C. Because "diversity," as we typically define it, is often the basis for the hierarchies that order our lives. D. So we can make our educational systems better.

C. Because "diversity," as we typically define it, is often the basis for the hierarchies that order our lives.

Why is sociology thought of as a discipline with a goal of debunking? A. Because sociology often compares various cultures to explain universal practices. B. Because sociology views human behavior as taken for granted and only studies social hierarchies. C. Because sociology tries to look behind or beyond things we think of as common sense and things that are taken for granted. D. Because sociology works hard to confirm what we think of as common sense so that the status quo is reinforced.

C. Because sociology tries to look behind or beyond things we think of as common sense and things that are taken for granted.

Which of the following are characteristics of culture? A. Cultures are concrete B. Cultures are shared across all counter-cultures C. Cultures are symbolic, and a main symbol is language D. All of the above

C. Cultures are symbolic, and a main symbol is language

Which of the following is a factor that helps explain 'risky shift' within groups? A. Polarization B. Obedience to authority C. Deindividualization D. All of the above

C. Deindividualization

What does it mean to say that deviance is a social construct? A. Deviance is always a reflection of criminal behavior and courts assess criminality. B. Deviance is a societal condition that is unrelated to individual choices. C. Deviance is defined by the same social processes that defines norms and constructs roles. D. All of the above.

C. Deviance is defined by the same social processes that defines norms and constructs roles.

What is status? A. A mechanism that dominant culture uses to hold society together and keep it orderly. B. A fixed position in society that one achieves through hard work. C. Established positions in a social structure that includes a social rank. D. A collection of individuals that occupy a class position.

C. Established positions in a social structure that includes a social rank.

How is homophobia related to gender socialization? A. Homophobia illustrates the validity of biological determinism. B. Sociologists find that the effect of homophobia on gender socialization through peers has been overstated. C. Homophobia encourages strict conformity to gender expectations, especially for men and boys. D. Research on homophobia indicates that the "social construction of gender" is a myth.

C. Homophobia encourages strict conformity to gender expectations, especially for men and boys.

What is social stratification? A. The process by which different strata in society eventually become fixed and lead to a caste system. B. Absolutely fixed social hierarchy of income and wealth distribution but unrelated to structured social inequality. C. Relatively fixed, hierarchical arrangement by which groups have different access to resources, power and perceived social worth; thus, it is a system of structured social inequality. D. The process by which different statuses develop in society toward a system of hierarchical equality

C. Relatively fixed, hierarchical arrangement by which groups have different access to resources, power and perceived social worth; thus, it is a system of structured social inequality.

What are norms and what is one way they are "enforced"? A. Rules and expectations for social behavior. Enforced by negative sanctions used by dominant culture. B. The key factors of counter cultures. Enforced by the dominant culture through use of scarce resources. C. Rules and expectations for social behavior. Enforced by mechanisms of social control, which can be positive or negative. D. Abstract standards of social structure. Enforced by social institutions.

C. Rules and expectations for social behavior. Enforced by mechanisms of social control, which can be positive or negative.

Which of the following best reflects heterosexism? A. The institutionalization of heterosexuality as deviant. B. The systematic denial of rights to homosexuals. C. The institutionalization of heterosexuality as the only legitimate sexual orientation. D. The systemic weakening of social norms related to sexual orientation.

C. The institutionalization of heterosexuality as the only legitimate sexual orientation.

In the following situations, when is attribution error more likely? A. When someone from an out-group assesses someone from the same out-group. B. When two in-groups are in competition for the same scarce resources. C. When someone from an in-group assesses someone from an out-group. D. When two in-group members exhibit the same behavior.

C. When someone from an in-group assesses someone from an out-group.

Sociological study of homophobia has found that: A. it occurs naturally in humans. B. there is no institutional context for homophobia within the U.S. C. it may be deeply embedded in individuals' definitions of themselves. D. unlike in other countries, homophobia has little impact on attitudes within the U.S.

C. it may be deeply embedded in individuals' definitions of themselves.

The perspective of feminism has been used to support many legal changes to bring about equal opportunity for women in the United States, but it often excluded women of color from the analysis. A. radical B. socialist C. liberal D. multiracial

C. liberal

A conflict theory view of social inequality suggests: A. that conflict will never resolve the unequal distribution of economic resources. B. that classes find their rightful place through consensus and cooperation but there will always be inequality. C. that those with the most resources exploit and control others. D. that conflict will reveal the most important positions in society.

C. that those with the most resources exploit and control others.

The poverty line in the US is: A. the amount of money below which people are determined poor and automatically get government subsidies including a free education. B. the amount of money needed to support the basic needs of a household as determined by each household. C. the amount of money needed to support the basic needs of household as determined by the government. D. all of the above.

C. the amount of money needed to support the basic needs of household as determined by the government.

What is meant by racialization? A. A process whereby some people are judged because of their racial background. B. A process whereby some sub-populations are reclassified from one racial or ethnic group to another. C. A process whereby some sub-populations consistently avoid interacting with specific racial or ethnic groups. D. A process whereby some social category and social phenomenon take on or are given racial characteristics.

D. A process whereby some social category and social phenomenon take on or are given racial characteristics.

Which of the following explanations for the gender wage gap do the authors discuss? A. The explanation that says that individual characteristics that workers bring into the labor force helps explain the gap, but the job market is fair and competitive. B. The explanation that the labor market is segmented along gender lines, and the two tiers are inherently unequal. C. The explanation that overt discrimination exists and is linked to wage inequality with women generally receiving lower wages. D. All of the above explanations.

D. All of the above explanations.

How is the criminal justice system shaped by social factors? A. Social class disparities exist in both arrest rates and rates of victimization. B. Minorities and marginalized people are more likely to be victims. C. From racial profiling to arrest to sentencing to incarceration, Black Americans and Hispanics face a greater risk of prosecution in the criminal justice system. D. All of the above.

D. All of the above.

Which of the following types of questions is most likely to increase the sociological body of knowledge? A. Comparison across places B. Description of the phenomenon C. Change over time D. Analytical

D. Analytical

According to Edsell in the New York Times (June, 2019) what is a meritocracy and is the United States a meritocracy? A. Meritocracy is a political system in which economic goods are gained by individuals on the basis of talent, effort and achievement. The US is a perfect meritocracy. B. Meritocracy is an economic system in which privilege is gained by individuals on the basis of talent, effort and achievement. The US is a perfect meritocracy. C. Meritocracy is an economic system in which privilege is gained by individuals on the basis of talent, effort and achievement. The US is an imperfect meritocracy D. Meritocracy is a political system in which economic goods are gained by individuals on the basis of talent, effort and achievement. The US is an imperfect meritocracy.

D. Meritocracy is a political system in which economic goods are gained by individuals on the basis of talent, effort and achievement. The US is an imperfect meritocracy.

Labeling theory suggests which of the following leads to deviance? A. The label powerful people put on various social interaction leads to deviance. B. The wrongdoing of wealthy and powerful individuals and organizations leads to deviance. C. The interpretation of unacceptable behavior one learns through interaction with others leads to deviance. D. People's responses, not the behavior itself, leads to deviance.

D. People's responses, not the behavior itself, leads to deviance.

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination? A. Prejudice is unrelated to stereotypes and discrimination is based on stereotypes. B. Prejudice is mistreatment against an individual and discrimination is mistreatment against a group. C. Prejudice can only be felt by a group in power and discrimination can be felt by all people. D. Prejudice is a negative evaluation of a sub-population and discrimination is unequal treatment.

D. Prejudice is a negative evaluation of a sub-population and discrimination is unequal treatment.

Which of the following statements is false? A. Sex refers to biological identity, male or female. B. Gender refers to the socially learned expectations and behaviors associated with members of each sex. C. Gender is a more important concept to sociologists than sex. D. The key sociological question on the issue of the relationship between sex and gender is whether biology or culture is more important.

D. The key sociological question on the issue of the relationship between sex and gender is whether biology or culture is more important.

Cyberspace interaction can be an application of Goffman's impression management in what way? A. Users manage other users' impressions by beginning and ending communication. B. Users define the reality of the situation but leave their true selves unprotected. C. Users manage their own impressions but their true selves can never be protected. D. Users can project any impression and know that their true selves are protected.

D. Users can project any impression and know that their true selves are protected.

Which of the following best describes the Hawthorn Effect? A. When a characteristic of a person or group can have more than one value. B. When repeating an analysis leads to different results. C. When repeating an analysis leads to the same results. D. When people know they are being studied and change their behavior because of that knowledge

D. When people know they are being studied and change their behavior because of that knowledge

When norms are learned so thoroughly that we do not question the norms and just accept them, we call that process_______. A. life course socialization B. primary socialization C. subconscious socialization D. internalization

D. internalization