SOC Ch. 1

A theory is not an absolute, final statement about human behavior. Why not? a)As more information becomes available the theory will be modified to provide a better explanation. b)No sociologist is smart enough to produce a theory that is absolutely correct. c)As time goes by we change our ideological beliefs about things and change our theories to match our new beliefs. d)A theory is just a guess, and someone always comes up with another guess to replace the most recent one.

a)As more information becomes available the theory will be modified to provide a better explanation.

The sociologist who said that people should study behavior as if people were actors on a stage was a)Erving Goffman. b)Karl Marx. c)C. Wright Mills. d)Robert Merton.

a)Erving Goffman.

In the period in which Durkheim aimed to establish sociology as a legitimate discipline, the dominant theories held which of the following to be the primary causes of human behavior? a)God b)an individual's own makeup c)biology d)society

a)God b)an individual's own makeup c)biology

Which of the following would best describe clinical sociology? a)It facilitates change through practices such as family therapy or the reorganization of a medical center. b)It makes it possible for abstract theorists to gather the data they need to develop their theories. c)It is sociology practiced by medical professionals. d)It combines the conflict and interactionist view to evaluate social issues.

a)It facilitates change through practices such as family therapy or the reorganization of a medical center.

According to the American Sociological Association, which of the following were major motivations governing students' choice of a sociology major? a)They wanted to understand themselves better. b)They believed that understanding sociology would give them an advantage over other people. c)They hoped to make a difference in the world. d)They wanted to understand the relationship between social forces and individual relationships.

a)They wanted to understand themselves better. c)They hoped to make a difference in the world. d)They wanted to understand the relationship between social forces and individual relationships.

According to Durkheim's theory on suicide, which of the following would best explain why the suicide rate in the United States is highest among non-Hispanic white males? a)White males tend to be more socially isolated than their female and/or minority counterparts. b)Non-Hispanic white males are under more pressure than any other segment of society. c)White males tend to be more socially unaware than their female and/or minority counterparts. d)White males, after a millennia of dominating societies, are now in retreat.

a)White males tend to be more socially isolated than their female and/or minority counterparts.

Sociology graduates who express the highest levels of job satisfaction apply a variety of skills cultivated in their major, including a)creating presentations. b)working in teams. c)lobbying government agencies. d)analyzing social problems.

a)creating presentations. b)working in teams. d)analyzing social problems.

An interactionist would likely study which of the following? a)how workers communicate on the job b)the role of gender and race in social inequality c)the effects of social institutions on social stability d)behavior in small groups

a)how workers communicate on the job d)behavior in small groups

The conflict perspective focuses on a)inequality of power and the tension between groups. b)ways to increase efficiency within corporations. c)the interrelated functions of social units. d)interaction between individuals within society.

a)inequality of power and the tension between groups.

Which of the following are among the three positional (or place) categories of particular interest to sociologists? a)race b)job c)theory d)gender e)social class

a)race d)gender e)social class

Using our sociological imagination involves a)recognizing the connection between our own lives and larger social trends. b)using common sense to provide scientifically approved explanations. c)focusing on the individual without regarding the larger surrounding society. d)predicting how a person will cope when exposed to certain diseases.

a)recognizing the connection between our own lives and larger social trends.

Durkheim theorized that people are more likely to commit suicide when a)their beliefs are not dictated by their religious group. b)they are socially isolated. c)they belong to a wealthy social class. d)they are members of conservative groups.

a)their beliefs are not dictated by their religious group. b)they are socially isolated.

Individuals are constantly faced with choices in life. Usually, they follow the "path of least resistance," which in a sociological sense means a)what is expected within the particular social context. b)what their agency tells them to do. c)whatever they feel like at the particular moment in time. d)what defines them as individuals.

a)what is expected within the particular social context.

In Marx's view, the people who rule the world do so because they control the a)press and the banks. b)means of production. c)means of propagation. d)guns and the gold.

b)means of production.

The individual's freedom to choose and to act is sometimes referred to by sociologists as a)actuality. b)individuality. c)agency. d)liberty.

c)agency.

Why is developing a sociological theory significant? a)because theories provide answers that need no further research b)because it helps leaders control and shape the population c)because it helps to further understanding of our actions or behavior d)because theories make sociological beliefs true

c)because it helps to further understanding of our actions or behavior

Sociology looks at how economic and social resources are distributed and at the implications of these patterns. It also studies the distribution of ________ resources and their effects. a)political b)spiritual c)cultural d)natural

c)cultural

The components of sociology are systematic study, the individual, society, and the consequences of a)social planning. b)human action. c)difference. d)failure.

c)difference.

In the context of using one's sociological imagination, place is best described as a)an effective solution. b)the nation with which the research is concerned. c)our position relative to others. d)demographic characteristics.

c)our position relative to others.

Simply by analyzing what we observe on the news or while walking through the mall, we can all practice a)academic sociology. b)cultural anthropology. c)personal sociology. d)statistical analysis.

c)personal sociology.

Sociology as a discipline emerged in a period characterized by a)rural life and cottage industry. b)the spread of democracy. c)significant social upheaval. d)a shift toward a more religious view of the world.

c)significant social upheaval b)the spread of democracy.

Clinical sociology is a)the use of sociological methods to analyze individual attitudes and behaviors. b)the practice of recognizing the impact our individual position has on who we are. c)the use of sociology to alter organizations or restructure social institutions. d)the teaching of sociology in colleges and graduate schools.

c)the use of sociology to alter organizations or restructure social institutions.

Studying society through the lens of large-scale phenomena describes which of the following? a)macrosociology b)large-scale anthropology c)microsociology d)mega-perspective searches

a)macrosociology

Sociology graduates who express the highest levels of job satisfaction apply a variety of skills cultivated in their major, including a)analyzing social problems. b)working in teams. c)lobbying government agencies. d)creating presentations.

a)analyzing social problems. b)working in teams. d)creating presentations.

Sociologists who study such problems as alcoholism, drug abuse, crime, or domestic violence in order to gain a better understanding of social problems from a local level to help solve those problems would be engaged in which of the following? a)applied sociology b)macrosociology c)academic sociology d)advanced sociology

a)applied sociology

Using sociology to yield practical applications for human behavior and organizations is better known as a)applied sociology. b)clinical sociology. c)sociological theory. d)the sociological perspective.

a)applied sociology.

Which of the following are considered social sciences? a)political science b)economics c)history d)geology

a)political science b)economics c)history

Using ______ makes it possible to gain a better understanding of personal experiences such as divorce or drug addiction through an understanding of the role played by larger social forces. a)the sociological imagination b)common sense c)the natural sciences d)functionalism

a)the sociological imagination

When viewed from the perspective of C. Wright Mills's distinctions, unemployment is a)neither a private trouble nor a public issue but a problem with roots in the capitalist system. b)a private trouble for one person but a public issue when experienced by many as a result of societal factors. c)a purely public issue, regardless of the individual lives involved. d)entirely a private trouble, regardless of how many people are affected.

b)a private trouble for one person but a public issue when experienced by many as a result of societal factors.

Jane Addams cared for immigrants entering the United States, specifically those migrating to a)farmlands. b)the suburbs c)cities. d)coastal areas.

c)cities.

Sociology is the study of the relationship between ________ and the consequences of difference. a)individuals and the natural environment b)animals and the environment c)and biological material d)groups and the natural environment e)individuals and society

e)individuals and society

The worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas is known as _______ .

globalization

Theory

In sociology, a set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior.

Sociological research historically has involved two approaches to data collection: qualitative a)anecdotal. b)authoritative. c)quantitative. d)environmental.

c)quantitative.

Public issues

Problems we face as a consequence of the positions we occupy within the larger social structure

Macrosociology

Sociological investigation that concentrates on large-scale phenomena or entire civilizations.

Microsociology

Sociological investigation that stresses the study of small groups and the analysis of our everyday experiences and interactions.

Sociology

The systematic study of the relationship between the individual and society and of the consequences of difference.

Globalization

The worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas.

Which of these are among the "five big sociological questions"? a)How did environmental factors shape human evolution? b)How do power and inequality shape outcomes? c)How does personality affect spiritual growth? d)How does interaction shape our worlds?

b)How do power and inequality shape outcomes? d)How does interaction shape our worlds?

The sociological perspective that focuses on how parts of society help to maintain social stability is known as the ________ perspective. a)feminist b)interactionist c)conflict d)functionalist

d)functionalist

W. E. B. Du Bois cofounded a)the NAACP. b)Planned Parenthood. c)PUSH. d)Operation Rescue.

a)the NAACP.

The most common occupational category of employment for sociology majors is a)public policy. b)media and publishing. c)social services. d)legal services.

c)social services.

Which of the following best explains the analogy between social structure and a building? a)Like a building, a society can be entered only through specific doorways. b)Just as a building must be guarded against trespassers, so, too, should societies be protected from unauthorized entry. c)Just as a building has an architect, so must social structures have a designer. d)As a building has rooms for specific purposes, society has its institutions.

d)As a building has rooms for specific purposes, society has its institutions.

The form of critical thinking called the "sociological imagination" allows us to see that an individual might lose a job because of laziness or other personal shortcomings, but also possibly because of: a)fate or bad luck. b)a universal system of injustice. c)random factors that cannot be understood. d)social forces beyond the control of individual workers.

d)social forces beyond the control of individual workers.

To understand how a social issue in society has an effect on our own lives requires what C. Wright Mills called: a)teleological reasoning. b)the interactionist perspective. c)common sense. d)the sociological imagination.

d)the sociological imagination.

Which of the following is true of the sociological concept of agency? a)It has no role in our interdependent modern world. b)It is what allows an individual to choose a course of action. c)It is the most common vehicle for collecting qualitative data. d)It is the set of guidelines for behavior we learn from others.

b)It is what allows an individual to choose a course of action.

What evidence supporting his theory did Durkheim find in his analysis? a)Higher rates of suicide occurred in times of prosperity. b)People with children had a higher suicide rate than people without children. c)Countries with a more Protestant population had a higher suicide rate. d)Unmarried people had higher rates of suicide than married people.

c)Countries with a more Protestant population had a higher suicide rate. d)Unmarried people had higher rates of suicide than married people.

Based on the findings in his study of suicide, Durkheim concluded that a)social facts must similarly shape all individual choices. b)we cannot find meaning in life through forces outside ourselves. c)sociology is not sufficiently scientific. d)religion is a social evil.

a)social facts must similarly shape all individual choices.

Durkheim's theory was that individual action is strongly shaped by ________ forces. a)spiritual b)social c)political d)biological

b)social

Durkheim believed that understanding human behavior required looking at the behavior a)from the perspective of the actor. b)on an individual basis. c)within a broader social context. d)through an emotional lens.

c)within a broader social context.

Sociologists use which term to describe some of the major components of social structure, such as family or religion? a)subsets b)tropes c)institutions d)cooperatives

c)institutions

The scientific method developed by early scientists is best encapsulated by which of the following? a)"Don't just tell me, show me." b)"Never assume the obvious." c)"Hard work conquers all things." d)"Discovery is God's plan."

a)"Don't just tell me, show me."

Sociological theories are a)primarily concerned with group membership. b)interested in the "big picture" rather than the individual experience. c)sometimes grand in scope, sometimes personal and immediate. d)not scientific theories.

c)sometimes grand in scope, sometimes personal and immediate.

________ maintained that individuals rise to power through control of the means of production. In contrast, ________ argued that people also obtain power from other sources, including social status and their ability to organize into groups. a)Weber; Marx b)Durkheim; Weber c)Weber; Goffman d)Marx; Weber

d)Marx; Weber

W. E. B. Du Bois warned about the dangers of making sociological pronouncements based on what? a)brief investigation b)scientific research c)thorough study d)common sense

a)brief investigation d)common sense

Which approach to gathering data focuses on listening to and observing people and allowing them to interpret what is happening in their own lives? a)native b)quantitative c)elective d)qualitative

d)qualitative

Private troubles

Problems we face in our immediate relationships with particular individuals in our personal lives.

The three major sociological perspectives a)approach sociology in slightly different ways. b)see things from the same point of view. c)rely on intuition instead of scientific theories. d)had been discredited by the year 2000.

a)approach sociology in slightly different ways.

Jane Addams did which of the following? a)combined social work, political activism, and intellectual inquiry b)helped industrial leaders work together c)helped people establish successful farms d)helped established a settlement house

a)combined social work, political activism, and intellectual inquiry d)helped established a settlement house

Which of the following is NOT among the significant skills typically associated with a sociology degree? a)developing leadership skills b)addressing diversity c)conducting data analysis d)writing research reports

a)developing leadership skills

The example of making a hamburger illustrates which aspect of modern society? a)how dependent we are on others b)the high cost of a meat-based diet c)the importance we place on individuality d)how easy it is to acquire the necessities of life

a)how dependent we are on others

The example of making a hamburger illustrates which aspect of modern society? a)how dependent we are on others b)the importance we place on individuality c)how easy it is to acquire the necessities of life d)the high cost of a meat-based diet

a)how dependent we are on others

According to C. Wright Mills, obstacles faced by individuals as a consequence of the positions they occupy within the larger social structurer are: a)public issues. b)external puzzles. c)private troubles. d)internal enigmas.

a)public issues.

Auguste Comte asserted that if researchers studied society, they could help find a balance between positive social change and a)social stability. b)religious freedom. c)biological drives. d)economic reform.

a)social stability.

Which sociologist, writing from the perspective of an African American woman, used her analysis of society as a means of resisting oppression? a)Martineau b)Wells-Barnett c)Du Bois d)Addams

b)Wells-Barnett

According to Goffman's interactionist theory, individuals behave differently depending on the situation because they are managing how others see them. In every encounter, people respond to each other as if they are all a)living in a dream world. b)actors on a stage. c)potentially dangerous strangers. d)caught in a matrix where nothing is real.

b)actors on a stage.

Using our sociological imagination, we can see that an essential ingredient of all the products we make and use is a)a unique stroke of genius. b)an infrastructure comprising collective wisdom and ability. c)the nearly unlimited resources of a powerful nation. d)our rugged individualism.

b)an infrastructure comprising collective wisdom and ability.

The sociological imagination can be of particular value in today's world because a)it provides us with the tools necessary to gain control of the means of production. b)it can help us understand how world events affect on how we think and what we do. c)it can help us overcome the influence of our social backgrounds. d)globalization is limiting our interactions with other peoples and cultures.

b)it can help us understand how world events affect on how we think and what we do.

The effects of globalization can best be summarized by which of the following phrases? a)You shouldn't cry over spilled milk. b)Practice makes perfect. c)It's a small world after all. d)Truth is stranger than fiction.

c)It's a small world after all.

Which of the following theorists wrote extensively about social inequality resulting from ownership and control of the means of production? a)Wells-Barnett b)Durkheim c)Marx d)Weber

c)Marx

The study of human society is a)the primary concern for chemists. b)needed for the study of geology. c)a central part of sociology. d)not a topic of interest to sociologists.

c)a central part of sociology.

Which of these was among Harriet Martineau's contributions to sociology? a)integrating American public schools and operating settlement houses b)developing theories on the importance of social control c)writing the first book on sociological research methods d)opening the first department of sociology in Europe

c)writing the first book on sociological research methods

Through engaged and sustained research on the lives of ________, W. E. B. Du Bois documented their relatively low status in Philadelphia. a)manual laborers b)recent immigrants c)Native Americans d)African Americans

d)African Americans

Examining social problems through smaller groups and more intimate settings describes which of the following? a)mini-perspective searches b)macrosociology c)small-scale anthropology d)microsociology

d)microsociology

Sociology studies how: a)humans' biology determines their destiny. b)chemicals react with one another. c)chemicals in the brain influence behavior. d)people who live in a society are interdependent.

d)people who live in a society are interdependent.

Ida Wells-Barnett maintained that societies a)should be examined based on how they treat their male members. b)are not appropriate subjects for sociological study, which is concerned with the individual. c)who claim to have equality should be judged at their word. d)who claim to have equality should be judged by their actions.

d)who claim to have equality should be judged by their actions

Sociological imagination

Our exploration of the interdependent relationship between who we are as individuals and the social forces that shape our lives.

According to the American Sociological Association, what are some of the most common reasons that students choose sociology as a major? a)They wanted to make a difference in the world. b)They enjoyed the first sociology course they took. c)They hoped to conduct sociological research for the government. d)They found the sociological concepts interesting.

a)They wanted to make a difference in the world. b)They enjoyed the first sociology course they took. d)They found the sociological concepts interesting.

Even though sociologists typically study groups, there is no such thing as a group a)apart from the individuals who compose it. b)that cannot be characterized by a few specific qualities. c)apart from the characteristics that define it. d)that is not part of a larger grouping such as a nation.

a)apart from the individuals who compose it.

Which two themes have shaped the theoretical and research paths of sociology since its founding as a discipline? a)social reform b)social inequality c)alienation d)social order

b)social inequality d)social order

In early sociological theory, the theme of social inequality was most fully developed by Karl Marx, while social order is most associated with the works of a)Francis Bacon. b)Émile Durkheim. c)Friedrich Engels. d)Harriet Martineau.

b)Émile Durkheim.

As illustrated by the example of the Netflix series The Crown, the wage gap between men and women is interesting to sociologists because a)it appears to have little to no relationship with men's and women's social status. b)it is unique to the entertainment industry. c)it helps to illuminate the persistently unequal distribution of wealth. d)it is the only area in which racial and ethnic minorities have an advantage.

c)it helps to illuminate the persistently unequal distribution of wealth.

Which of the following are examples of jobs typically associated with social services? a)marketing coordinator for employee insurance programs b)research manager for a profit-making corporation c)residential crisis counselor d)caseworker for abused and neglected children

c)residential crisis counselor d)caseworker for abused and neglected children

The interesting sociological question to be asked, when considering such issues as differences in wages between different demographic groups, is a)whether the situation is unfair. b)which group most deserves the attention. c)whether the situation matters. d)why these differences form.

d)why these differences form.

The sociologist most associated with analysis of social order and anomie is a)Durkheim. b)Weber. c)Freud. d)Marx.

a)Durkheim.

Which of the following did Weber regard as foundations for power in society? a)organizational resources b)social status c)social class d)democracy e)intellectual equality

a)organizational resources b)social status c)social class

One instance in which individuals could use sociological insight to improve their lives in a positive way is by a)studying interpersonal interaction during a job interview. b)ignoring the cues of other people during interactions. c)using new insights to create social inequalities. d)disregarding the effects of a person's actions on other people.

a)studying interpersonal interaction during a job interview.

________ is an umbrella term for the systematic study of human behavior, interaction, and change. a)Sociology b)Social science c)Natural science d)Phrenology

b)Social science

Society consists of persistent patterns of both social networks and a)biology. b)relationships. c)physics. d)individualism.

b)relationships.

Comte referred to the principles by which society is held together as social a)physics. b)dynamics. c)statics. d)economics.

c)statics.

Harriet Martineau contributed to the study of sociology by translating the writings of which early French philosopher of sociology into English? a)Émile Durkheim b)Karl Marx c)Herbert Spencer d)Auguste Comte

d)Auguste Comte