Sociology Test 1

when one country makes a decision to cut down several trees and refuses to take part in environmental conservation, the decision affects the whole world rather than that country alone. This example best illustrates the concept of

global interdependence

The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the countries of Western Europe are examples of

high-income countries

Jemima, a sociologist, wants to determine why American colleges have high student dropout rates. She begins her study by collecting data related to college dropouts. She analyzes this data and generates a theory regarding the causes of dropouts. In this scenario, Jemima is using the ________ approach to research.

inductive

Sociologists using the _______ approach to study suicide might start by simultaneously collecting and analyzing data related to suicidal behavior and then generate a theory.

inductive

the ______ approach in the theory and research cycle proceeds as follows: (1) specific observations suggest generalizations, (2) generalizations produce a tentative theory, (3) the theory is tested through the formation of hypotheses, and (4) hypotheses may provide suggestions for additional observations.

inductive

Spiders do not learn to build webs. They build webs because of ________ that are triggered by basic biological needs such as protection and reproduction.

instincts

Spending and overspending are encouraged by the values of society. The sociological imagination is useful for examining such issues because it:

integrates microlevel troubles with macrolevel problems on a global basis.

Culture is essential for our individual survival and our communication with other people. It is also fundamental for the survival of societies because it makes the actions of individuals intelligible to the group. This makes culture and society:

interdependent

Which of the following is a gender-based term?

janitor

Children learn about their cultural heritage and develop a sense of personal identity in relationship to their group through

language

is defined as a set of symbols that expresses ideas and enables people to think and communicate with one another.

language

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that:

language shapes the view of reality of its speakers.

A social construction of reality occurs when:

large numbers of people act and respond as if socially constructed categories exist in reality.

Many of the nations of Africa and Asia, such as India, where people typically work the land are examples of

low-income countries

The nations of Eastern Europe and many Latin American countries are examples of

middle-income countries

The _________ approach to research uses religion, customs, habits, traditions, and law to answer important questions. It is based on strong beliefs about what is right and wrong and what "ought to be" in society.

normative

Andy, a sociologist, wants to study the moral beliefs, traditions, religious views, and customs of the people of a specific community in regard to physician-assisted suicide. In this context of approaches to research, Andy should most likely use the

normative approach

In the context of human behavior, _______ refers to influences on individuals from the social environment.

nurture

Low-income countries are

primarily agrarian nations

In one study, researchers systematically analyzed the contents of the notes of suicide victims to determine recurring themes, such as feelings of despair or failure. They hoped to determine if any patterns could be found that would help in understanding why people might kill themselves. This is an example of:

qualitative research

With ____________, interpretative description is used to analyze underlying meanings and patterns of social relationships.

qualitative research

Eric wants to test his hypothesis that unemployed men are more likely to commit spousal abuse than men who are employed. Because his research is most likely to use statistics to analyze patterns of spousal abuse, Eric should use _______________ to test his hypothesis.

quantitative research

Researchers in one study examined the effects of church membership, divorce, and migration on suicide rates in the United States. They used complex statistical techniques and concluded that suicide rates are typically high in regions where divorce and migration rates are high and the rate of church membership is low. This study is most likely an example of:

quantitative research

is a term used by many people to specify groups of people distinguished by physical characteristics.

race

. Eric is attending classes at a local college. He believes in the idea of success and would like to achieve a high grade point average (GPA). However, he does not spend much time studying. His behavior is an example of

real culture

_______ refers to the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow.

real culture

Sneezing after breathing pepper through the nose is an example of a(n) _______, which is an unlearned, biologically determined involuntary response to some physical stimuli.

reflex

Sociologists obtain their knowledge of human behavior through _________, which results in a body of information that helps us move beyond guesswork and common sense in understanding society.

research

is the process of systematically collecting information for the purpose of testing an existing theory or generating a new one.

research

is a large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations

society

Some sociologists argue that sociology must be completely value free. This means that they believe that:

sociology should not be affected by personal and emotional biases

Which of the following statements supports the fact that language is an important means of cultural transmission?

Children develop a sense of personal identity in relationship to their group through language.

Which of the following theoretical perspectives views that language is a source of power and social control and that it perpetuates inequalities between people and between groups because words are used to "keep people in their place"?

Conflict

________ consist(s) of customs and practices that occur across all societies

Cultural universals

Which of the following theoretical perspectives holds the belief that shared values are essential for societies to survive

Functionalist

Which of the following is an example of nonmaterial culture?

Gestures used in conversations

refers to the values and standards of behavior that people in a society profess to hold.

Ideal culture

According to sociologist Robin Williams, which of the following is true about the core American value of morality and humanitarianism?

It emphasizes helpfulness, personal kindness, aid in mass disasters, and organized philanthropy.

According to sociologist Robin Williams, which of the following is true about the core American value of ethnocentrism and group superiority?

It fosters the belief that "the American way of life" is best.

. According to sociologist Robin Williams, which of the following is true about the core American value of individualism?

It is reflects the idea that Americans believe that people are responsible for their own success or failure.

Identify a true statement about language.

Language helps us describe reality.

Identify an accurate statement about material culture.

Material culture is important because it is our buffer against the environment.

_____ consist(s) of the abstract or intangible human creations of society that influence people's behavior.

Nonmaterial culture

Which of the following is a difference between quantitative research and qualitative research?

Quantitative research emphasizes statistical techniques, whereas qualitative research emphasizes interpretative descriptions.

Which of the following is an example of material culture?

Resources such as trees and oil

Which of the following statements regarding cultural universals is FALSE?

Sociologists are in agreement that cultural universals are the result of functional

Which of the following is NOT an example of a way in which language may create and reinforce negative perceptions about race and ethnicity?

The "voice" of verbs may overemphasize the importance of the activities and achievements of people of color.

Which of the following statements is true of drives?

They are common to all members of a species.

Identify a true statement about dichos.

They are used to give advice or teach a lesson.

In his book Suicide, sociologist Emile Durkheim documented that a high suicide rate was symptomatic of large-scale social problems. This research was in direct contradiction to the historically held notion that suicide was:

a psychological illness

is used to refer to the relative location of a person or group within the larger society, based on wealth, power, prestige, or other valued resources

class

Darius uses credit cards to finance his vacations and dine at expensive restaurants. This scenario best illustrates the concept of a

consumer society

Anthropologist George Murdock compiled a list of over seventy categories that included appearance (such as bodily clothing and hairstyles), activities (such as sports, dancing, games, joking, and visiting), social institutions (such as family, law, and religion), and customary practices (such as cooking, folklore, gift giving, and hospitality). These are all examples of:

cultural universals.

is the knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society.

culture

A trademark of sociology involves the unmasking of fallacies in everyday life as well as official interpretations of society. This process is called:

debunking

Sociologist Emile Durkheim's research on suicide documented that suicide was a large-scale social problem and not an isolated individual problem, which was the historically held notion about suicide. This is an example of:

debunking

If we use the _____ approach to determine why people commit suicide, we start by formulating a theory about the causes of suicide and then test our theory by collecting and analyzing data (such as vital statistics on suicides).

deductive

Ruth, a researcher, wants to determine the causes of the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. She begins her study by formulating a theory regarding the causes of anorexia. She then collects data on the sources of anorexia and analyzes them to make generalizations regarding its causes. She then uses these generalizations to support, modify, or refute her initial theory. In this scenario, Ruth is using the _______ approach to research.

deductive

The sociological imagination helps people:

distinguish between personal troubles and public issues.

Andrea, a researcher, is studying the prevalence of physician-assisted suicide through the systematic collection and analysis of data. In the context of approaches to research, Andrea is most likely using the _______ approach.

empirical

The ________ approach attempts to answer questions through conclusion drawn from systematic collection and analysis of data. This approach is referred to as the conventional model, or the scientific method, and is based on the assumption that knowledge is best gained by direct, systematic observation.

empirical

refers to the cultural heritage or identity of a group and is based on factors such as language or country of origin.

ethnicity

Middle-income countries are nations:

with industrializing economies

The world's high-income countries are nations:

with technologically advanced service occupations.

A(n) _______ is defined as anything that meaningfully represents something else. For example, it can stand for love (a heart on a valentine), peace (a dove), or hate (a Nazi swastika).

symbol

In Argentina, rotating one's index finger around the front of the ear means "you have a telephone call," but in the United States, the same gesture usually means that you are suggesting that a person is "crazy". Such gestures exemplify:

symbols

Sociology is defined as the

systematic study of human society and social interaction

Sociologists define __________as the knowledge, techniques, and tools that make it possible for people to transform resources into usable forms, and the knowledge and skills required to use them after they are developed.

technology

The ability to understand that smoking may be as common as it is because it facilitates social interaction among smokers best illustrates the concept of

the sociological imagination

Twenty-year-old Mia grew up in a low-income neighborhood. She drinks excessively and is addicted to drugs. The ability to understand that the cause for her behavior may be related to the kind of social environment she was exposed to as a child best illustrates the concept of

the sociological imagination

is a set of logically interrelated statements that attempts to describe, explain, and (occasionally) predict social events

theory

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many people in the United States were more willing to make generous contributions to help the survivors of this natural disaster than they were to help the long-term homeless and disadvantaged throughout the United States. This is an example of:

value contradiction.

______ are defined as collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture.

values