soc101 chapter 1

How many major theoretical paradigms are there in sociology?

3

A mental construct that represents some part of the world in a somewhat simplified form is a:

concept

Theories are:

confirmed, modified, or rejected through research

A relationship by which two (or more) variables change together is called:

correlation

Which sociological method is geared toward explanatory research, generates quantitative data, and provides for relatively easy research replication?

experiment

Which sociologist method provides for easy replication but has an artificial quality?

experiment

A ________ is really an educated guess about how variables are linked.

hypothesis

An unverified statement of a possible relationship between variables is called a:

hypothesis

Where would a sociological perspective likely be developed and flourish?

in areas experiencing social problems, or significant social changes

Higher education causes greater earnings over a lifetime. In this example, "higher education" is:

independent variable

Empirical evidence is ____________.

information we are able to verify with our senses

Sports are a way to establish new relationships. Making new relationships is:

latent function of sports

Unrecognized and unintended consequences of the social structure are called:

latent functions

The _______ paradigm is a framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals:

macrosociology

Which orientation uses a broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole?

macrosociology

The recognized and intended consequences of a social pattern are referred to as:

manifest functions

You are asked to determine the value of a variable in a specific case. What task have you been assigned?

measurement

Which orientation utilizes a close-up focus on social interaction in specific situations?

microsociology

You wish to conduct exploratory and descriptive studies of people in a natural setting, using qualitative data. Your budgeted resources are meager. What method should you use?

participant observation

You wish to observe "natural behavior" and you are unconcerned about replication. Which method should you use?

participant observation

In survey research, the people who are the focus of the research are called a:

population

_________ is a way of understanding the world based on science.

positivism

What is the term for the systematic plan for conducting research?

research method

A part of a population that represents the whole is called a:

sample

___________ is a logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation.

science

The framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change is the:

social conflict theory

The statement that social patterns benefit some people while depriving others expresses one of the insights of the:

social conflict theory

What is the term for a social pattern's undesirable consequences for the operation of society?

social dysfunctions

Social structures have consequences for the operation of society as a whole. What is the term for these consequences?

social functions

Which term best describes relatively stable patterns of social behavior?

social structure

What are two major components of the structural-functional paradigm?

social structure, social functions

August Comte coined the term _____ to refer to the study of society.

sociology

Which discipline may be described as the systematic study of human society?

sociology

An apparent, although false, association between two (or more) variables caused by some other variable is termed a:

spurious correlation

If you believed that the very stability of the U.S. as a nation depends on its citizens sharing common, core values, then what type of sociology would you be espousing?

structural functionalism

The chief characteristic of the _______ paradigm is its view of society as orderly and stable.

structural functionalism

The theoretical paradigm in sociology that assumes society is a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability is the:

structural functionalism

What sociological approach would you be advocating if you saw humor as a safe way for people to release their potentially disruptive sentiments?

structural functionalism

The _______ paradigms paint societies in broad strokes.

structural functionalism and social conflict theory

A research method in which subjects respond to a series of items in a questionnaire or interview is a:

survey

Which sociological method is used for gathering information about issues that cannot be directly observed, is useful for descriptive and explanatory research and generates quantitative and/or qualitative date?

survey

Which sociological method provides for in-depth responses but may produce a low return rate?

survey

The framework that assumes that society is nothing more that the shared reality that people construct as they interact with one another.

symbolic interactionism

Which sociological paradigm tends to ignore the importance of larger social structures in society?

symbolic interactionism

The sociological perspective was developed in the areas where:

the greatest challenges were taking place

A disadvantage of the interview format is that:

the researcher may accidentally influence the subject

Theory-building is guided by:

theoretical paradigm

What is the term for basic image of society that guides thinking and research?

theoretical paradigm

A statement of how and why specific facts are related is called a:

theory

Which of the following is a manifest function of sports?

they are a way to provide physical conditioning

What is the term for a concept that has a value that changes from case to case?

variable

You are asked to measure the age of respondents to your survey. As soon as you apply the measure to each case, you have changed your concept "age" to a:

variable

If one adopts the sociological perspective, he or she:

will challenge commonly held beliefs