Sociology 1A: Chapter 1 Study Guide

True or False: Using the sociological perspective, we would conclude that people's lives are mostly a result of what they decide to do.

False

True or False: The manifest functions of our society's reliance on personal automobiles include tens of thousands of deaths each year in traffic accidents

True

Which woman made a mark as an early sociologist by studying the evils of slavery and also translating the writings of Auguste Comte? a. Harriet Martineau b. Jane Addams c. Elizabeth Cady Stanton d. Dorothea Dix

a. Harriet Martineau

Which of the following is an accurate criticism of the structural-functional approach? a. It ignores inequality that can generate tension and conflict. b. It focuses too much on social dysfunction. c. It focuses too much on power divisions in society. d. It is a politically liberal view of society.

a. It ignores inequality that can generate tension and conflict.

The recognized and intended consequences of a social pattern are referred to as? a. Latent functions. b. Manifest functions. c. Acculturation functions. d. Purposeful functions.

a. Latent functions.

Which discipline defines itself as "the systematic study of human society"? a. Sociology b. Psychology c. Economics d. History

a. Sociology

The theoretical paradigm in sociology assumes society is a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. a. Structural-functional paradigm. b. Social-conflict paradigm. c. Symbolic-interaction paradigm. d. None of the above is correct.

a. Structural-functional paradigm.

Sociologists define a symbol as: a. anything that carries a meaning to people who share a culture. b. any material cultural trait. c. any gesture that conveys insult to others. d. cultural patterns that cause culture shock.

a. anything that carries a meaning to people who share a culture.

Which sociological research method is likely to be the MOST difficult to replicate (repeat)? a. the experiment b. the survey c. participant observation d. secondary analysis

a. the experiment

With regard to the process of measurement, which of the following statements is true? a. For a measurement to be reliable, it must be valid. b. For a measurement to be valid, it must be reliable. c. All measurements are both reliable and valid. d. Measurements cannot be both reliable and valid.

b. For a measurement to be valid, it must be reliable.

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. All of these responses are correct.

b. being openly political.

A criticism of the symbolic-interaction approach is that it: a. calls attention to major social institutions. b. ignores the influence of 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. ignores the influence of factors such as culture, class, gender, and race.

Which of the following is a criticism of the structural-functional approach? a. doesn't focus on social stability and unity b. not critical of inequalities based on social class, race, ethnicity, and gender c. not concerned with society's dysfunctions d. doesn't focus on the consequences of patterns for society as a whole

b. not critical of inequalities based on social class, race, ethnicity, and gender

By saying 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. reject the familiar idea that people simply decide how to act in favor of the initially

Which question summarizes the focus of the symbolic-interaction paradigm? a. How is society held together? b. How is society divided? c. How do people experience society? d. How do some people protect their privileges?

c. How do people experience society?

According to Emile Durkheim, people with a higher suicide rate typically have? a. More depression b. Less money, power, and resources c. Less social integration d. Greater self-esteem

c. Less social integration

According to Emile Durkheim, people with a higher suicide rate typically have: a. more clinical depression. b. less money, power, and other resources. c. a lower level of social integration. d. greater self-esteem.

c. a lower level of social integration.

Cultural transmission refers to the process of: a. learning culture. b. using oral tradition. c. passing cultural patterns from one generation to another. d. none of the above is correct.

c. passing cultural patterns from one generation to another.

The term "sociology" was coined in 1838 by: a. Karl Marx. b. Herbert Spencer. c. Adam Smith. d. Auguste Comte.

d. Auguste Comte.

Peter Berger described using the sociological perspective as seeing the ______ in the _______ : a. good; worst tragedies b. new; old c. specific; general d. general; particular

d. general; particular

Sociology differs from earlier 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. how society actually operates.

Learning more sociology can help you to do all of the following EXCEPT: a. assess the truth of "common sense" b. assess the opportunities and constraints in our lives c. be more active participants in society d. see how individuals guide their own lives through "free will"

d. see how individuals guide their own lives through "free will"