sociology test chp. 1
115. A(n) __________ is a printed research instrument containing a series of items to which subjects respond. a. questionnaire b. interview c. telephone survey d. computer-assisted interview
a
118. __________ is the systematic examination of cultural artifacts or various forms of communication to extract thematic data and draw conclusions about social life. a. Content analysis b. Content standardization c. Content validity d. Content reliability
a
123. In an experiment, the __________ contains the subjects who are exposed to an independent variable to study its effect on them. a. experimental group b. dependent group c. control group d. independent group
a
25. Sociology is defined as the __________. a. systematic study of human society and social interaction b. analysis of deviant groups and individuals c. scientific analysis of premodern people d. academic discipline that examines individual human behavior
a
34. __________ studied suicide in what was probably the first sociological study to use scientific research methods. a. Emile Durkheim b. Max Weber c. Karl Marx d. C. Wright Mills
a
59. The basis for Durkheim's theory of society is the principle that _____________ . a. people are the products of their social environments b. the evolution of society is based on the concept of "survival of the fittest" c. society is comprised of the dual processes of social statics and social dynamics d. conflict between different economic classes is necessary to produce social change
a
62. In the Marxian framework, the __________ comprises those who own and control the means of production. a. bourgeoisie b. working class c. proletariat class d. laissez-faire class
a
63. Marx termed the tools, land, factories, and money for investment that form the economic basis of a society the __________. trappings of the bourgeoisie a. means of production b. instruments of capitalism c. trappings of the bourgeoisie d. factory system
a
66. Some of Marx's critics have argued that he focused too heavily on the impact of _____. a. class b. gender c. race-ethnicity d. stability and order
a
68. Which of these concepts is most comparable to the contemporary concept of the sociological imagination? a. verstehen b. positivism c. social Darwinism d. anomie
a
74. Sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois observed that a dual heritage creates conflict for people of color: an identity conflict of being black and American. Du Bois referred to this duality as __________. a. double-consciousness b. the dual-labor market c. the double bind d. functional conflict
a
76. __________ perspectives are based on the assumption that society is a stable, orderly system composed of interrelated parts, each of which (ideally) contributes to the overall stability of the society. a. Functionalist b. Conflict c. Interactionist d. Developmental
a
79. From a functionalist perspective, the wife/mother is responsible for the __________ tasks, including housework, caring for the children, and providing emotional support for the entire family. a. expressive b. instrumental c. compatible d. independent
a
80. Automobiles provide transportation and independence. But they are also responsible for a great deal of air pollution and contribute to global warming. Merton would consider these negative impacts to be __________. a. dysfunctions b. latent functions c. unavoidable functions d. manifest functions
a
82. Jill attends college in order to study accounting so that she can work as an accountant. Merton would consider this a __________ function of college. a. manifest b. latent c. dysfunction d. prerequisite
a
87. Karl Marx and Max Weber were in agreement that __________ was at least one source of inequality in society. a. economic inequality b. gender inequality c. power d. prestige
a
99. In a study of homelessness in American society, __________ would emphasize the struggle between social classes, especially how the policies of the wealthy protect their interests while pushing certain groups into unemployment and homelessness. a. conflict theorists b. functionalists c. symbolic interactionists d. postmodern theorists
a
100. Sociologists obtain their knowledge of human behavior through __________, which is the process of systematically collecting information for the purpose of testing an existing theory or generating a new one. a. commonsense thinking b. research c. systematic speculation d. scientific laws
b
102. Researchers in one study examined the effects of church membership, divorce, and migration on suicide rates in the United States and concluded that suicide rates are typically higher where divorce and migration rates are higher and church membership is lower. This is an example of __________. a. observational research b. quantitative research c. explanatory research d. qualitative research
b
104. Researchers in one study 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 __________. a. functionalist research b. qualitative research c. postmodern research d. quantitative research
b
110. __________ is the extent to which a study or research instrument yields consistent results when applied to different individuals at one time or to the same individuals over time. a. Validity b. Reliability c. Predictability d. Variability
b
112. Compared to quantitative research, qualitative research is more likely to _________ . a. use a larger sample b. collect and analyze the data simultaneously c. formulate research questions that interest the participants d. lend itself to statistical analysis
b
114. __________ are people who provide data for analysis through interviews or questionnaires. a. Observers b. Respondents c. Polls d. Control groups
b
31. Sociologist C. Wright Mills coined the term __________ for the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society. a. conflict perception b. sociological imagination c. reality perception d. symbolic interaction approach
b
33. One person's inability to find a job may be an example of a __________, whereas widespread unemployment as a result of changes in the economy, such as the outsourcing of jobs, is an example of a __________. a. dysfunction; psychological difficulty b. personal trouble; public issue c. psychological difficulty; private issue d. public issue; personal trouble
b
41. Sociologists use the term __________ to refer to the relative location of a person or group within the larger society, based on wealth, power, prestige, or other valued resources. a. caste b. class c. ethnicity d. ranking
b
44. Interest in the systematic study of people's behavior and ideas took hold during the nineteenth century primarily in response to __________. a. the agricultural revolution b. industrialization and urbanization c. enlightenment and new forms of religion d. increases in rural poverty
b
46. During the __________, massive social changes occurred as technological innovations shifted the economic base of countries in Europe, and later the United States, from agriculture to manufacturing. a. Neolithic Revolution b. Industrial Revolution c. Agricultural Revolution d. Urbanization Revolution
b
49. French philosopher Auguste Comte's philosophy, the belief that the world can best be understood through scientific inquiry, became known as __________, a. absolutism b. positivism c. functionalism d. specific methodology
b
50. Comte believed that societies are made up of __________ or forces for order and stability, as well as social dynamics or forces for social change. a. social facts b. social statics c. social mores d. social symbols
b
55. A major criticism of Spencer's theory of social Darwinism is that ______________ . a. other biological organizations exercise more control over their environments than do humans b. it may be used to justify racial/ethnic, gender, and class inequalities in society c. it explains society in an era that is less tumultuous than that of the Industrial Revolution d. he plagiarized the work of Charles Darwin
b
56. French sociologist Emile Durkheim coined the term __________ to refer to the patterns of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside any one individual but that exert social control over every person in society. a. social statics b. social facts c. sociological imagination d. sociological generalizations
b
65. Marx argued that when workers are paid less than the value of their labor, this exploitation results in __________, a feeling of powerlessness and estrangement from other people and from oneself. a. class conflict b. alienation c. anomie d. bourgeoisie
b
94. Breanna believes Jarrod is upset with her because she interprets his tone of voice as angry. Although Jarrod states he is not angry, from a symbolic interactionist perspective it is Breanna's __________ of the situation that is most real or believable to her. a. prior knowledge b. interpretation c. trust d. imagination
b
98. In a study of education in the United States, __________ would emphasize the daily activities and the various forms of communication between teachers and students. They would also examine the influence of peer groups and look at the reaction when school rules are broken or followed. a. conflict theorists b. symbolic interactionists c. postmodern theorists d. functionalists
b
101. With __________ research, the goal is scientific objectivity, and the focus is on data that can be measured numerically. a. qualitative b. observational c. quantitative d. explanatory
c
120. To understand the process coroners use to determine whether or not a death is suicide, a sociologist works for six months in the coroner's office and spends as much time as possible observing coroners at work. This is an example of __________. a. an experiment b. survey research c. participant observation d. secondary analysis
c
122. A(n) __________ is a carefully designed situation in which the researcher studies the impact of certain variables on subjects' attitudes or behavior. a. case study b. correlational study c. experiment d. participant observation
c
27. When studying the problem of suicide, sociologists are most interested in explaining its __________. a. psychological dimensions b. relationship to the individual c. structural origins d. media coverage
c
28. __________ refers to the fact that the lives of people everywhere are intertwined closely so that one nation's problems are part of a much larger global context. a. Societal cohesiveness b. Universal cooperation c. Global interdependence d. International interlock
c
32. According to Mills, the sociological imagination enables one to distinguish between personal troubles that must be solved within the immediate social setting and __________ that affect large numbers of people and often require solutions at the societal level. a. unimportant troubles b. non-private difficulties c. public issues d. societal dysfunctions
c
35. Which of these groups has the lowest rate of suicide? a. white Americans b. African Americans c. Asian/Pacific Islanders d. Native Americans
c
39. __________ is a socially constructed concept used by many people to specify groups of people based on physical characteristics such as skin color. a. Ethnicity b. Nationality c. Race d. Genealogy
c
43. Barbara was born female, which refers to her __________; she acts very feminine, which refers to her __________. a. gender; sex b. biology; sociobiology c. sex; gender d. genealogy; sex
c
48. Which of these is not a change brought on by industrialization and urbanization? a. a rapid increase in the number and size of cities b. a shift from agriculture to industrial manufacturing c. people changing from being consumers to being producers d. the need for wages to buy food and lodging
c
51. British sociologist __________ translated and condensed Comte's work and was noted for her study of social customs in Great Britain and the United States. a. Emily Durkheim b. Jane Addams c. Harriet Martineau d. Sarah Spencer
c
60. Critics of Durkheim have argued that _______________________ . a. his work is of little sociological value or importance b. he focused too heavily on social inequality and social change c. his emphasis on structure overlooks the meanings that social phenomena hold for people d. he was not systematic, and therefore not scientific in his approach to the study of society
c
64. Tom works on the assembly line at the local Ford automobile factory. According to Marx, Tom would be considered a member of the __________ because he does not own the means of production. a. bourgeoisie b. petite bourgeoisie c. proletariat class d. laissez-faire class
c
69. Which of these is not part of the theoretical contributions of Max Weber? a. the importance of verstehen b. being value free in one's research c. an emphasis on class struggle d. concern about the impact of bureaucracy
c
72. Which of these sociologists is not considered a founder of sociological study within the United States? a. Jane Addams b. W. E. B. Du Bois c. Max Weber d. Robert Parks
c
75. A __________ is defined as a set of logically interrelated statements that attempts to describe, explain, and (occasionally) predict social events. a. hypothesis b. law c. theory d. generalization
c
84. Applying a functionalist perspective to suicide among teenagers, one would argue that suicide is __________ when it results from feelings of hopelessness and a lack of meaningful choices. a. anomic b. egoistic c. fatalistic d. altruistic
c
85. According to the __________ perspective, groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources. a. functionalist b. interactionist c. conflict d. developmental
c
86. Analyzing the tobacco industry, which theoretical perspective would most likely look at the conflict of interests between tobacco companies and public health interests? a. functionalist b. interactionist c. conflict d. developmental
c
91. A __________ analysis focuses on small groups rather than large-scale social structures. a. macrolevel b. mesolevel c. microlevel d. metalevel
c
97. In a study of education in the United States, __________ would look at the role the schools play in maintaining the social system as a whole; how education provides the young with skills they need later in life; and how education transmits cultural values from one generation to the next. a. symbolic interactionists b. postmodern theorists c. functionalists d. conflict theorists
c
105. Sociologists conducting research may formulate a(n) __________, which is a statement of the relationship between two or more variables. a. theory b. variable c. operational definition d. hypothesis
d
30. Which of these is not part of the sociological approach to the study of society and social interaction? a. systematic research techniques b. presentation of research findings c. search for patterns in human behavior d. application of commonsense or everyday understandings
d
45. __________ refers to the process by which societies are transformed from dependence on agriculture and handmade products to an emphasis on manufacturing and related industries. a. Ruralization b. Urbanization c. Suburbanization d. Industrialization
d
52. In her work, sociologist Harriet Martineau was a strong advocate for_____________. a. building a stronger middle class b. the importance of cultural relativism c. recognizing the forces for stability and change in society d. social equality and reform
d
54. Which of these early scientific thinkers first used the phrase "survival of the fittest" to explain his theory of society? a. Karl Marx b. Emile Durkheim c. Auguste Comte d. Herbert Spencer
d
58. Durkheim used the term __________ for the condition in which social control becomes ineffective as a result of the loss of shared values and a sense of purpose in society. a. social disorganization b. social dysfunctionalism c. cultural breakdown d. anomie
d
61. The basis for Marx's theory of society is the belief that _______________ . a. people are the products of their social environments b. the evolution of society is based on the concept of "survival of the fittest" c. society is comprised of the dual processes of social statics and social dynamics d. conflict between different economic classes is necessary to produce social change
d
71. The first department of sociology in the United States was established at __________. a. the University of Michigan b. Columbia University c. Harvard d. the University of Chicago
d
77. __________ states that societies develop social structures, or institutions, that persist because they play a part in helping society survive. These institutions include the family, education, government, religion, and the economy. a. Postmodernism b. Symbolic interactionism c. Conflict theory d. Functionalism
d
88. C. Wright Mills used the term __________ in referring to a small clique composed of the top corporate, political, and military officials who hold the most power in society. a. oligarchy b. bureaucracy c. autocrats d. power elite
d
92. According to the __________ perspective, society is the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups. a. functionalist b. conflict c. postmodern d. symbolic interactionist
d
95. Attempted suicide may be a means of getting attention and sympathy. This view is consistent with the __________ perspective. a. conflict theory b. postmodern c. functionalist d. symbolic interactionist
d
96. According to the __________ perspective, the classical theories have been unsuccessful in explaining social life in contemporary societies that are characterized by postindustrialization, consumerism, and global communications. a. functionalist b. conflict c. symbolic interactionist d. postmodern
d
108. In a research design, the __________ is presumed to be caused by another variable. a. independent variable b. dependent variable c. universal variable d. control variable
b
103. With __________ research, interpretative description (words) rather than statistics (numbers) are used to analyze underlying meanings and patterns of social relationships. a. qualitative b. observational c. quantitative d. explanatory
a
106. Age is a factor that can change and varies from person to person. Age is an example of a __________. a. variable b. theory c. hypothesis d. principle
a
107. When designing a study, the researcher considers the __________ to be the cause of the relationship or outcome. a. independent variable b. dependent variable c. universal variable d. control variable
a
113. A(n) __________ is the method most commonly used to study people's behavior and beliefs. a. survey b. experiment c. case study d. content analysis
a
36. The world's __________ countries are nations with highly industrialized economies; technologically advanced industrial, administrative, and service occupations; and relatively high levels of national and personal income. a. high-income b. middle-income c. low-income d. semi-periphery
a
37. China, Brazil, and Mexico are considered examples of __________. a. middle-income countries b. periphery countries c. high-income countries d. low-income countries
a
40. The cultural heritage or identity of a group, based on factors such as language or country of origin, is termed __________. a. ethnicity b. religion c. race d. genealogy
a
42. The term __________ refers to the biological and anatomical differences between females and males. a. sex b. biology c. gender d. sociobiology
a
47. __________ is the term for the process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in cities rather than in rural areas. a. Urbanization b. Suburbanization c. Industrialization d. Modernization
a
53. Based on British social theorist Herbert Spencer's theory, __________ is the belief that those species of animals, including human beings, that are the most adapted to their environment will survive and prosper, whereas those that are poorly adapted will eventually die out. a. social Darwinism b. social eugenics c. social statics and dynamics d. social relativism
a
57. Durkheim observed that rapid social change and a more specialized division of labor produce strain in society; these strains lead to a breakdown in traditional organization, values, and authority and to a dramatic increase in __________. a. anomie b. social disorganization c. social solidarity d. cultural conflict
a
89. According to feminist theorists, we live in a(n) __________, a system in which men dominate women and in which things that are considered to be "male" or "masculine" are more highly valued than those considered to be "female" or "feminine." patriarchy a. patriarchy b. autocracy c. matriarchy d. oligarchy
a
90. A __________ analysis examines whole societies, large-scale social structures, and social systems. a. macrolevel b. metalevel c. microlevel d. mesolevel
a
93. A __________ is anything that meaningfully represents something else and includes signs, gestures, written language, and shared values. a. symbol b. sociological construct c. norm d. status
a
117. Gayle wants to do a study of domestic abuse but lacks the time and money to gather her own data. Consequently, she analyzes data on this topic that was gathered by the National Opinion Research Center. In this case, Gayle is conducting __________. a. content analysis b. secondary analysis c. survey d. participant observation
b
121. In a study of the behavior of undergraduate students, a researcher moves into a university residence hall and lives there for the semester, participating in daily life of students. This is an example of __________. a. correlational study b. ethnography c. experiment d. content analysis
b
124. The American Sociological Association's Code of Ethics for conducting research includes which of the following? a. Researchers must use their best judgment with regard to confidentiality. b. Researchers must disclose all sources of financial support for a project. c. Research projects can never place subjects at harm. d. Researchers must keep participants enrolled in a project for the full duration of the project.
b
26. A __________ is a large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. a. culture b. society c. nation d. country
b
38. A significant difference between high-income and low-income countries is that low-income countries tend to be __________. a. more industrialized b. more agrarian (cultivated land) c. less populated d. smaller
b
67. Unlike others who believed that values could not be separated from the research process, German social scientist __________ emphasized that sociology should be value free—conducted in a scientific manner to exclude the researcher's personal values and economic interests. a. Emile Durkheim b. Max Weber c. Karl Marx d. Herbert Spencer
b
70. German sociologist Georg Simmel analyzed how social interactions vary depending on the __________. He concluded that interaction patterns differed between a dyad and a triad. a. sex of the social group b. size of the social group c. social class of the social group d. race of the social group
b
73. Jane Addams is best known as ____________________ . a. the first President of the American Sociological Society b. the founder of Hull House c. the first woman to conduct sociological research d. former First Lady of the United States
b
78. Functionalist Talcott Parsons suggested that complementary roles for men and women in the family contribute to social stability. The husband/father performs the __________ tasks, which involve leadership and decision-making responsibilities in the home, and employment outside the home to support the family. a. expressive b. instrumental c. reproductive d. interdependent
b
81. When students go away to college they often make lifelong friends and may even find their spouse. According to Robert Merton, this would be a __________ function of education. a. manifest b. latent c. dysfunction d. affective
b
83. A __________ of education in the United States is the perpetuation of gender, racial, and class inequalities, which contributes to a waste of potential talent and benefit for society. a. manifest function b. dysfunction c. latent function d. prerequisite function
b
109. David has developed the hypothesis that the stress felt by unemployed men increases the probability of spousal abuse. Stress would be considered the __________ variable and spousal abuse would be considered the __________ variable. a. dependent; independent b. universal; control c. independent; dependent d. control; universal
c
116. In __________, researchers use existing material and analyze data that were originally collected by others. a. primary analysis b. tertiary analysis c. secondary analysis d. manifest analysis
c
119. __________is the study of social life in its natural setting: observing and interviewing people where they live, work, and play. a. A survey b. Secondary analysis c. Field research d. An experiment
c
111. Tony develops a scale to assess job satisfaction among industrial workers. He is afraid that workers in his study will each interpret the scale items in a different way. Tony's concern is about the __________ of his scale. a. representativeness b. accuracy c. validity d. reliability
d
29. People throughout the world share the same biosphere; environmental pollution in one area may have an adverse effect on people in other places. This makes environmental problems an example of __________. a. international interlock b. universal cooperation c. societal cohesiveness d. global interdependence
d
