SOC 1020 ch. 1
culture
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
The text defines discrimination as A. a negative or unfavorable attitude towards a group or its individual members. B. stereotyped beliefs that are not tested against reality. C. actions or practices of subordinate group members that have a harmful impact on members of dominant groups. D. actions or practices of dominant group members that have a harmful impact on members of subordinate groups.
D. actions or practices of dominant group members that have a harmful impact on members of subordinate groups
David was physically attacked by a group of students in his college dorm. The assailants attacked David because they believed he was homosexual. David was a victim of a(n) A. simple assault. B. crime of passion. C. assault with malice. D. hate crime.
D. hate crime
According to sociologists, a social problem is a social condition or a pattern of behavior that A. individuals typically bring upon themselves; therefore, they must take action to solve their own problem. B. everyone agrees is harmful for all individuals and the society. C. often is of relatively short duration but is problematic for those who are affected by it. D. people believe warrants public concern and collective action to bring about change.
D. people believe warrants public concern and collective action to bring about change
Researchers who use data collected by the FBI and published as the UCR (Uniform Crime Report) are using which of the following? A. evolutionary methodology B. field research C. survey research D. secondary analysis of existing data
D. secondary analysis of existing data
Rico has been labeled "delinquent" since he was a child; now in high school, he is close to dropping out and has participated in activities that have also been termed as deviant. If Rico is arrested in the future, his situation will fit which of the following terms? A. norm B. situational approach C. subculture of violence D. self-fulfilling prophecy
D. self-fulfilling prophecy
Symbolic Interactionist Solutions to violence include which of the following? A. reinforcing the importance of conformity to society's rules and laws B. pushing for major changes in our nation's political and economic institutions C. emphasizing that oppression is a major factor that contributes to social problems D. teaching people of all ages to engage in nonviolent conflict resolution
D. teaching people of all ages to engage in nonviolent conflict resolution
field research
the study of social life in its natural setting: observing and interviewing people where they live, work, and play
What are the three major theoretical perspectives?
1. Functionalist 2. Conflict 3. Interactionist
Of the fifty states in the United States of America, how many states have hate crime laws? A. seven B. twenty-three C. forty-five D. fifty
C. forty-five
According to C. Wright Mills, in order to understand a phenomenon in question in its entirety, it is important to bridge the micro-macro aspects of society. A. True B. False
A true
Which of the following is the best definition of social policy? A. a written set of ideas and goals that are formally adopted by a relevant decision-making body B. a subjective awareness rooted in contemporary social events C. cultural norms that are accepted by most members of a group D. societal values that are passed down from generation to generation
A. a written set of ideas and goals that are formally adopted by a relevant decision-making body
Deborah is studying the effects violent video games have on youth by observing children after they have played video games to see if their behavior is more violent as a result of gaming. Deborah is using which kind of research in her study? A. field research B. survey research C. labeling theory D. subculture of violence hypothesis
A. field research
Standards of conduct that are culturally established are A. norms. B. values. C. mores. D. anomies.
A. norms
Microlevel analysis focuses on A. small group relations and social interaction among individuals. B. individual attitudes and behavior. C. how large scale political decisions affect everyday people. D. how economic systems affect cultures.
A. small group relations and social interaction among individuals
The functionalist explanation of violence which states that violence is part of the normative expectations governing everyday behavior among young males in the lower classes is called A. the subculture of violence hypothesis. B. the male hypothesis C. the culture of youth hypothesis D. lifestyle-routine activity approach
A. the subculture of violence hypothesis
A subjective awareness that a social problem exists usually emerges before the objective reality of the problem is acknowledged. A. True B. False
A. true
According to sociologists, the definition of violence includes pain or injury to other people or damage of property. A. True B. False
A. true
According to value conflict theorists, social problems are conditions that are incompatible with group values A. true B. false
A. true
Conflict theorists focus on inequalities in society. A. True B. False
A. true
Critical-conflict theorists suggest that social problems arise out of the major contradictions inherent in the way societies are organized A. true B. false
A. true
Even the gathering of objective facts does not always result in consensus on social issues A. true B. false
A. true
It is logical to conclude that one has to be in a position of power in order to discriminate. A. True B. False
A. true
Symbolic interactionist explanations of violence begin by noting that human behavior is learned through social interaction A. true B. false
A. true
The type of research method used depends on the nature of the study in question. A. True B. False
A. true
Verstehen enables individuals to see the world as others see it and to empathize with them A. true B. false
A. true
John is a sociologist who argues that social conditions (real culture) and group values (ideal culture) are incompatible. John is using which theory? A. value conflict B. functionalist C. subculture of violence D. lifestyle-routine activit
A. value conflict
John is a sociologist who argues that social conditions (real culture) and group values (ideal culture) are incompatible. John is using which theory? A. value conflict B. functionalist C. subculture of violence D. lifestyle-routine activity
A. value conflict
According to C. Wright Mills, widespread unemployment resulting from changes in the national economy is A. a personal problem. B. a public issue. C. not a social problem since it will be corrected with the next change in the economy. D. a problem for those who are unemployed but not for other people.
B. a public issue
According to the text, some personal problems A. are viewed as conditions that affect individual members of a population. B. are related to the larger social issues in society. C. rarely harm all of society's members. D. rarely harm all of a culture's members.
B. are related to the larger social issues in society
Tameka is a sociologist who explores inequalities derived from the U. S.'s economic system. Tameka's perspective is which of the following? A. value conflict B. critical-conflict C. functionalist D. symbolic interactionist
B. critical-conflict
Labeling theory and the social construction of reality are value conflict perspectives. A. True B. False
B. false
The functionalist perspective would attribute social problems to the unequal distribution of resources in society. A. True B. False
B. false
To be defined as a social problem, a condition or pattern of behavior must affect all members of a population. A. True B. False
B. false
What constitutes a social problem remains constant across time. A. True B. False
B. false
When news stations and newspapers chose to provide exhaustive coverage of the Casey Anthony trial while ignoring other news-worthy events, they were participating in which of the following? A. episodic news framing B. frame amplification C. thematic framing D. media framing
B. frame amplification
Functionalists use which of the following terms to refer to unintended consequences of an activity or social process? A. dysfunctions B. latent functions C. manifest functions D. social disorganization
B. latent functions
The study of social problems involving the economy or the government would take place at the: A. mesolevel. B. macrolevel. C. microlevel. D. symbolic level.
B. macrolevel
Sociologist Howard Becker coined which of the following terms to describe people who develop individual views of right and wrong then label others as deviant? A. deviants B. moral entrepreneurs C. moral deviants D. moral relativists
B. moral entrepreneurs
In order to conduct a study of population growth among various religious and ethnic groups, Walter collects U.S. Census Bureau data for analysis. Walter is using which of the following for his research? A. primary observational data B. secondary analysis of existing data C. secondary analysis of observational data D. primary field notes
B. secondary analysis of observational data
Which statement below best describes social problems? A. Social problems remain constant across cultures. B. Social problems are contingent on the culture of the country in question. C. Culture does not play a role in defining social problems. D. Culture plays only a minimal role in defining social problems.
B. social problems are contingent on the culture of the country in question
A large number of individuals who share the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations is a(n) A. culture. B. society. C. economic system. D. gender.
B. society
Which of the following types of research is used most by social scientists? A. field research B. survey research C. secondary analysis of existing data D. labeling theory
B. survey research
According to critical-conflict theorists, social problems occur when A. there are discrepancies between the ideal and real culture in society. B. there are major contradictions inherent in how a society is organized. C. there is a high level of social disorganization. D. there are too few people following the rules of society.
B. there are major contradictions inherent in how a society is organized
Functionalists base their approach on the works of early social thinkers such as August Comte, the founder of sociology, who compared society to which of the following? A. the fingers of a glove B. the evening sunset C. a living organism D. a sponge
C. a living organism
According to the conflict perspective, the problem of violence in societies such as the United States is linked to A. democracy. B. religion. C. capitalism. D. family values.
C. capitalism
Jane is a sociologist who prefers to conduct research that focuses on small groups such as individual families and children living in group home residential facilities. Which type of analysis does Jane prefer? A. quantitative B. qualitative C. microlevel D. macrolevel
C. microlevel
A theoretical framework, overall approach, or viewpoint towards some subject is a(n) A. norm B. hypothesis C. perspective D. theory
C. perspective
Which of the following best describes C. Wright Mills' Sociological Imagination? A. the ability to see the world from one's perspective B. the ability to create one's world through one's imagination C. the ability to connect individual experiences to the larger society D. the ability to disconnect the larger society from one's individual's experience
C. the ability to connect individual experiences to the larger society
society
a large number of individuals who share the same geographic territory and are subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations
moral entrepreneurs
people who use their own views of right and wrong to establish rules and label others as deviant
anomie
a loss of shared values and sense of purpose in society
social deviance
a pattern of rule violation
crime
a physical attack against a person because of assumptions regarding his or her racial group, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry
survey reserach
a poll in which researchers ask respondents a series of questions about a specific topic and record their responses
secondary analysis of existing data
a research method in which investigators analyze data that originally were collected by others for some other purpose
theory
a set of logically related statements that attempt to describe, explain, or predict social events
social problem
a social condition or a pattern of behavior that harms some individuals or all people in a society and that a sufficient number of people believe warrants public concern and collective action to bring about change
content analysis
a systematic examination of cultural artifacts or written documents to extract thematic data and draw conclusions about some aspect of social life
discrimination
actions or practices of dominant group members that have a harmful impact on members of subordinate groups
capitalism
an economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production, from which personal profits can be derived through market competition and without government intervention
perspective
an overall apraoch or viewpoint toward some subject
values
collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a specific society
conflict perspective
the assumption that groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources
norms
established rules of behavior or standards of conduct
manifest functions; example?
intended and recognized consequences of an activity or social process example: a manifest function of education is to provide students with knowledge, skills, and cultural values
microlevel analysis
small-group relations and social interaction among individuals
macrolevel analysis
social processes occurring at the societal level, especially in large-scale organization and major social institutions such as politics, government, and the economy
social disorganization
the conditions in society that undermine the ability of traditional social institutions to govern human behavior
functionalist perspective
society is a stable, orderly system composed of a number of interrelated parts, each of which performs a function that contributes to the overall stability of society
sociological imagination
the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society
sociology
the academic discipline that engages in the systematic study of human society and social interactions
lifestyle-routine activity approach
the patterns and timing of people's daily movements and activities as they go about obtaining the necessities of life are the keys to understanding violent personal crimes and other types of crime in our society
urbanization
the process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in cities rather than in rural areas
self-fulfilling prophecy
the process by which an unsubstantiated belief or prediction results in behavior that makes the original false conception come true
social construction of reality
the process by which people's perception of reality is shaped largely by the subjective meaning that they give to an experience
industrialization
the process by which societies are transformed from a dependence on agriculture and handmade products to an emphasis on manufacturing and related industries
dysfunctions; example?
the undesirable consequences of an activity or social process that inhibit a society's ability to adapt or adjust example: a function of education is to prepare students for jobs, but if schools fail to do so, then students have problems finding jobs,employers have to spend millions of dollars on employee training programs, and consumers have to pay higher prices for goods and services to offset worker trainings costs
violence
the use of physical force to cause pain, injury, or death to another or damage to property
real culture
the values and beliefs that people actually follow
ideal culture
the values and beliefs that people claim they hold
What is verstehen?
understanding or insight
latent function; example?
unintended consequences of an activity or social process that are hidden and remain unacknowledged by participants example: the latent functions of education include the babysitter function of keeping young people off the street and out of the full-time job market and the matchmaking function whereby schools provide opportunities for students to meet and socialize with potential marriage partners
symbolic interactionist perspective
views society as the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups
subculture of violence hypothesis
violence is part of the normative expectations governing everyday behavior among young males in the lower classes
situational approach
violence results from a specific interaction process, termed a "situational transaction"
