Sociology Chapter 1
101. From a functionalist perspective, unequal distribution of resources a. is a reflection of who has the most power to decide how resources are distributed. b. is fair because some roles are more important to society than others. c. does not occur. d. is not fair since everyone has an important role to play in society.
b
105. According to conflict theorists, social order in society is maintained by a. a shared system of beliefs. b. a shared system of values. c. domination by the powerful. d. social consensus.
c
67. George Simmel was particularly interested in the role of "strangers" in social groups. According to Simmel, strangers have a unique perspective because while they are part of the group they also have _ . a. their own emotional responses b. debunking c. critical distance d. functionalism
c
69. When group differences are created by the social structure of society, sociologists refer to this as _ . a. social institutions b. critical distance c. diversity d. in-groups and out-groups
c
1. Sociology is defined as _ . a. the study of past societies b. the study of individuals and their personalities c. the study of past cultures d. the study of human behavior in society
d
10. Which of the following is not a basic dimension of society, according to Max Weber? a. Political b. Economic c. Cultural d. Social
d
111. Symbolic interactionists view _ as the primary motivation for human behavior. a. whether or not action is functional b. struggles for social and economic resources c. achieving social solidarity d. people's definition of the situation
d
19. Robert Merton suggested that human behavior has _ . a. functions and dysfunctions b. qualitative and quantitative components c. elements of conformity and individualism d. manifest functions and latent functions
d
23. According to Durkheim, during an economic crisis: a. people will blame others for taking their jobs. b. inequality will cause the rich to gain. c. people will blame individuals, not the system, for failure. d. none of the above.
a
103. Conflict theory originated in the work of _ . a. Karl Marx b. Emile Durkheim c. Robert Parks d. Max Weber
a
104. Conflict theory emphasizes a. a person or group's ability to exercise influence and control over others. b. the significance of consensus in maintaining social order. c. the benefits of dysfunctions that cause social change. d. the significance of face-to-face interactions.
a
109. The Thomas dictum states that people behave according to what they believe to be real, not necessarily what is objectively true. This principle is fundamental to which type of sociological theory? a. symbolic interactionism b. conflict theory c. functionalism d. feminism
a
102. Critics of functionalism argue that it: a. fails to emphasize the fact that society's component parts work together as a whole system b. places too much emphasis on social stability, and overlooks the roles of power and conflict in society c. is too microsociological in its approach d. all of the above
b
107. A criticism of _ is that it understates the cohesion and stability found in society. a. functionalism b. conflict theory c. symbolic interaction theory d. exchange theory
b
108. Functionalist theorists and conflict theorists both share the belief that a. all parts of society work together. b. social behavior originates in the structure of society. c. theory should focus on interpersonal, face-to-face interaction. d. power and exploitation are the basis for order in society.
b
96. Theoretical frameworks that center on face-to-face social interaction are categorized as _ . a. macrosociology b. microsociology c. theories of the middle range d. universalistic sociology
b
98. At its most basic level, the function of the family is _ . a. emotional support b. reproduction c. marriage d. economic support
b
106. Which of the following is not one of the arguments of conflict theory? a. inequality exists because those with wealth work to defend their advantages b. society is fragmented into groups that compete for social and economic resources c. social order is maintained by consensus and interdependence d. the dominant groups shape the beliefs of others through control of public information
c
110. "Society is socially constructed through human interpretation." This statement is most closely associated with: a. conflict theory b. functionalism c. social interaction d. social exchange
c
20. Which of the following is not a criticism of functionalism? a. Functionalism is inherently conservative, given its emphasis on stability. b. Functionalism understates the roles of power and conflict in society. c. Functionalism states that inequality is necessary for the equitable distribution of societal resources. d. Functionalism overstates the role of individual behavior in social change.
d
99. Functionalism emphasizes all of the following except a. the consensus that exists in society. b. the order that exists in society. c. shared public values. d. the role of coercion and power.
d
31. To study human behavior, sociologists use _ . a. debunked myths b. empirical analysis c. media d. common sense
b
45. According to Durkheim, public rituals, including punishment, are important because a. they make people afraid of authority and less likely to commit crime. b. they create a bond among the members of society. c. they give members of society an opportunity to meet the key figures of authority. d. they create sui generis.
b
47. According to the text, Durkheim's major contribution to the discipline of sociology was the understanding of a. the effects of capitalism on society. b. the social basis of human behavior. c. the relationship that exists between man and nature. d. the effect of verstehen on our conception of reality.
b
48. Marx used the term _ for those people in society who are discarded by society and _ for those in the working class. a. Proletariat; bourgeoisie b. lumpenproletariat; proletariat c. bourgeoisie; petty bourgeoisie d. petty bourgeoisie; lumpenproletariat
b
58. The fundamental principle or lesson of sociology is that a. it is not possible to truly understand human behavior. b. the social context shapes what people do and think. c. it is easiest to study the most extreme and unusual behavior. d. sociology just restates the obvious in empirical ways.
b
61. A fundamental concept for using one's sociological imagination is the distinction that Mills made between a. mechanical and organic solidarity. b. troubles and issues. c. the gemeinschaft and the gesellschaft. d. social status and social dynamics.
b
26. According to feminist theory, prior to _ , women were largely absent from sociological research. a. the Industrial Revolution b. the Civil War c. the second wave of feminism d. World War II
c
86. Weber theorized that value-free sociology could not exist since values would always influence what sociologists considered worthy of study. Because they could not be completely value-free, Weber believed that sociologists should a. not worry about whether or not their research is biased. b. use their research to promote particular political perspectives. c. acknowledge the influence of values and try to be as objective as possible. d. avoid research and stick to theoretical writing.
c
9. Which of the following social theorists coined the term sui generis? a. Marx b. Weber c. Durkheim d. Comte
c
65. Peter Berger called the process whereby sociologists question actions and ideas that are usually taken for granted _ a."unveiling" b. "verstehen" c."objectification" d. "debunking"
d
100. Merton called the unintended consequences of behavior _ . a. latent functions b. manifest functions c. hidden functions d. indirect function
a
13. Robert Park a. was interested in urban problems. b. focused on immigrant workers. c. emphasized qualitative research. d. used a reform-based approach.
a
15. W.E.B. DuBois was most interested in which of the following? a. social justice b. empiricism c. discovering the laws of society d. social stability
a
17. Durkheim, Marx, and Weber have which of the following in common? a. They were all macrosociologists. b. They were all qualitative researchers. c. They all followed the Chicago School. d. They all attended prestigious universities.
a
2. Sociology is a/n _ discipline, meaning the conclusions are based on systematic observations. a. empirical b. observational c. common sense d. rigorous
a
21. According to Karl Marx: a. capitalism is built on the exploitation of workers. b. capitalism is negotiated by cultural values. c. capitalism involves racist oppression. d. capitalism includes the domination of men over women
a
24. According to Marx, class conflict is: a. embedded in the system of capitalism. b. irrelevant to capitalism. c. is caused by the working class. d. is caused by the capitalist class
a
25. According to the text, the problem of the color line described by W.E.B. DuBois: a. extends to the 21st century b. ended with desegregation c. ended at the turn of the 20th century d. never existed
a
29. "Individuals are subordinated to society." This statement best represents which theoretical perspective? a. Conflict theory b. Feminism c. Functionalism d. Symbolic interactionism
a
43. Which of these is an observation that de Tocqueville made in his study of American society? a. Americans had little independence of mind, despite their emphasis on individualism. b. Individual freedom was widespread despite the principle of majority rule. c. Democratic values had little impact on American social institutions. d. American were mostly controlled by capitalist values.
a
46. In Durkheim's view of society, people come to believe what society expects them to believe because a. they internalize the existence of society in their minds. b. they are subject to coercion and exploitation. c. they do not believe that they have free will. d. they understand that society is an integrated whole.
a
52. _ was the first Black person in any field to earn a PhD. a. W.E.B. Du Bois b. Ida B. Wells-Barnett c. Jane Addams d. Robert Parks
a
54. How do functionalists view disorganization within society? a. They believe it must result in change to re-establish equilibrium in society. b. They view disorganization as functional for society. c. They believe that disorganization in one part of society will affect only those directly involved. d. They believe that change is for the worse, stemming from instability.
a
59. Which of the following social thinkers is associated with the concept of the sociological imagination? a. Max Weber b. Emile Durkheim c. Wright Mills d. Charles Murray
a
60. Applying the _ means that one has the ability to see the societal patterns that influence individual and group life. a. sociological perspective b. sociological ideal c. sociological philosophy d. sociological context
a
68. What is the sociological approach to diversity in society? a. Sociologists believe that people are shaped by the social context around them. b. Sociologists like to study the unusual. c. According to sociologists, diversity seems to be disappearing. d. Sociologists study mostly racial diversity.
a
76. Harriet Martineau was an early sociologist and a British citizen. Her book, Society in America a. was overlooked for many years. b. quickly became a classic in sociological study. c. has never really been evaluated by sociologists. d. made no real contribution to the field of sociology.
a
77. Harriet Martineau's book, How to Observe Manners and Morals, was the first a. to discuss observing behavior while participating in the situation. b. field study of folkways and mores c. in-depth analysis of democratic culture d. co-authored manuscript involving Auguste Comte
a
85. While Marx saw economics as the organizing influence on society, Weber focused on a. three dimensions: political, economic, and cultural. b. primarily the political system. c. problems of cultural diversity. d. two dimensions: the personal and the political.
a
90. According to Social Darwinists a. the "survival of the fittest" is the driving force of social evolution. b. social reform was essential for the protection of the poorest members of society. c. the evolution of society would always create more social problems. d. "social engineering" was necessary for society to meet the needs of its members.
a
91. The type of applied sociological thinking that focused on how society shaped the mind and identity of people was called _ . a. the Chicago School b. the Social Darwinist School c. classical European theory d. the organic metaphor
a
92. The Chicago School sociologist who was a leader in the settlement house movement and who did systematic research geared toward improving the lives of the dispossessed groups within the city was: a. Jane Addams b. Robert Park c. Lester Ward d. George Herbert Mead
a
95. Theoretical frameworks that strive to understand society as a whole are called _ . a. macrosociology b. microsociology c. theories of the middle range d. universalistic sociology
a
97. _ interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of society as a whole. a. Functionalism b. Conflict theory c. Symbolic interaction d. Positivism
a
11. Weber defined verstehen as _ . a. the multidimensionality of society. b. understanding behavior to which people give meaning. c. a constantly evolving organism. d. a hands-off approach to understanding society.
b
12. Which sociologist was a leader in the settlement house movement? a. Max Weber b. Jane Addams c. Ida B. Wells d. Karl Marx
b
22. The sociological perspective focused on the positive role of social change is _ . a. functionalism. b. conflict. c. symbolic interactionism. d. none of the above
b
27. Contemporary feminist scholarship has produced which of the following? a. gender conflict between men and women b. vital knowledge about women c. conflict between workers and employers d. all of the above
b
3. According to the sociological imagination, the current high numbers of college graduates moving back in with their families reflects: a. individual choices. b. social forces impacting private lives. c. failed socialization d. none of the above.
b
30. Using a sociological perspective C. Wright Mills points out that unemployment is _ . a. is a product of the environment. b. related to the structure of society and social institutions. c. only an individual problem. d. none of the above.
b
32. Sociology differs from media programs that feature human problems in that a. the media are interested in individuals—sociologists are not. b. sociologists use research techniques and theories that the media may not use to explain social issues. c. sociologists do not study the types of problems that appear on television programs. d. the media focuses on problem behavior, sociology does not.
b
34. Elaine Bell Kaplan's research on black teenage motherhood concluded that a. the black community condones teen pregnancy. b. the black teens felt embarrassed and stigmatized by being pregnant. c. black women don't value success as much as white women do. d. the black teens always developed complete sexual identities.
b
35. Peter Berger's concept of debunking refers to a. the ability to use common sense. b. the "unmasking" tendency of sociology. c. taking people's actions for granted. d. using empirical evidence to support common sense.
b
36. Sociological research on education has debunked many common assumptions. It has found that a. the education system is primarily a way to learn and to get ahead. b. poor children rarely have the same resources in schools that middle-class and elite students have. c. today, girls are achieving more rapidly than boys in the areas of math and science. d. social cliques do not form until adulthood.
b
4. George Simmel developed the concept of "critical distance," which refers to _ . a. being physically separate from one's research subjects b. being able to detach from the situation at hand to view things critically. c. being a stranger in social groups. d. being able to not participate in your own research.
b
7. According to _ , scientific observation is viewed as the highest form of knowledge. a. sociology b. positivism c. functionalism d. sui generis
b
70. Within sociology, the concept of diversity a. applies only to different cultural orientations. b. encompasses a global perspective. c. is focused exclusively on different groups within the U.S. d. is not considered one of the most important concepts for study.
b
71. Sociology first emerged as a discipline in _ . a. the United States b. western Europe c. South America d. eastern Europe
b
72. The Enlightenment had an enormous influence on the development of modern sociology. The Enlightenment a. occurred in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. b. is also known as the Age of Reason. c. refers to the period of renewed faith in God and religion. d. occurred first among the lower and working classes.
b
78. According to Emile Durkheim a. deviance has no place in a "healthy" society. b. people in society are held together by belief systems. c. the best theoretical approach to the study of society is social conflict theory. d. the economic system has the most important influence on human thought and behavior.
b
79. Durkheim conceptualized social facts as a. one's personal drives and motivations. b. social patterns that are external to individuals. c. the embodiment of sui generic. d. the direct outgrowth of our biological drives.
b
81. According to Marx, capitalism is based on a. social solidarity and cohesion. b. profit and private property. c. a democratic political system. d. a rejection of socialism and communism.
b
82. Which of the following statements about Marx is true? a. Marx focused more on individuals than social structure in his analysis of society. b. Marx considered all of society to be shaped by economic forces. c. A limitation of Marx's work was his failure to recognize the effects of class on social behavior. d. Marx's evolutionary concept of societal development and change is almost identical to that of Durkheim's.
b
87. Weber was concerned with the responsibility of sociologists. He stated that sociologists should a. use their research to promote particular political positions. b. teach students the uncomfortable truth about the world. c. avoid examining unpopular opinions and views. d. theorize without trying to be empirical.
b
89. According to the text, a significant difference between the early American sociologists and their European counterparts was that the American sociologists were more _ . a. theoretical b. practical c. free-thinking d. academic
b
94. What is the purpose of sociological theory? a. To make sociology seem more academic. b. To organize and interpret observations. c. To provide a way to do sociology without having to conduct research. d. To describe what sociology is.
b
14. Jane Addams is the only practicing sociologist to have won a _ . a. Pulitzer Prize b. Preston Award c. Nobel Peace Prize d. Fulbright Fellowship
c
16. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote in 1901 that a. "he who discriminates shatters the world." b. "the line between rich and poor is Black." c. "the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line." d. "education is only available to those that can afford it."
c
18. Emile Durkheim's work is the foundation for which major theoretical perspective? a. Conflict theory b. Symbolic interactionism c. Functionalism d. Feminism
c
28. "Inequality is inevitable and functional for society." This statement best represents which theoretical perspective? a. Conflict theory b. Feminism c. Functionalism d. Symbolic interactionism
c
33. Sociologists believe that persistent problems in the U.S. are a. largely the result of individual behavior. b. caused by people with psychological problems. c. embedded in society. d. the consequence of free will
c
38. What role do sociologists play while conducting their research on society? a. Sociologists are usually strangers to the practices they study. b. Sociologists must avoid studying aspects of society that they have a personal interest in. c. Sociologists achieve critical distance through their willingness to question the forces that shape behavior. d. Most sociologists are primarily academics and typically study only areas within the academy.
c
40. Which of the following is not true about the global perspective in sociology? a. sociologists consider comparing and contrasting societies across cultures valuable b. the global perspective is essential to the study of change in society c. although societies are interconnected, their social and economic systems remain very separated d. a global perspective goes beyond simple comparisons of cultures
c
49. The early American sociologists are characterized by a. their extremely theoretical approach to problems. b. their adherence to the conflict perspective primarily. c. their belief that sociology could alleviate the negative consequences of society. d. their lack of interest in research.
c
5. August Comte believed sociology could: a. not solve social problems. b. discover the laws of the natural world. c. discover the laws of human nature d. None of the above
c
50. The organic metaphor refers to a. seeing a particular society as untarnished by the influence of others. b. sociologists working in the community, not being strictly academic. c. seeing society as a system of interrelated functions and parts. d. understanding behavior from the perspective of those engaged in it.
c
51. Social Darwinists believed that a. social evolution did not work in the same way as biological evolution. b. over time complexity would revert to simplicity and societies would become more primitive. c. social reforms should not be implemented because they interfered with the natural progression of society. d. Humans could shape the evolution of society.
c
53. When one part of society is not working, it affects the rest of society and causes social problems. This statement reflects the _ approach. a. conflict b. symbolic interactionist c. functionalist d. microsociological
c
55. In what way does symbolic interaction theory differ from conflict theory and functionalism? a. Conflict theory and functionalism are theoretical frameworks and symbolic interactionism is not. b. Conflict theory and functionalism focus on immediate social interaction and symbolic interactionism does not. c. Symbolic interactionism does not examine society in terms of its abstract institutions, and conflict and functionalist theory do. d. Symbolic interactionism is a macro-level approach; conflict theory and functionalism are not.
c
57. The text emphasizes that _ is most responsible for a person's chance in life. a. human biology b. inherited traits c. social location d. individual personality
c
62. Sociologists refer to the organized patterns of social relationships and social institutions that make up society as the _ . a. social framework b. sociological perspective c. social structure d. interactionist perspective
c
63. According to Mills, the specific task of sociology is to a. expose the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie. b. help individuals solve their problems. c. comprehend human society and its influence on the lives of human beings. d. promote the use of "verstehen" to understand social behavior from the point of view of those who engaged in it.
c
64. The goal of the sociologists is to study controversial topics with an open mind, even if this results in the discovery of "inconvenient" or disturbing information. An example of an inconvenient fact presented in the text is that a. same-sex couples are more likely to be interracial than heterosexual couples. b. the number of women prisoners is increasing at almost twice the rate for men. c. a majority of women in prison are mothers. d. all of these are inconvenient facts presented in the text
c
66. Using the sociological perspective to debunk the assumptions of the education system reveals that schools a. are primarily a way for students to learn and get ahead. b. provide opportunity for all students. c. teach some children their place within society. d. give girls much more attention than boys.
c
73. The Enlightenment had an enormous influence on the development of modern sociology because it was characterized by a. the spread of socialism. b. the influence of religion as a system of authority and law. c. faith in the ability of human reason to solve society's problems. d. an emphasis on the supernatural.
c
75. Alexis de Tocqueville and Harriet Martineau were alike in that both were a. abolitionists who feared that slavery would tear a society apart. b. feminists who were concerned about the subordination of women. c. interested in the newly emerging culture in America. d. symbolic interactionists.
c
8. _ 's work is the basis for conflict theory. a. Emile Durkheim b. George Simmel c. Karl Marx d. Auguste Comte
c
80. Marx's work was devoted to explaining a. the social basis of human behavior. b. the social laws that governed human behavior. c. how capitalism shaped society. d. how to observe social behavior while participating in it.
c
83. According to Marx, the beliefs of the common people tend to support the interests of the capitalist system, not the workers themselves. This is because a. workers do not understand how capitalism works. b. workers have no idea what their own interests are, or what would benefit them. c. the capitalist class control the production of ideas. d. all of these are true
c
84. Marx's perspective of society argued that a. capitalists do not own the actual system by which goods are produced and distributed. b. workers receive a fair share of the profits that they help create. c. profit is produced through the exploitation of the working class. d. while capitalists control the production of goods, they do not control the production of ideas.
c
88. An important concept in Weber's sociology is verstehen which refers to: a. approaching the study of society from a value-free perspective b. a focus on the political systems of society c. viewing social behavior from the perspective of those engaged in it d. social action
c
93. Ida B. Wells-Barnett was an early sociologist whose contributions to the field have only recently been examined. She is best known for her work a. on the design of cities. b. aimed at improving the lives of urban immigrants and the homeless. c. in the anti-lynching movement. d. with the NAACP.
c
37. The text includes a discussion of the practice of footbinding in China in order to demonstrate that all of the following, except a. it is easier to debunk knowledge of another's culture than of one's own. b. behavior that is taken for granted in one society may be viewed as bizarre from the perspective of another society. c. sociological debunking may question practices that are otherwise taken for granted. d. sociologists rely on empirical evidence to support conclusions.
d
39. Which of these do not sociologists consider part of the concept of diversity? a. studying group differences in opportunities within society b. the process of social change c. the formation of group identity d. the allocation of resources
d
41. Which of the following was not a condition that led to the development of sociology? a. rapid social change in Europe b. the disappearance of traditional sources of authority c. contact between societies was increasing d. the increasingly important role of religion
d
42. Alex de Tocqueville referred to the ability of the majority in a democracy to impose its will on everyone else as _ . a. the "tyranny of democracy" b. "unenlightened despotism" c. "manifest destiny" d. the "tyranny of the majority"
d
44. What do Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber all have in common? a. They are largely discredited sociologists. b. They are classical thinkers whose ideas continue to influence the social sciences. c. They were all German economists. d. They were all political rebels who were imprisoned for their ideas.
d
56. Feminist theory is a type of contemporary theory that does not a. analyze the status of men and women in society. b. have the goal of improving women's lives. c. provide new ways of seeing the world. d. see women are more powerful than men.
d
6. August Comte is known for: a. developing the first sociology program. b. writing the first sociology textbook. c. conducting the first sociological research. d. coining the term "sociology."
d
74. Positivism refers to a. thinking very optimistically about society. b. being very certain of one's research methods. c. a belief system first suggested by Emile Durkheim. d. scientific observation and description
d