Deck 1: Sociology of Education: a Unique Perspective for Understanding Schools

Question 1

Sociologists study all but which of the following?

A) institutions in societies.
B) individuals' motivations.
C) processes in society.
D) interactions between individuals.
E) sociologists study all of the above.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Sociologists of education do not focus on:

A) school practices and policies.
B) teacher/student interactions.
C) individual student achievement.
D) societal education systems.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

According to the text, which of the following is true with respect to education?

A) It begins with preschool and ends with graduation from high school, college, or graduate school.
B) Education does not exist in hunting and gathering societies because they lack schools.
C) Most of what one learns takes place in the formal context of schooling.
D) none of the above.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The adult public's attitudes toward education reflect the greatest concern for:

A) drugs and violence in schools.
B) lack of financial support and discipline.
C) guns and other weapons in schools.
D) dropping achievement test scores.
E) lack of parental involvement in children's education.

Question 5

Current research topics in the journal Sociology of Education, the main journal in the field, show which of the following to be key areas of research?

A) social class and gender differences in education.
B) immigrant education.
C) social class differences in college expectations and entrance.
D) causes of academic failure and dropping out.
E) all of the above.

Question 6

A sociologist studying education would be least likely to focus on which of the following?

A) biological factors affecting individual learning.
B) the effects of various classroom environments on student achievement.
C) the impact of economic variables on school organization.
D) peer and media influences in relation to student motivation and achievement.
E) the role of family background on educational achievement.

Question 7

Sociologists of education study:

A) roles individuals hold in education systems.
B) the social structure of education systems.
C) processes in education systems.
D) purposes or functions of education systems.
E) all of the above

Question 8

Rise in enrollments in some western states is due primarily to:

A) growth of the Hispanic population.
B) increased immigration from Asian countries.
C) poor families moving to urban areas.
D) children of rural migrants working on farms.
E) all of the above.

Question 9

All but which of the following is likely to be true of U.S. schools in the future?

A) more school choice in communities.
B) lifelong learning as part of the adult experience.
C) less home schooling due to increasing regulations.
D) smaller schools and more hands-on education.
E) the increasing role of technology in education.

Question 10

Functions of education refers to:

A) the goals of a school.
B) purposes education systems serve in society.
C) the key individuals composing the education system.
D) expectations of parents for schools.
E) the classroom organization of schools.

Question 11

Based upon the Gallup poll cited in the text, which of the following is not identified as a recent concern of the U.S. public regarding schools?

A) lack of discipline.
B) use of drugs.
C) violence.
D) lack of proper financial support.
E) shortage of qualified teachers.

Question 12

Based on Durkheim's work, which of the following is true?

A) A sociological approach should judge the various forms of education in terms of whether they are morally good or bad.
B) We cannot separate the educational system from the rest of society because education is closely related to all other societal institutions.
C) Schools create and perpetuate conflicts in society.
D) Schools reflect the conflicts in society.
E) Educational structures remain the same over time.

Question 13

Durkheim argued that:

A) education has taken different forms at different times and places.
B) education teaches moral values which are the foundation of social order.
C) education in classrooms is like a small society.
D) education should be under the control of the state, free from interest groups.
E) all of the above.

Question 14

What is not true concerning functionalist theory?

A) It takes the individual as the primary unit of analysis.
B) It assumes the institutions of society are highly interdependent and in basic harmony with each other.
C) It assumes a high degree of consensus on societal values and goals.
D) It assumes schools are part of an interdependent system.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 15

Critics of the functionalist perspective argue that one of the problems is:

A) it focuses on the individual, not the group.
B) too much emphasis is placed on conflict within groups.
C) it assumes change is slow and deliberate.
D) it does not deal with the interrelationships between education and other parts of society.
E) All of the above are criticisms.

Question 16

Conflict theorists argue that:

A) society is highly stable because of normative consensus.
B) equilibrium between units of schools determine the structure and function of school organizations.
C) the school system is basically volatile and coercion helps explain the equilibrium that does exist.
D) individuals and groups in schools hold similar goals.
E) none of the above.

Question 17

Weber argued that modern bureaucratic organizations, including schools, require leaders who:

A) are selected on the basis of merit or professional expertise.
B) are born into positions of power (i.e., traditional leaders).
C) are in leadership positions because of personal charisma.
D) follow the orders of those above them.
E) all of the above.

Question 18

Max Weber's brand of conflict theory stressed:

A) economic differences between people, distinguishing rich from poor.
B) the importance of status group relationships in forming "status cultures" in schools.
C) micro-level interactions between key participants.
D) changes in contemporary power groups.
E) the irrationality of group participants.

Question 19

By "rational education" Weber meant:

A) education systems in early China.
B) education for the well-rounded person.
C) education for the "cultivated man."
D) education for the specialist type of person.
E) informal learning outside of school.

Question 20

Both functional and conflict theories:

A) attempt to explain how education contributes to the maintenance of the status quo in society.
B) examine how individuals interact and define their unique roles within the educational system.
C) fail to consider the relationship between education and patterns of stability and change in society.
D) focus on why some change is sudden and violent and some is gradual and planned.
E) none of the above.

Question 21

Which theory would most likely agree with the following statement: "Education produces a disciplined labor force for military, political, or other areas of control and exploitation by the "elite"?

A) functionalist theory.
B) conflict theory.
C) symbolic interaction theory.
D) exchange (rational choice) theory.
E) labeling theory.

Question 22

Conflict theorists assume:

A) tension in society is created by competing interests.
B) struggles for power help determine the structure of organizations.
C) change is inevitable in society and its institutions.
D) educational organizations reflect the conflict in society.
E) all of the above.

Question 23

The relationship between student self-conceptions and academic achievement would be a primary focus of which theoretical tradition?

A) functionalism.
B) labeling theory.
C) interaction theory.
D) conflict theory.
E) all of the above.

Question 24

"Those who dominate capitalistic systems mold individuals to suit their own purposes." This view represents which theoretical approach?

A) symbolic interaction theory.
B) status group theory.
C) resistance theory.
D) reproduction theory.
E) cultural capital theory.

Question 25

Which of the following would most likely be a concern of a labeling theorist?

A) local vs. centralized control of education.
B) Supreme Court decisions on issues such as school prayer and textbook censorship.
C) the relationship between social class and the achievement level of a school.
D) the impact of teacher expectations on student self-conceptions and achievement.
E) power relationships within schools.

Question 26

Interaction theory focuses on all but which of the following?

A) individuals in interaction with each other.
B) individuals' shared interpretations of their settings.
C) norms and expectations that guide behavior.
D) the structures and functions of organizations.
E) the process of acquiring social roles.

Question 27

The need to integrate interaction aspects with structural aspects to understand educational systems is the perspective of:

A) the "new" sociology of education.
B) structural theory.
C) conflict theory.
D) symbolic interaction theory.
E) ethnomethodology.

Question 28

Rational choice theory argues that:

A) choices made by students involve weighing costs and benefits.
B) reciprocal interactions bind individuals with obligations.
C) behaviors that are rewarding and rewarded will continue.
D) actions that "cost" students more than benefit them are likely to be dropped.
E) all of the above.

Question 29

Which of the following represents Basil Bernstein's views?

A) Schools need to prevent working-class students from dropping out.
B) Cultural capital is most common among wealthy students.
C) Postmodern theory helps us focus on global issues.
D) Modernism stresses the importance of diversity.
E) All of the above.

Question 30

Cultural reproduction theorists would argue which of the following?

A) Families and schools differ in the amount of "cultural capital" they provide to children.
B) Neither families nor schools influence one's adult achieved social status.
C) One's motivation in schooling is not a good indicator of one's social status.
D) Schooling is unrelated to economic systems.
E) none of the above.

Question 31

Postmodernism stresses the importance of:

A) "modern" ideas of rational thought.
B) theories relevant to local situations.
C) government goals for uniform national standards.
D) progress based on science and technology.
E) all of the above.

Question 32

Feminist theorists are concerned about:

A) injustices faced by many girls/women in the world's schools.
B) the preference by many to educate male children.
C) patriarchy, exploitation, and male dominance.
D) the effects of educational policies on girls' future opportunities.
E) all of the above.

Question 33

The open systems approach to the study of education:

A) allows one to examine the mutual interaction of different parts of the total system.
B) implies that educational boundaries are clearly defined.
C) examines structure and function but not organizational processes.
D) points out that some parts of education systems influence others.
E) all of the above.

Question 34

The open systems approach can be useful in what way?

A) to see the educational system as an integrated whole.
B) to conceptualize the educational system as part of a larger system, including its environment.
C) to see aspects of the system one is studying as part of a whole system.
D) to separate out individual parts from the whole for study.
E) all of the above.

Question 35

When employing the open systems approach to examine a high school, what is not a main conclusion that can be drawn?

A) The high school is a closed system that controls its limited interaction with the community.
B) Informal relationships in the school have an impact on organizational functioning.
C) The boundaries between school and community are flexible and relatively open so that what goes on in the community affects the content of schooling.
D) The education system is a whole, integrated entity influenced by its environment.
E) All of the above are conclusions.

Question 36

The systems model concept of the educational "environment":

A) refers only to what goes on within a school.
B) suggests that schools carry out their educational tasks independent of economic, political, and religious environments.
C) implies that schools are insulated from external environments.
D) implies that the environment is detrimental to the education system and needs to be controlled.
E) none of the above.

Question 37

Researchers in the sociology of education use which of the following research methods?

A) controlled classroom studies.
B) systematic observations.
C) surveys of schools.
D) secondary analysis.
E) all of the above.

Question 38

Most funds for education budgets in the United States come from:

A) local contributions (taxes, levies, etc.).
B) grants and fund-raising.
C) federal funds.
D) funds designated for special programs for science, special need students, and other programs.
E) state funds.

Question 39

The largest share of funding for public education comes from the federal government, with state and local contributions providing for a much smaller percentage of educational costs.

Question 40

Recent Gallup polls on citizen attitudes toward education identified poverty and deterioration of community life as critical concerns for our schools.

Question 41

Education is a process that does not cease when the individual reaches adulthood but continues throughout his or her lifetime.

Question 42

Government policies hurt some children.

Question 43

One quarter of the world's population has a college degree.

Question 44

The fastest-growing group of children in the United States is Hispanics.

Question 45

Durkheim argued that the educational system of modern societies is so unique that it can only be understood by examining it as separate from other social institutions.

Question 46

Although schools are important in the process of socialization and in training individuals for specific roles, they do not function as agents of social change and technological innovation.

Question 47

Weber's analysis of education emphasized the relation between education and social stratification.

Question 48

According to Weber, contemporary education tends to develop "specialists" rather than simply "cultivated" persons.

Question 49

Conflict theorists who examine U.S. schools have consistently produced hard empirical evidence that school curriculum promotes the interests of capitalism.

Question 50

The chief advantage of applying a functionalist view of education, as opposed to other theories, is that functionalism is the most valid way to analyze the content and dynamics of teacher/student and student/student interactions.

Question 51

Critics of the functionalist perspective argue that functionalism has difficulty in explaining social change, and that it fails to recognize the number of divergent interest groups in conflict with one another.

Question 52

A postmodernist approach to education would emphasize "rote learning" and "uniformity of thinking" among students, while de-emphasizing individualism and human diversity.

Question 53

The postmodern approach to education accepts human irregularity and diversity.

Question 54

The open systems approach seeks to examine the ongoing relationship between structure, process, and environment. This analysis includes the examination of both micro- and macro-level variables.

Question 55

The educational system's environment includes both the physical location and the economic and political climate in which it operates.

Question 56

In order to avoid possible bias, sociologists conducting research in education rely strictly on surveys and experimental techniques, intentionally excluding direct observation and existing records as potential data sources.

Question 57

Although there is no agreement on what types of teachers and classroom environments provide the best learning experiences for all children, most people have strong views about undesirable characteristics of teachers and classrooms. Based upon personal examples in your primary and secondary schooling, identify and discuss two or three examples of things you feel could have been changed in order to improve the quality of your educational experience.

Question 58

Identify the main functions of education and discuss how they might be examined from a functionalist and a conflict framework.

Question 59

How would a functionalist and a conflict theorist argue the following statement: schools function to promote equality of opportunity.

Question 60

Discuss the contributions of Durkheim and Weber and the relevance of their views for understanding education today.

Question 61

Discuss the advantages of an open systems approach and apply this framework to analyzing an educational issue of your choice.

Question 62

From an open systems perspective, consider how variation in school funding between districts might impact on both school organization and the character of student-teacher interaction.

Question 63

Employing the concept of environmental impact, discuss how family and community conditions enhance or hinder the ability of schools to produce socially and academically competent students.

Question 64

Discuss the relative merits and drawbacks of students having to pass "exit exams" in order to graduate from high school.

Question 65

"Schools are often expected to be the unifier of a fragmented society." Reflect upon this quote from the text and discuss the difficulties and possibilities of such a process of unification.

Question 66

Should teachers be required to pass "competency exams" in order to be certified? What does "academic competency" mean for both teachers and students?

Question 67

In the text, public concerns about schools were identified by a Gallup poll. Many of the public's concerns focus on the role of schools in addressing social problems such as violence and drug abuse. Discuss whether the mission of reducing social problems and the mission of teaching basic academic skills are compatible with one another. Can schools be effective in reducing social problems through developing specialized curricula?

Question 68

There are considerable variations in per pupil expenditures across school districts. How do such variations affect educational opportunities of students? Should states require more equal funding across school districts? How should schools be funded?

Question 69

Durkheim argued that moral values are the foundation of the social order, and that schools are important in instilling such values in children. Is it truly possible to use school curriculum to shape or change the moral values of children? Is "moral instruction" consistent with the goal of teaching basic skills?

Question 70

Using Weber's concept of "status cultures," who are the "insiders" and who are the "outsiders" in the public school system?

Question 71

Discuss whether it is truly possible to reform schools without first reforming political and economic systems. What is the link between economic change and school reform?

Question 72

The arguments by Bernstein presented in the text contend that speech patterns perpetuate one's social class. To what extent do the speech patterns acquired at home affect how one is treated in school? Should schools strive to change speech patterns if they do not conform to "standard English?"