Deck 1: The Sociological Analysis of Sport in North American Society

Question 1

A sociological assumption that individuals are shaped by their society implies a total social determination.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Although psychology and sociology are similar fields, there is very little difference in the way they study and account for human behavior.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

As a field of study, the sociology of sport treats sport and physical activities as cultural practices.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

From a sociological perspective, behaviors are considered to emanate primarily from internal individual motivations.

Question 5

Fundamental to the sociological perspective is the notion that structural forces beyond the conscious control of an individual have profound effects on human behavior.

Question 6

Sports teams are not particularly useful research settings for sociologists to test theories about social organization because they are composed of exceptional rather than average persons.

Question 7

From the view of the textbook authors, the observer of any social arrangement must view the subject from a critical stance.

Question 8

The conflict social theory has political implications but the functionalist perspective does not.

Question 9

Hegemony theory adds ideology and culture to the importance of the economy, politics, and the cultural patterns of dominance in society.

Question 10

According to the feminist social theory, organized sport has been a major contributor to the perpetuation of male dominance.

Question 11

The presence of rudimentary organization distinguishes informal sport from corporate sport.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is not true of sociology?

A) Sociology stresses those factors external to the individual.
B) Sociology is the only scientific discipline concerned with the description and explanation of human behavior.
C) Sociology describes and explains social organization.
D) Sociologists study social behavior of all kinds, from interpersonal social relations to group formations to formal social organizations.

Question 13

The sociological perspective can be uncomfortable because

A) it requires acceptance of "official" explanations of the way society is organized.
B) it liberates one from social constraints and thus undermines the comfort that tradition provides.
C) it makes possible the accurate prediction of human behavior that could be used in undesirable ways.
D) All of the above

Question 14

Functionalist theory focuses on

A) the social bond that holds groups together.
B) the social forces that pit group against group.
C) patterns of dominance and influence in society.
D) how people give meaning to their lives.

Question 15

The four levels of sport described in the textbook

A) suggest that the levels can be placed on a continuum from play to work.
B) classify pseudosports as a form of informal sport.
C) place Little League programs at the informal level of sport.
D) classify international sport as a separate level of sport.

Question 16

Conflict theorists tend to argue that

A) sport is inspirational.
B) sport provides an excellent opportunity for minorities to move up the social class ladder.
C) sport builds character in potentially deviant youth.
D) None of the above

Question 17

Which theoretical perspective places the greatest emphasis on human agency?

A) Functionalism
B) Conflict theory
C) Conflict/cultural theory

Question 18

Conflict theorists and functionalists that sport maintains the status quo.

A) agree
B) disagree

Question 19

Which of the following theories is not a structural theory?

A) Functionalism
B) Conflict/cultural theory
C) Hegemony theory
D) Interactionist theory

Question 20

The "social construction of reality" is most closely associated with

A) functionalism.
B) conflict theory.
C) critical theory.
D) interactionist theory.

Question 21

High school sports would generally be an example of

A) pseudosport.
B) informal sport.
C) organized sport.
D) corporate sport.
E) None of the above

Question 22

Human agency refers to

A) human beings as active agents shaping and changing social structures.
B) individuals as social beings.
C) individuals being socially determined.
D) the perfection of social arrangements.

Question 23

The "sociological imagination"

A) focuses on understanding the behavior of an individual and his or her problems.
B) focuses on human agency.
C) is similar to Karl Marx's term "false consciousness."
D) sees the solutions to social problems by changing the structure of society, not in terms of changing individuals.

Question 24

The textbook authors describe several major assumptions of the sociological perspective. Identify and discuss one of the major assumptions of the sociological perspective described in the text.

Question 25

Write a brief essay supporting the statement "If you hold up football to the bright light of sociology, you will see that it mirrors modern social life."

Question 26

Several major sociological theories are described in the text. Identify two of them and briefly describe how they differ.

Question 27

Three levels of sport are identified in the text. Identify two of these and give a brief characterization of each.

Question 28

What is your understanding of "the sociological imagination"? Does it appear applicable to sport in US or Canadian society? If so, how?