Deck 1: The Sociological Perspective and Research Process.

Question 1

Environmental problems are an example of __________. People throughout the world share the same biosphere. When environmental degradation, such as removing natural resources or polluting the air and water, takes place in one region, it may have an adverse effect on people elsewhere.

A)international interlock
B)universal cooperation
C)societal cohesiveness
D)global interdependence

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is the leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults?

A)AIDS
B)pneumonia
C)heart disease
D)suicide

Answer 2

D

Question 3

__________ are private problems that affect individuals and the networks of people with which they associate regularly; these problems must be solved by individuals within their immediate social setting.

A)Personal troubles
B)Public issues
C)Non-public issues
D)Psychological difficulties

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which statement concerning suicide is true?

A)The rate of suicide is higher for older men than older women.
B)Most people who attempt suicide remain suicidal throughout life.
C)Older women have a lower rate of attempted suicide as compared with older males.
D)There is no evidence that children under the age of 10 have taken their own lives.

Question 5

Sociology is defined as the __________.

A)systematic study of human society and social interaction
B)methodological analysis of groups and individuals
C)scientific analysis of premodern people
D)academic discipline that examines individual human behavior

Question 6

__________ is a term used by many people to specify groups of people distinguished by physical characteristics such as skin color.

A)Ethnicity
B)Creed
C)Race
D)Color line

Question 7

The world's __________ countries are nations with industrializing economies, particularly in urban areas, and reasonable levels of national and personal income.

A)high-income
B)middle-income
C)low-income
D)subordinate-income

Question 8

__________ defines a relationship in which the lives of all people are intertwined closely and any one nation's problems are part of a larger global problem.

A)Societal cohesiveness
B)Universal cooperation
C)Global interdependence
D)International interlock

Question 9

On average, a suicide occurs in the U.S. approximately every ___ minutes.

A)5
B)10
C)16
D)23

Question 10

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan are classified as __________.

A)middle-income countries
B)superior-income countries
C)high-income countries
D)low-income countries

Question 11

The world's __________ countries are primarily agrarian nations with little industrialization and impoverished levels of national and personal income.

A)high-income
B)middle-income
C)subordinate-income
D)low-income

Question 12

One person being unemployed may be an example of __________, whereas widespread unemployment as a result of economic changes such as plant closings is an example of __________.

A)non-public issues; psychological difficulties
B)personal troubles; public issues
C)psychological difficulties; non-public issues
D)public issues; personal troubles

Question 13

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

Question 14

__________are problems that affect large numbers of people and often require
Solutions at the societal level.

A)Non-personal troubles
B)Non-private difficulties
C)Public issues
D)Societal woes

Question 15

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)superior-income

Question 16

Which group below has the highest rate of suicide?

A)white males
B)white females
C)black males
D)black females

Question 17

Which statement concerning suicide is false?

A)White Americans have a higher rate of suicide than African Americans.
B)One of the warning signs of suicide is if the person talks about it.
C)People who commit suicide often fail to see the bright side of life.
D)Children can learn how to harm themselves from the mass media.

Question 18

In 2004, the average suicide rate in the U.S. was ____ per 100,000 population.

A)3
B)11
C)18
D)25

Question 19

Becky is taking a course at a university in Bombay, India as a part of a student exchange program. She is having difficulty accepting many of the local customs including the status of cows, the caste system, and the apparent lack of respect women receive. Becky is making a sincere effort, however, to understand the Indian customs and to place this behavior within a broader social context. In view of this, Becky is engaging the __________.

A)self-fulfilling prophecy
B)bystander paradigm
C)sociological imagination
D)reality principle

Question 20

According to sociologist C. Wright Mills, the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society is referred to as the __________.

A)conflict perception
B)sociological imagination
C)reality perception
D)symbolic interaction approach

Question 21

Barbara is a female, which refers to her __________, and she acts very feminine, which is her __________.

A)gender; sex
B)biology; sociobiology
C)sex; gender
D)sociobiology; biology

Question 22

Based on British social theorist Herbert Spencer's theory, __________ is the belief that those species of animals, including human beings, best adapted to their environment survive and prosper, whereas those poorly adapted die out.

A)social Darwinism
B)social eugenics
C)social statics
D)social facts

Question 23

__________ is 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

Question 24

According to German economist and philosopher Karl Marx, __________ is a feeling of powerlessness and estrangement from other people and from oneself.

A)class conflict
B)alienation
C)anomie
D)the bourgeoisie syndrome

Question 25

French philosopher Auguste Comte's philosophy became known as __________, a belief that the world can best be understood through scientific inquiry.

A)absolutism
B)positivism
C)functionalism
D)specific methodology

Question 26

__________ is 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)Ruralization

Question 27

The __________ are the tools, land, factories, and money for investment that form the economic basis of a society.

A)means of production
B)instruments of capitalism
C)trappings of the bourgeoisie
D)factory system

Question 28

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)Harriet Nelson
B)Jane Addams
C)Harriet Martineau
D)Sarah Spencer

Question 29

__________ refers to the cultural heritage or identity of a group and is based on factors such as language or country of origin.

A)Ethnicity
B)Creed
C)Race
D)Genealogy

Question 30

French sociologist Emile Durkheim referred to __________ as a 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

Question 31

During the __________, massive economic, technological, and social changes occurred as machine technology and the factory system shifted the economic base of nations from agriculture to manufacturing.

A)Ruralization Revolution
B)Industrial Revolution
C)Suburbanization Revolution
D)Urbanization Revolution

Question 32

__________ refers to the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with sex differences, referred to as femininity and masculinity.

A)Sex
B)Biology
C)Gender
D)Sociobiology

Question 33

French sociologist Emile 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

Question 34

__________ refers to the biological and anatomical differences between females and males.

A)Sex
B)Biology
C)Gender
D)Sociobiology

Question 35

__________ is 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)Economic position
D)Social location

Question 36

Tom works on the assembly line at the local Ford automobile factory. Based on the Marxian framework, Tom would be considered a member of the __________ because he does not own the means of production.

A)laissez-faire class
B)lower-tier class
C)bourgeoisie class
D)proletariat class

Question 37

In the Marxian framework, the __________ comprises those who own and control the means of production.

A)bourgeoisie class
B)upper-tier class
C)proletariat class
D)laissez-faire class

Question 38

Unlike many early analysts, who believed that values could not be separated from the research process, German social scientist __________ emphasized that sociology should be value free-research should be conducted in a scientific manner and should exclude the researcher's personal values and economic interests.

A)Emile Durkheim
B)Max Weber
C)Karl Marx
D)Herbert Spencer

Question 39

From the Marxian viewpoint, the __________ is composed of those who must sell their labor because they have no other means to earn a livelihood.

A)bourgeoisie class
B)lower-tier class
C)proletariat class
D)laissez-faire class

Question 40

According to French sociologist Emile Durkheim, __________ are patterned ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside any one individual but that exert social control over each person.

A)group behaviors
B)social facts
C)essential characteristics
D)sociological generalizations

Question 41

Based on the __________ perspective, a society is composed of interrelated parts, each of which (ideally) contributes to the overall stability of the society.

A)conflict
B)postmodern
C)functionalist
D)symbolic interactionist

Question 42

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

Question 43

A __________ analysis examines whole societies, large-scale social structures, and social systems.

A)macrolevel
B)metalevel
C)microlevel
D)mesolevel

Question 44

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."

A)patriarchy
B)autarchy
C)matriarchy
D)monarchy

Question 45

The __________ 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)postmodern theorist
B)symbolic interactionist
C)conflict theorist
D)functionalist

Question 46

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

Question 47

According to sociologist Robert K. Merton, __________ are the undesirable consequences of any element of a society.

A)dysfunctions
B)latent functions
C)prerequisite functions
D)manifest functions

Question 48

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

Question 49

When students go away to college they often make lifelong friends and may even find their spouse. According to Robert Merton, this is a _____ function of education.

A)manifest
B)latent
C)dysfunction
D)prerequisite

Question 50

A __________ of education in the United States is the perpetuation of gender, racial, and class inequalities, which may threaten the capacity of a society to adapt and survive.

A)manifest function
B)dysfunction
C)latent function
D)prerequisite function

Question 51

__________ perspectives are based on the assumption that society is a stable, orderly system.

A)Functionalist
B)Conflict
C)Interactionist
D)Developmental

Question 52

According to sociologist Robert K. Merton, __________ are unintended functions that are hidden and remain unacknowledged by participants.

A)dysfunctions
B)latent functions
C)prerequisite functions
D)manifest functions

Question 53

When analyzing the tobacco industry, which theoretical perspective would most likely look at tobacco interests versus health care interests?

A)functionalist
B)interactionist
C)conflict
D)developmental

Question 54

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

Question 55

C. Wright Mills used the term "__________" in referring to a small clique composed of the top corporate, political, and military officials.

A)top of the heap
B)bureaucracy
C)niche
D)power elite

Question 56

From a functionalist perspective, 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)contradictory
D)interdependent

Question 57

Jill attends college in order to study accounting so that she can work as a CPA. In Merton's terminology, college is serving a _____ function.

A)manifest
B)latent
C)dysfunction
D)prerequisite

Question 58

German social scientist Max Weber stressed that sociologists should employ __________ (understanding or insight) to gain the ability to see the world as others see it.

A)verstehen
B)positivism
C)social facts
D)social dynamics

Question 59

According to sociologist Robert K. Merton, __________ are intended and/or overtly recognized by the participants in a social unit.

A)dysfunctions
B)latent functions
C)prerequisite functions
D)manifest functions

Question 60

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

Question 61

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

Question 62

In relation to the study of homelessness in American society, __________ would look at changing relationships in the family and economic conditions which causes homelessness among people who are unable to find jobs and do not have a family support system to fall back on.

A)symbolic interactionists
B)conflict theorists
C)postmodern theorists
D)functionalists

Question 63

According to the __________ perspective, society is the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups.

A)functionalist
B)conflict
C)symbolic interactionist
D)postmodern

Question 64

A __________ analysis focuses on small groups rather than large-scale social structures.

A)macrolevel
B)mesolevel
C)microlevel
D)metalevel

Question 65

According to the __________ perspective, existing 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

Question 66

Sociologists conducting research may formulate a(n) __________, which is a statement of the relationship between two or more variables.

A)theory
B)hypothesis
C)variable
D)operational definition

Question 67

In relation to the study of homelessness in American society, __________ would place emphasis on the struggle between social classes, especially how the policies of the wealthy push certain groups into unemployment and homelessness, and would examine welfare program reform.

A)conflict theorists
B)functionalists
C)symbolic interactionists
D)postmodern theorists

Question 68

A physician wears a white lab coat and a stethoscope. The patient sees these as
Representing knowledge and authority. The coat and stethoscope are

A)signals that defines the relationships between individuals.
B)symbols used to define a relationship between individuals.
C)symbols of power inequality among the individuals.
D)signs that this is a public interaction among individuals.

Question 69

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

Question 70

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

Question 71

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

Question 72

From the symbolic interactionist perspective, each person's interpretation or definition of a given situation becomes a(n) __________ from that person's viewpoint.

A)objective phenomenon
B)subjective reality
C)imagination
D)fictitious thought

Question 73

In relation to the study of education in America, __________ 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 it transmits cultural values from one generation to the next.

A)symbolic interactionists
B)postmodern theorists
C)functionalists
D)conflict theorists

Question 74

In relation to the study of education in America, __________ would emphasize the daily activities within the schools 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

Question 75

Researchers in one study systematically analyzed the contents of the notes of suicide victims to determine recurring themes, such as feeling 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)explanatory research
B)qualitative research
C)observational research
D)quantitative research

Question 76

In relation to the study of homelessness in American society, __________ would focus on homeless people's communications (both verbal and non-verbal) and analyze what homeless people do when they are in shelters and on the streets

A)functionalists
B)conflict theorists
C)symbolic interactionists
D)postmodern theorists

Question 77

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)common sense ideas
B)research
C)myths
D)scientific laws

Question 78

In relation to the sociology of sports in the United States, __________ would begin by pointing out that sports are closely linked to social inequality. For example, some sports (including tennis, swimming, golf, sailing, and skiing) are expensive, so participation is largely limited to the wealthy. Also throughout history, sports have been oriented primarily toward males.

A)symbolic interactionists
B)functionalists
C)conflict theorists
D)postmodern theorists

Question 79

Age is a factor that can change and varies from person to person. Age represents a

A)variable
B)theory
C)hypothesis
D)principle

Question 80

In relation to the sociology of sports in the United States, __________ would describe a sporting event as a complex drama of face-to-face activities. Play is guided by the players' assigned positions and rules of the game. Also, players are spontaneous and unpredictable.

A)conflict theorists
B)symbolic interactionists
C)postmodern theorists
D)functionalists