Question 1

Alexis de Tocqueville and Harriet Martineau were alike in that both were

Accepted Answer

Both Alexis de Tocqueville and Harriet Martineau were interested in studying the newly emerging culture in America. Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America, which analyzed American society and political system, while Martineau wrote Society in America, which focused on social customs and practices.

Question 2

According to the text, a significant difference between the early American sociologists and their European counterparts was that the American sociologists were

Accepted Answer

The text states that American sociologists were "more interested in finding practical applications for their research." This suggests that they were more focused on applying their research to the real world rather than simply developing theories. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 3

Sociology first emerged as a discipline in

Accepted Answer

Sociology first emerged as a discipline in western Europe, particularly in France and Germany, during the 19th century. Auguste Comte, considered the father of sociology, was French, and other early sociologists such as Emile Durkheim and Max Weber were also from western Europe. While sociology has since spread to other regions of the world, it originated in western Europe.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Weber believed that sociologists should acknowledge the influence of values and try to be as objective as possible. While complete objectivity may be impossible to achieve, sociologists should strive to minimize their biases and recognize how their values impact their research. This approach allows for more transparent and honest research.

Question 5

The type of applied sociological thinking that focused on how society shaped the mind and identity of people was called

Accepted Answer

The Chicago School of Sociology, established in the early 20th century, focused on urban sociology and the influence of social environments on individuals' behaviors, minds, and identities.

Question 6

While Marx saw economics as the organizing influence on society, Weber focused on

Accepted Answer

Weber saw society as being organized by three dimensions: political, economic, and cultural.

Question 7

The Enlightenment had an enormous influence on the development of modern sociology because it was characterized by

Accepted Answer

The Enlightenment emphasized the role of reason in understanding and interpreting the world, including society. This faith in human reason and rationality led to the development of new social theories and methodologies.

Question 8

According to Marx, capitalism is based on

Accepted Answer

Marx saw capitalism as a system based on the pursuit of profit and the protection of private property rights. He argued that this created a class system in which the wealthy bourgeoisie exploited the working class proletariat. Marx also believed that capitalism was inherently unstable and would eventually lead to its own downfall.

Question 9

According to Georg Simmel, strangers are particularly suited to the task of debunking because, while they are members of groups, they also have _____ without necessarily sharing the group's assumptions and points of view.

Accepted Answer

According to Georg Simmel's concept of the stranger, they possess a "critical distance" which allows them to have an objective and impartial view of the group's assumptions and points of view. They are able to question and challenge these assumptions, which makes them well-suited for the task of debunking.

Question 10

An important concept in Weber's sociology is verstehen, which refers to

Accepted Answer

Verstehen refers to understanding and interpreting social behavior from the perspective of those engaged in it. This approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of human behavior and the reasons behind it.

Question 11

Comte's conceptualization of the nature and utility of _____ corresponds to the Enlightenment's conceptualization of the nature and utility of _____.

Accepted Answer

Comte's conceptualization of the nature and utility of laws of human social behavior corresponds to the Enlightenment's conceptualization of the nature and utility of laws of nature. Comte believed that just as the Enlightenment thinkers sought to understand the natural world through natural laws, society could be understood through laws governing human behavior.

Question 12

Marx's work was devoted to explaining

Accepted Answer

Marx's work was primarily focused on analyzing how capitalism shaped society and the relationships between social classes. He believed that economic and material conditions played a major role in determining people's behavior and actions.

Question 13

Positivism regards _____ as the highest form of knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Positivism values empirical evidence and scientific observation as the highest form of knowledge. It emphasizes the importance of objective and measurable facts in determining truth, while rejecting subjective experiences and beliefs as unreliable sources of knowledge. Religious dogma, introspection, and general consensus do not conform to the positivist approach to knowledge.

Question 14

Marx's perspective of society argued that

Accepted Answer

Marx believed that profit was produced through the exploitation of the working class. He argued that capitalists owned the means of production and used their power to extract surplus value from the labor of workers. This allowed capitalists to accumulate wealth and maintain their class position, while workers were left with minimal compensation for their efforts. Marx's perspective therefore emphasized the importance of collective action and the need to overthrow the capitalist system in order to establish a more just society.

Question 15

Harriet Martineau's book How to Observe Morals and Manners was the first

Accepted Answer

Harriet Martineau's book "How to Observe Morals and Manners" is recognized as the first to discuss the methodology of observing behavior while participating in the situation, laying groundwork for participant observation in sociology.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about Marx is true?

Accepted Answer

Marx is known for his emphasis on the importance of economic factors in shaping society. He argued that throughout history, economic systems determined the organization of society and the relationships between individuals and groups. This perspective is known as economic determinism. Therefore, choice B is the true statement. The other options are incorrect. For example, Marx focused more on social structure than individuals in his analysis of society. Class is a central concept in his work, so choice C is also incorrect. Finally, although both Marx and Durkheim were interested in studying the evolution of society, their perspectives on the subject differed significantly, so choice D is also incorrect.

Question 17

Durkheim conceptualized social facts as

Accepted Answer

Durkheim defined social facts as external, objective, and constraining social patterns and structures that shape the behavior of individuals. Social facts are not reducible to individuals' personal drives and motivations or biological instincts. They exist independently of any individual and are imposed upon individuals by social institutions and cultural norms. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 18

What did Alexis de Tocqueville think of the United States?

Accepted Answer

Tocqueville observed that while Americans valued individualism, they often conformed to majority opinion, showing little independence of thought.

Question 19

Which theorist is regarded as having coined the term "sociology"?

Accepted Answer

The theorist regarded as having coined the term "sociology" is Auguste Comte.

Question 20

According to Emile Durkheim,

Accepted Answer

According to Durkheim, people in society are held together by shared belief systems, such as religion and morality. He also believed that deviance can actually serve a positive function in society by reinforcing common values and norms. Durkheim did not prioritize economic factors in his theory, and while he acknowledged the existence of social conflict, he did not consider it to be the most important theoretical approach to the study of society.

Quiz 1: Sociological Perspective