Question 1

Which of the following scenarios best outlines the concept of interest convergence?

Accepted Answer

Interest convergence refers to the idea that reforms or actions are supported when the interests of the dominant group converge with those of the marginalized or minority groups. In this case, lobbyists advocating for causes that their constituents support, but also benefit them personally, best illustrates this concept.

Question 2

A sociologist with a symbolic interactionist orientation would be MOST likely to do research on which of the following questions?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism focuses on the micro-level interactions and meaning-making between individuals. Therefore, a sociologist with this orientation would be more likely to research unstated norms that govern interactions between family members. Other questions, such as conflict in the sibling relationship (A), the function of marriage for society (B), economic conditions and crime rates (C), and environmental effects on the poverty rate (E) may be better suited for sociologists with other theoretical orientations or perspectives.

Question 3

While doing research on crime, Professor Middler notes that crime creates jobs in law enforcement and related careers. He also notices that crime reinforces community norms when criminals are caught and punished. Professor Middler has probably adopted the _______ approach to the study of crime.

Accepted Answer

Structural functionalism is a theoretical approach that focuses on how different aspects of society work together and contribute to the overall stability and functioning of society. In Professor Middler's observation, he notes that crime serves a functional purpose in society by creating jobs in law enforcement and reinforcing community norms through punishment. This aligns with the key ideas of structural functionalism, which suggests that different social institutions work together to maintain social order and stability.

Question 4

Social scientists generally believe that the succession from one paradigm to another represents progress from a false view to a true one.

Accepted Answer

Social scientists view paradigm shifts as progress towards a more accurate view of reality.

Question 5

Walking with an open umbrella on a beautiful day or going home on semester break and calling your mom or dad Mr. or Mrs. (with their surname)are techniques used by _____ to understand social norms or rules.

Accepted Answer

Ethnomethodologists study how individuals make sense of their social world and identify the unwritten, taken-for-granted rules that guide social interactions. Walking with an open umbrella on a beautiful day or calling your parent Mr. or Mrs. (with their surname) are examples of breaching experiments, which are used by ethnomethodologists to intentionally violate these unwritten rules in order to reveal them. Structural functionalists focus on how different parts of society work together to maintain stability, conflict theorists focus on how power struggles and inequality shape society, feminists focus on how gender influences society, and critical race theorists focus on how race impacts society.

Question 6

In deduction we start from observed data and develop a generalization that explains the relationship between the observed concepts.

Accepted Answer

Deduction involves moving from specific observed data to generalizations that explain the relationship between the observed concepts.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about paradigms is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Paradigms are not necessarily true or false, but rather are frameworks or perspectives through which researchers approach a topic. Some paradigms may be more or less useful in certain contexts or for certain research questions.

Question 8

The idea that knowledge is based on observation made through one of the five senses rather than on belief alone is termed:

Accepted Answer

The term that best fits the description given is positivism, which holds that knowledge should be based on observable facts and measurable phenomena rather than beliefs or opinions.

Question 9

Which of the following would be studied using a microtheory, rather than a macrotheory?

Accepted Answer

Microtheory focuses on individual behavior and interactions, so studying dating behaviors among college students would be best studied using a microtheory. The other options involve larger systems and broader societal trends, which would be better studied using macrotheory.

Question 10

Sally was introduced to Robert and Robert immediately worries about what Sally thinks of him. Upon shaking her hand in greeting, Robert notices that he grasps her hand more firmly than usual and quickly releases his grasp. He then finds himself chuckling at comments that he does not find amusing because he wants Sally to feel comfortable. A useful paradigm for analyzing Robert's behavior is:

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism emphasizes how individuals use symbols (such as words, gestures, and facial expressions) to interact with each other and create meaning. In this scenario, Robert's behavior can be understood in terms of his concern for the impression he is making on Sally and his attempts to manage that impression through his actions and words. This highlights the importance of understanding how individuals use symbols to construct and navigate social interactions.

Question 11

What is the difference between applied sociology and pure sociology?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between applied sociology and pure sociology is their goals. Applied sociology aims to use sociological research and theory to solve real-world problems and have a practical impact on society. Pure sociology, on the other hand, focuses on examining and advancing sociological theories and knowledge without necessarily aiming to have a direct impact on society. Therefore, choice E is correct, as applied sociology research aims to reform society.

Question 12

Steve had a hunch that female students were more punctual than males in the classes that he taught. So, he began to keep track for a week in each class of how many male and female students came in after the class was scheduled to begin. His results supported his hypothesis. Steve is using

Accepted Answer

The answer of Steve had a hunch that female students...

Question 13

A(n)_____ is a testable statement about a relationship between two variables.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a testable statement about a relationship between two variables. It is a proposed explanation or prediction for a phenomenon that can be tested through research and data collection. Hypotheses are often used in scientific studies to guide the research process and determine whether the data supports the predicted relationship between variables.

Question 14

Studying the discrepancy in police response for burglary cases when compared to corporate embezzlement would likely be coming from a(n)_____ paradigm.

Accepted Answer

The focus on the discrepancies in police response for different types of crimes suggests a conflict paradigm, which emphasizes the power struggles and inequalities in society. The comparison between how police respond to burglary (a crime typically committed by lower-class individuals) and corporate embezzlement (a crime typically committed by upper-class individuals) reflects a power dynamic in society that is central to the conflict paradigm.

Question 15

Scientific inquiry is a process involving an alternation between deduction and induction.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Scientific inquiry is a process involving an...

Question 16

Which of the following outlines the steps in the traditional science model?

Accepted Answer

The traditional science model typically starts with a theoretical understanding, which leads to the operationalization of concepts (defining how they will be measured or observed). This is followed by the formulation of a testable hypothesis, and finally, empirical observations are made to test the hypothesis.

Question 17

Many cultures view the United States as a society committed to capitalism, an economic arrangement that they believe inevitably creates inequality. These views and feelings represent:

Accepted Answer

The views and feelings described here represent a paradigm, which is a set of beliefs and assumptions about the way things are or should be in a given society or culture. It is not an objective fact of nature or a law of nature, as it is based on cultural and social factors rather than physical ones. It is also not a theory or a research question, as it is not a specific explanation of a phenomenon that can be tested or studied.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a function of theory for research?

Accepted Answer

Theory does not help to cover up or smooth over any flaws or gaps in research findings. Its main purpose is to provide a framework for understanding and explaining patterns and observed phenomena, as well as guiding research efforts in a focused and productive manner.

Question 19

Which of the following statements BEST exemplifies a null hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A null hypothesis is a hypothesis that there is no significant difference between two variables or that there is no relationship between them. Option A best exemplifies a null hypothesis because it states that there is no relationship between gender and jury verdict, and thus assumes that gender does not affect the jury's decision-making process. Options B, C, D, and E, on the other hand, propose specific relationships between gender and jury verdict, and therefore do not exemplify null hypotheses.

Question 20

The Minamata disease, a disease which produced severe nervous disorders and birth defects, was traced to the fact that the Chisso chemical company dumped mercury into a bay where Japanese villagers fished. The villagers of Minamata, where the company was located, refused to sue the chemical company. However, the residents of Niigata, a fishing village forty miles up the river from the factory, sued the chemical company. Which of the following explanations flows from the conflict paradigm?

Accepted Answer

The conflict paradigm suggests that social conflict, often stemming from inequalities in power and resource distribution, drives social change. In this case, the explanation that the chemical company controlled more of the village resources in Minamata than in Niigato aligns with the conflict paradigm, suggesting that the power dynamics and dependency on the company in Minamata might have deterred the villagers from suing.

Quiz 2: Paradigms, Theory, and Social Research