Question 1

Janet believes that two-parent families are the best for society. She notes that having a mother and father helps to define work roles and provides children with strong role models. Which theoretical perspective best matches her views?

Accepted Answer

The structural-functionalist theory views society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability and promote the well-being of individuals and the whole society. Janet's belief that two-parent families are the best for society aligns with this perspective because it emphasizes the importance of traditional family structures and their role in providing social stability.

Question 2

What term did Emile Durkheim use for how individuals employed specific skills to complete specialized work within a society?

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim used the term "division of labor" to describe how individuals in a society specialize in specific tasks that require certain skills, which contributes to the overall functioning and efficiency of the society.

Question 3

Which term refers to the social bonds that connect individuals to each other?

Accepted Answer

Social solidarity refers to the social bonds that connect individuals to each other, creating a sense of community and shared values. Collective conscience and organic solidarity are both related concepts that also contribute to social solidarity, but they refer specifically to the shared beliefs and values of a society and the interdependence that arises from the division of labor, respectively. Social structure is a broader term that encompasses all of the patterns and relationships that shape human society, including social solidarity.

Question 4

In 1997, members of the Heaven's Gate religious cult committed mass suicide because they believed that after death their souls would be transported to a level of existence beyond human. According to Emile Durkheim's theory, what type of suicide did these members commit?

Accepted Answer

The members of the Heaven's Gate cult committed altruistic suicide, which is a type of suicide that results from excessive integration into a group or society's norms and values. In this case, the group's beliefs and values led its members to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their ultimate spiritual goal.

Question 5

Which social theories focus on how people use shared symbols and construct society as a result of their everyday interactions?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionist theories focus on the ways in which people use shared symbols and construct society through their everyday interactions. They emphasize the significance of meanings and interpretations in shaping individuals' actions and attitudes. Feminist theories, on the other hand, focus on gender inequalities and how they affect social structures and relationships. Conflict theories emphasize the role of power and coercion in shaping social systems, while structural-functionalism looks at the ways in which different parts of society work together to maintain stability.

Question 6

The argument that social structures moved from being based on tradition to being based on logic and reason is called

Accepted Answer

The argument that social structures moved from being based on tradition to being based on logic and reason is called the rationalization of society, which is best represented by option B.

Question 7

In his study of suicide, Emile Durkheim argued that fatalistic suicides were the result of

Accepted Answer

Durkheim argued that fatalistic suicides occur due to too much regulation, where individuals feel oppressively controlled by societal norms or rules, leading to a sense of despair.

Question 8

Two sociologists explain that individuals "do gender" in their everyday interactions with others in society. They argue that being a "man" or "woman" is not natural but is instead a product of shared meanings of how "men" and "women" interact with others in society. Under which sociological theory does their work best fit?

Accepted Answer

The argument made by the sociologists about how individuals construct and perform gender in their social interactions is based on the symbolic interactionist theory. This theory emphasizes the importance of symbols, meanings, and interactions in shaping social reality. The idea that gender is not a fixed, biological category but a socially constructed one is central to the symbolic interactionist perspective.

Question 9

Which theory views society as being shaped by competition, the struggle for power, and an unequal distribution of resources?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory views society as being shaped by competition, the struggle for power, and an unequal distribution of resources. It suggests that society is divided into different groups that compete for resources and power, and that these groups are in conflict with each other. This theory emphasizes social inequality and aims to reveal how power and resources are distributed unequally in society.

Question 10

Which term do sociologists use for a collection of propositions that work to explain how social phenomena operate?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists use the term "social theory" to refer to a collection of propositions that work to explain how social phenomena operate. Sociology is the broader field of study that encompasses the development and testing of these theories, as well as broader investigations into social processes and institutions. "Levels of analysis" refers to the different scales or perspectives from which sociologists can analyze social phenomena, while "structural theories" specifically focus on the ways in which larger social structures shape individual behavior and experiences.

Question 11

Mario believes in the phrase "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." Which theoretical perspective would best match Mario's worldview?

Accepted Answer

The phrase "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" is a central idea within conflict theory, which posits that society is inherently unequal and that individuals and groups are in a perpetual struggle for resources and power. Mario's belief in this phrase suggests that he sees this struggle as resulting in a widening gap between the wealthy and the underprivileged.

Question 12

Which of the following social thinkers is NOT correctly matched to his or her key work?

Accepted Answer

Marx is incorrectly matched to Max Weber's work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.

Question 13

Emile Durkheim believed that social norms helped to maintain social order. For example, he explained that suicide is a result of a lack of balance in an individual's social world and not an event that is based on an individual's free will. Into which sociological theory does this best fit?

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim's belief in the necessity of social norms to maintain social order is a central tenet of structural-functionalist theory. This theory suggests that social institutions work together like the organs of a body to maintain social equilibrium and stability. Durkheim's ideas about suicide, in particular, are based on his belief that social norms and values help to regulate behavior and prevent deviance.

Question 14

Karl Marx believed that society was shaped by the power differences of workers and capitalists. Into which sociological theory does this best fit?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx's perspective can be classified as conflict theory, which explains social inequalities and conflicts between different groups in society with a focus on power disparities between them.

Question 15

Which theory views society as working toward agreement and believes that each aspect of a society works to ensure society's smooth operation?

Accepted Answer

Structural-functionalist theory views society as a system of interrelated parts, each of which serves a function to achieve a stable state of equilibrium. This theory believes that each aspect of society works together to ensure its smooth operation.

Question 16

Which social thinker produced ground-breaking research on race in America?

Accepted Answer

W. E. B. Du Bois was one of the most prominent social thinkers who produced ground-breaking research on race in America, particularly in his seminal work "The Souls of Black Folk". His research focused on the social and economic conditions of African Americans in the United States, and he played a key role in advancing the field of sociology and African American studies.

Question 17

Which social thinker believed that a rational view of the social world replaced tradition as the basis for organizing society?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber believed that a rational view of the social world replaced tradition as the basis for organizing society. He further argued that the process of rationalization, which emphasizes efficiency, predictability, and control, dominates modern society.

Question 18

Kimberly grew up in a close-knit farming community, which values sharing and cooperation. For example, after a fire destroyed some of Kimberly's neighbor's crops, others in the community came to help the family by sharing their own crops so that they would have enough to eat. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kimberly grew up in a close-knit farming...

Question 19

Randy's wife of fifty years recently passed away. They had no children and Randy felt isolated and alone. He fell into a depression and committed suicide. According to Emile Durkheim's theory, what type of suicide is this?

Accepted Answer

Randy's situation fits the description of an egoistic suicide, which occurs when an individual experiences a sense of detachment from society due to poor social integration and lack of meaningful relationships. The absence of children further supports this type of suicide, as it can decrease an individual's sense of purpose and belonging.

Question 20

What did Emile Durkheim mean by the term "division of labor"?

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim used the term "division of labor" to refer to the specialized roles and functions that different individuals have in society. According to Durkheim, this division of labor promotes social cohesion and solidarity, as individuals are interdependent and rely on one another to fulfill their roles and contribute to the functioning of society. Therefore, option C, which suggests that individuals specialized in jobs that highlighted their skills, is the most accurate choice.

Quiz 1: Sociology in a Changing World