Question 1

This chapter's Seeing Sociology in the News article explains how:

Accepted Answer

The article explains how Somali refugees revitalized a struggling town in Minnesota by opening small businesses and creating jobs.

Question 2

The concept of modernity refers to changes in social patterns brought on by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The concept of modernity is linked to the changes that occurred during the Industrial Revolution, such as urbanization, increased mechanization, and the rise of capitalism. These changes fundamentally altered social patterns and ways of life in Europe and beyond. The fall of the Roman Empire (A) and the Enlightenment (B) were significant historical events, but they did not have the same transformative impact as the Industrial Revolution. While globalization (D) is a key feature of the contemporary world, it is not the origin of modernity.

Question 3

For Tönnies, the essence of Gesellschaft is:

Accepted Answer

Tönnies believed that Gesellschaft was shaped by rational self-interest and individualism, as opposed to Gemeinschaft which was characterized by traditional customs and community ties such as kinship, neighborhood, and friendship.

Question 4

Modernity is the concept used for the social patterns that began to change the world about when?

Accepted Answer

Modernity refers to the social and cultural changes that occurred during the 18th century, known as the Enlightenment or the Age of Reason, and the subsequent Industrial Revolution. The 1750s marked the beginning of this period of transformation.

Question 5

The fact that the coins we use is an idea that came from Middle East centuries ago is an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the idea of coins was spread from the Middle East to other regions shows that it was a process of diffusion rather than invention or discovery. Invention and discovery refer to the creation of something new or the exploration of something that was previously unknown, while diffusion refers to the spread of an idea or technology from one place to another.

Question 6

Ferdinand Tönnies described modernity as the loss of:

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand Tönnies argued that modernity is characterized by a shift from traditional forms of community (Gemeinschaft) to more individualistic and rational forms of social organization (Gesellschaft). Therefore, the loss of Gemeinschaft is the central feature of modernity according to Tönnies.

Question 7

Which of the following are common causes of social change?

Accepted Answer

All three options - discovery, diffusion, and invention - are commonly recognized as causes of social change. Discovery happens when a new object or phenomenon is found, such as when Europeans discovered the Americas. Diffusion occurs when cultural traits or practices spread from one group to another, such as the influence of hip hop music from African American culture on mainstream culture around the world. Invention is when new ideas or technologies are created, leading to changes in society. All these factors contribute to social change in different ways, making D the correct answer.

Question 8

Sociologists point out that:

Accepted Answer

Sociologists generally agree that social change is a natural and continual process. However, not all societies change at the same rate or in the same ways. Additionally, social change is not always inherently positive; it can have both positive and negative consequences. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 9

Social change is almost always:

Accepted Answer

Social change often involves challenging traditional beliefs and practices, which can create controversy and opposition from those who hold those beliefs. Therefore, social change is almost always controversial. Choices B and C are too generalized and do not accurately reflect the complexity of social change.

Question 10

Emile Durkheim claimed that the defining trait of modernity was:

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim believed that modern society was characterized by an increasing division of labor, in which individuals had specific roles and responsibilities within the social structure. This was a departure from pre-modern societies, which relied more heavily on tradition, kinship ties, and common beliefs to maintain cohesion.

Question 11

Moving on has always been an important part of the experience of U.S. society. Remembering the map in the chapter, in which part of the country are there a larger number of households that stay put, where the same people have lived for thirty years or more?

Accepted Answer

The Great Plains region is shown to have a higher concentration of households where the same people have lived for thirty years or more on the map in the chapter.

Question 12

Ralph Linton explained that most familiar elements to our way of life:

Accepted Answer

Ralph Linton's theory of cultural borrowing suggests that many of the elements of our way of life, such as language, food, and technology, were originally developed in other cultures and then adopted by our own society. This suggests that option A is the correct answer, as the most familiar elements to our way of life actually came from other cultures.

Question 13

Peter Berger describes modernization in terms of several important changes. Read the responses below and select the one that is NOT a trait that Berger links to modernity.

Accepted Answer

Peter Berger does not link the decline of large cities as a trait of modernity. In fact, he argues that urbanization is a key feature of modernity.

Question 14

Which of the following concepts refers to changes brought on by the Information Revolution?

Accepted Answer

Postmodernity refers to the state or condition of society which is said to exist after modernity, a condition marked by changes brought on by the Information Revolution, among other factors. This includes changes in how society is organized, how individuals interact, and how culture is consumed, often emphasizing the role of technology, media, and information.

Question 15

Max Weber's thesis on the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism highlighted the importance of which of the following in the process of social change?

Accepted Answer

Weber argued that the Protestant ethic, which emphasized hard work, thrift, and individual responsibility, had a significant impact on the development of capitalism. This was because these values were closely aligned with the spirit of capitalism, which also emphasized efficiency, profitability, and individual achievement. According to Weber, ideas and values play a crucial role in shaping social change.

Question 16

Demographic change in the United States over the course of the last century includes a trend towards:

Accepted Answer

Over the last century, there has been a trend towards smaller household size, a larger share of elderly people, and living in cities in the United States. Therefore, option D, "All of the above are correct," is the best choice.

Question 17

Karl Marx highlighted which of the following in the process of social change?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx emphasized the role of social conflict in the process of social change. He believed that conflict between social classes, particularly between the oppressor and the oppressed, was the driving force behind historical development and social change. In his theory, the oppressed class would eventually overthrow the ruling class and establish a new social order, leading to further progress and development. Therefore, social conflict is the most relevant choice among the given options.

Question 18

A criticism of Tönnies's thinking about modernity is that he:

Accepted Answer

Tönnies is often criticized for overlooking the fact that strong social ties still exist in modern society, despite the prevalence of more individualistic and business-like relationships. He is often seen as too focused on the negative effects of modernity on community and social bonds, and not recognizing the ways in which these bonds can still persist in modern times.

Question 19

The chapter opening story of the inhabitants of a New York apartment who live a century apart demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

The chapter opening story presents both similarities and differences between the lives of apartment inhabitants a century apart, showing that change over the last century has been dramatic, that life has clearly improved in some ways, but also that life has not improved in other ways. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 20

Sociologists explain that the consequences of social change are:

Accepted Answer

Sociologists generally agree that social change has both positive and negative consequences. While changes may bring about progress and improvements, they can also create new challenges and problems. For example, technological advancements have improved productivity and standards of living, but have also led to job insecurity and privacy concerns.

Quiz 24: Social Change: Traditional, Modern, and Postmodern Societies