Question 1

According to the textbook, ________ was the first to turn a sociological eye on previously ignored issues, such as marriage, children, domestic and religious life, and race relations.

Accepted Answer

Harriet Martineau was an early sociologist who focused on previously overlooked topics such as marriage, children, domestic life, and race relations. She is considered one of the foundational figures in sociology and was an early advocate of qualitative research methods. While Émile Durkheim and W.E.B. Du Bois contributed significantly to the development of sociology, they did not specifically focus on these topics in the same way Martineau did. Lucy Parsons was an anarchist and labor organizer who was not a sociologist.

Question 2

According to the textbook, George Herbert Mead reasoned that language allows us to become self-conscious beings-aware of our own individuality. This idea forms the basis of the theoretical perspective known as:

Accepted Answer

Theoretical perspective known as symbolic interactionism is based on Mead's idea that language allows us to become self-conscious beings-aware of our own individuality.

Question 3

Sangeeta argues that African Americans often see themselves through the eyes of white society. Her ideas most closely match with those of which theorist?

Accepted Answer

Sangeeta's argument is similar to the ideas of W. E. B. Du Bois, who discussed the concept of double consciousness, where African Americans are forced to see themselves through the lens of both their own culture and that of white society. He argued that this results in a fragmented sense of self and can lead to feelings of alienation and confusion.

Question 4

________ coined the term double consciousness to refer to the African American experience.

Accepted Answer

W. E. B. Du Bois is credited with coining the term double consciousness in his book The Souls of Black Folk published in 1903. Double consciousness refers to the feeling of having two conflicting senses of identity or self-perception, experienced by African Americans due to cultural, social, and historical forces.

Question 5

Theorists of ________, such as Auguste Comte and Émile Durkheim, compared societies to the workings of a human body.

Accepted Answer

Theorists of functionalism, such as Auguste Comte and Émile Durkheim, viewed societies as analogous to the workings of a human body, with each part serving a specific function to ensure the overall stability and functioning of the organism.

Question 6

One possible criticism of functionalism might be:

Accepted Answer

The best choice is D because one possible criticism of functionalism is that it assumes societies are stable and harmonious, ignoring the reality of constant conflict and power struggles between different groups within society. This criticism is supported by alternative theories such as conflict theory or feminist theory, which emphasize the role of inequality, power imbalances, and social change in shaping society.

Question 7

Marxist and feminist theory often have different objects of study. Why are they both considered conflict theories?

Accepted Answer

Both Marxist and feminist theories are considered conflict theories because they both focus on power dynamics and how those power dynamics shape society. Marxist theory focuses on the conflict between the bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (working class) while feminist theory focuses on the conflict between men and women and how patriarchal systems create and maintain gender inequality. Despite their different objects of study, both theories share a similar understanding of society as being shaped by conflicting interests and the struggle for power.

Question 8

Paco has begun using symbolic interaction as a theoretical perspective to think about the role of food in religious ceremonies. What is one possible critique of this approach?

Accepted Answer

While symbolic interaction is a valuable theoretical perspective for understanding communication and meaning-making within a specific context, it runs the risk of ignoring larger social structures and power dynamics that shape the use of symbols. This is especially relevant when studying religion, which is often embedded in complex social and cultural systems. Paco must be aware of this potential limitation and strive to incorporate broader social context into his analysis.

Question 9

Maria believes that contemporary societies are primarily defined by the rise and maintenance of hierarchical bureaucratic forms of organizing large parts of social life. Her ideas most closely match with those of which theorist?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber is best known for his theory on bureaucracy, which emphasizes the importance of hierarchical structures and rules in shaping modern society. Weber argues that bureaucratic forms of organization are efficient and rational means of achieving social goals, but also notes that they can be limiting and dehumanizing for individuals. Maria's belief in the centrality of bureaucratic forms of organizing social life closely aligns with Weber's ideas.

Question 10

A key difference between functionalism and conflict theory is:

Accepted Answer

Functionalism emphasizes the cooperation and interdependence of different parts of society, seeing them as working together to maintain social stability. In contrast, conflict theory sees society as a constant struggle for power and resources between different groups, emphasizing competition rather than cooperation.

Question 11

Mohammed believes that studies of human behavior should focus primarily on how we construct meaning through abstract representations. His position is closest to which theoretical perspective?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism is a theoretical perspective that focuses on how people create meaning through symbolic interactions with each other. It views human behavior as a result of people's interpretations of their social world, rather than being purely determined by external factors. Mohammed's belief that the study of human behavior should focus on how we construct meaning through abstract representations aligns closely with the central tenets of symbolic interactionism.

Question 12

We might identify one of the latent functions of public schools as:

Accepted Answer

Latent functions are the unintended or less obvious functions of an institution. Training kids to obey authority and become obedient workers is a latent function of public schools, as it is not the primary or intended purpose of education.

Question 13

The German sociologist Max Weber was highly influential in sociology for his studies of:

Accepted Answer

Max Weber is best known for his study of bureaucracy, which he defined as a form of organization marked by hierarchy, strict rules and regulations, and impersonal relationships between bureaucrats and clients. He believed that bureaucracy represented the most efficient way to organize modern society, but also warned of its potential for stifling creativity and individual freedom. His work on bureaucracy continues to be influential in fields such as organizational theory and public administration.

Question 14

Pierre prefers to think of institutions and human activities by analyzing the relationship of each individual part as it relates to the whole. His way of thinking most closely resembles which theoretical perspective?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism emphasizes the way in which each component of society contributes to the overall stability and functioning of society as a whole. Pierre's focus on analyzing the relationship of each individual part as it relates to the whole aligns with the functionalist perspective.

Question 15

Sociologists who use ________ as a theoretical perspective argue that women's lives and experiences are central to the study of society.

Accepted Answer

Feminist theory emphasizes the importance of understanding and analyzing societal structures and interactions through the lens of gender and the experiences of women.

Question 16

Max Weber's theoretical contributions might be criticized for:

Accepted Answer

Max Weber's theoretical contributions have been criticized for ignoring collective forms of organization that are common in modern societies. He focuses on rationalization and bureaucratic structures, but does not give much attention to the way in which groups come together and work collectively outside of formal organizations.

Question 17

Chris insists that any decent analysis of our social world must include investigations into the lived experiences of women. Chris's ideas match most closely with those of which theorist?

Accepted Answer

Harriet Martineau was a feminist sociologist who argued that the study of society must include an analysis of gender relations and the experiences of women. Martineau's work focused on issues such as marriage, education, and domestic labor, and she is considered one of the earliest feminist sociologists. Chris's insistence on investigating the lived experiences of women aligns with Martineau's ideas. Marx, Durkheim, and Weber are important classical sociologists, but their work did not emphasize gender as a central factor in understanding social phenomena.

Question 18

Latisha believes that sociologists need to look at both how our institutions were intended to work and the unintentional effects of those institutions. According to the textbook, this is a major part of which theoretical perspective?

Accepted Answer

The idea of looking at both the intended and unintended effects of institutions is a central concept in functionalism, which focuses on the ways in which social structures and institutions contribute to social stability and overall functioning of society.

Question 19

Janice thinks that sociology should be a science used to bring about radical social change, with particular emphasis on power and ideology. Her position most closely aligns with which theoretical perspective?

Accepted Answer

Janice's emphasis on power and ideology aligns with the Marxist perspective, which focuses on understanding social inequalities and advocating for radical social change through addressing issues of power and class conflict.

Question 20

One of the main ways that Karl Marx differs from Émile Durkheim and Auguste Comte is that:

Accepted Answer

Marx's theory of historical materialism states that social change is determined by economic factors such as class struggle and the development of productive forces, rather than just ideas or values. Durkheim and Comte, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of social order and cohesion based on shared values and norms. Marx also did not focus on postindustrial society, nor did he argue that industrialization was limited to the West. He did not directly link class struggle to anomie or social disorder, but rather saw the potential for a more just society emerging from the overthrow of capitalism.

Quiz 1: Sociology: Theory and Method