Question 1

Which of the following is not one of the questions an objectivist may ask to determine whether a social condition is a social problem?
A)Is it harmful to individuals or groups?
B)How many people does it harm?
C)How serious or damaging is the harm it creates?
D)Why do people think of it as harmful?

Accepted Answer

Objectivists focus on measurable harm and its impact rather than subjective perceptions or interpretations of harm, which is why they wouldn't typically ask why people think of something as harmful.

Question 2

When it comes to claimsmaking about obesity as a social problem, __________ may act as claimsmakers.
A)experts who have done research on obesity
B)people who have direct experience with obesity
C)policymakers who must deal with public opinion regarding obesity
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the above are potential claimsmakers when it comes to framing obesity as a social problem. Experts who have done research on obesity can use their findings to make claims about its impact on society. Individuals who have experienced obesity firsthand can also be claimsmakers, using their personal experiences to argue for greater recognition of the problem. Policymakers often must navigate public opinion when addressing obesity, and so may engage in or facilitate claims-making themselves in order to build support for certain policies.

Question 3

Your text argues that because we know that knowledge is socially constructed,
A)it is important to carefully evaluate claims and evidence.
B)we can discount knowledge from the hard sciences as less scientific because it fails to focus on the social world.
C)there is no way to actually understand reality.
D)all assessments of the world and what is happening in it are equally valid.

Accepted Answer

The argument in the text is that because knowledge is socially constructed, it is important to carefully evaluate claims and evidence to determine their validity. This implies that not all assessments of the world and what is happening in it are equally valid, as suggested in option D. Option B is incorrect because it assumes that the hard sciences fail to focus on the social world, which is not necessarily true. Option C is also incorrect because while our understanding of reality may be influenced by social constructs, it does not mean that we cannot understand it at all.

Question 4

Subjectivists tend to think of social problems as
A)social conditions that cause problems for people.
B)the process of responding to social conditions.
C)social conditions that cause problems for society.
D)the process of a condition becoming problematic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Subjectivists tend to think of social problems...

Question 5

The impact of claimsmaking on the public's perceptions is typically measured using
A)in-depth interviews with leaders.
B)media analysis.
C)public opinion polls.
D)counts of who votes for politicians with particular views.

Accepted Answer

Public opinion polls are the most direct and objective way of measuring the impact of claimsmaking on the public's perceptions. Media analysis and in-depth interviews with leaders may provide some insight but are more subjective and limited in scope. Counts of who votes for politicians with particular views may not accurately reflect the public's overall perceptions, as there are many factors that influence voting behavior.

Question 6

A subjectivist might suggest that heightism is not a social problem in the United States because
A)there is no research to indicate that people are discriminated against on the basis of their height.
B)Americans do not think of discrimination based on height as a problem.
C)heightism is not illegal in the United States.
D)discrimination based on height does not hurt enough people to cause serious harm to society.

Accepted Answer

A subjectivist would argue that heightism is not a social problem in the United States because it is not seen as a problem by Americans. This is a subjective belief and does not necessarily reflect the reality of discrimination that may exist. Just because people do not recognize or acknowledge heightism does not mean that it does not harm individuals or society as a whole.

Question 7

The term natural history refers to the sequence of stages that social problems
A)often move through.
B)move through when they are not interfered with by claimsmakers.
C)create in a typical community.
D)create through their environmental impact.
E)all of the above

Accepted Answer

The term natural history specifically refers to the stages that social problems often move through. It does not refer to environmental impact or community creation. The term also does not imply that the problem is not interfered with by claimsmakers, as these individuals may play a role in shaping the natural history of a social problem.

Question 8

The term policy outcomes refers to
A)the extent to which the policy solves the problem.
B)people's reaction to the social problems process.
C)critics' concerns about how the policies are implemented.
D)critics' concerns about the production of new problems through the solutions to the old problems.
E)all of the above

Accepted Answer

The term policy outcomes refers to all of the above.

Question 9

The discussion of reclassifying Pluto as a minor planet or an interplanetary body illustrates the fact that
A)even scientists are sometimes unsure of what is really a problem.
B)the way we use and change language reflects our efforts to better describe and understand the world around us.
C)even natural phenomena are difficult to define clearly.
D)even those in the hard sciences such as astronomy have a difficult time defining concepts.

Accepted Answer

The discussion of reclassifying Pluto involves the way we use language to describe and understand the world around us, which is reflected in the debate over whether Pluto should be classified as a minor planet or an interplanetary body. This highlights the fact that language and classification systems are constantly evolving as our understanding of the world changes.

Question 10

Social problems workers are typically responsible for
A)developing an accurate definition of what a problem really is.
B)helping policymakers better understand a problem.
C)carrying out the practical actions deemed necessary to manage a problem.
D)identifying the implications of particular solutions proposed for a problem.
E)all of the above

Accepted Answer

Social problems workers are primarily tasked with implementing and managing the practical actions necessary to address and manage social problems, rather than defining, understanding, or evaluating solutions.

Question 11

Claimsmaking can most accurately be described as a process in which people
A)claim the right to profit from a troubling situation.
B)lie about conditions to make them seem problematic.
C)bring to the attention of others a situation that they find troubling.
D)find objective proof of a problem.

Accepted Answer

Claimsmaking is the process of bringing to the attention of others a situation that individuals or groups find troubling. It is not necessarily about profiting from a situation or lying about conditions. While objective proof may be part of the process, it is not a requirement for claimsmaking to occur.

Question 12

The natural history model of social problems outlines the process that
A)most social problems go through.
B)every social problem goes through.
C)social problems that get solved go through.
D)social problems that get media attention go through.

Accepted Answer

The natural history model of social problems outlines the process that most social problems go through, but not necessarily every social problem.

Question 13

Policymaking that is intended to reduce social problems is done by
A)school officials.
B)legislative bodies.
C)government agencies.
D)local communities.
E)all of the above
F)b and c only

Accepted Answer

Policymaking that is intended to reduce social problems can be done by a variety of actors such as school officials, legislative bodies, government agencies, and local communities. Hence, option E, "all of the above," is the best choice.

Question 14

The term social constructionism refers to the way people
A)create fresh understandings of the world around them.
B)learn language from their parents.
C)use language to define their place in society.
D)learn to differentiate social conditions from social problems.
E)all of the above
F)b and c only

Accepted Answer

Social constructionism is a theory that suggests people develop understandings and knowledge of the world through interactions and shared experiences, emphasizing the creation of new meanings and realities.

Question 15

The term troubling conditions is used when describing the situations people make claims about in order to draw our attention to the fact that
A)we often notice problems for the first time while they are still small and manageable.
B)claimsmaking is about people pointing out things that trouble them rather than making a purely objective assessment of problematic conditions.
C)problems are often blown out of proportion once people begin to make claims about them.
D)what troubles some people may not turn out to be a real social problem.

Accepted Answer

The term troubling conditions is used to emphasize that claims are made based on what troubles people, which means that the claims are subjective rather than purely objective assessments of social problems. The other choices may be true, but they are not the main reason for using the term troubling conditions.

Question 16

The social problems process discussed in your text refers to the process through which
A)a condition worsens to become a problem.
B)people come to define a condition as a social problem.
C)public officials determine the best way to solve a problem.
D)a problem is identified, discussed, and acted upon.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The social problems process discussed in your...

Question 17

Saying that something is socially constructed means that it is
A)not real.
B)only real because a group of people created it.
C)real only to those who have had experience with it.
D)shaped by people's definitions and understandings of it.

Accepted Answer

When something is socially constructed, it means that it is shaped by people's definitions and understandings of it. This can include things like societal norms, gender roles, and cultural traditions, which are all products of collective human behavior and are not inherently fixed or natural. Thus, while these constructs may have very real effects on individuals and communities, they are not immutable or biologically determined, and their meaning and significance can vary across time and place.

Question 18

The objectivist definition of harm can be criticized for being
A)so narrow that it excludes many conditions that may really be problems.
B)so broad that it is vague to the point of losing its meaning.
C)so detailed that it is difficult for anyone but experts to understand.d.so grounded in the social sciences that it cannot be applied to hard science phenomena.e.all of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of The objectivist definition of harm can be...

Question 19

Claimsmakers who are activists typically must
A)draw attention to their cause.
B)recruit people to join their movement.
C)manage their movement's operations.
D)maintain interest in their cause.
E)all of the above

Accepted Answer

Activist claimsmakers have to do all of the above in order to be effective in promoting their cause. They need to draw attention to their cause, recruit people to support their movement, manage the operations of their movement, and maintain interest in their cause over time. This involves a range of strategies, including media outreach, organizing rallies and protests, building relationships with political leaders, and creating compelling narratives that inspire people to take action.

Question 20

Which is not one of the six stages in the natural history model of the social problems process?
A)social problems work
B)media coverage
C)research confirmation
D)policy outcomes

Accepted Answer

Research confirmation is not one of the six stages in the natural history model of the social problems process. The stages typically include claimsmaking, media coverage, public reaction, policymaking, social problems work, and policy outcomes.

Quiz 1: The Social Problems Process

Which of the following is not one of the questions an objectivist may ask to determine whether a social condition is a social problem?

When it comes to claimsmaking about obesity as a social problem, __________ may act as claimsmakers.

Your text argues that because we know that knowledge is socially constructed,

Subjectivists tend to think of social problems as

The impact of claimsmaking on the public's perceptions is typically measured using

A subjectivist might suggest that heightism is not a social problem in the United States because

The term natural history refers to the sequence of stages that social problems

The term policy outcomes refers to

The discussion of reclassifying Pluto as a minor planet or an interplanetary body illustrates the fact that

Social problems workers are typically responsible for

Claimsmaking can most accurately be described as a process in which people

The natural history model of social problems outlines the process that

Policymaking that is intended to reduce social problems is done by

The term social constructionism refers to the way people

The term troubling conditions is used when describing the situations people make claims about in order to draw our attention to the fact that

The social problems process discussed in your text refers to the process through which

Saying that something is socially constructed means that it is

The objectivist definition of harm can be criticized for being

Claimsmakers who are activists typically must

Which is not one of the six stages in the natural history model of the social problems process?