Question 1

Which sociological perspective is most critical of the differential way in which education bestows status?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective is most critical of the differential way in which education bestows status because it stresses the role of power and inequality in society. According to this perspective, education perpetuates social inequality by reproducing the existing class structure and reinforcing the dominant ideologies of the ruling class. In other words, education functions to maintain the status quo and reproduce the existing social order rather than challenging it.

Question 2

The correspondence principle refers to the tendency of

Accepted Answer

The correspondence principle refers to the idea that schools prepare students for the social and economic roles they will occupy as adults. This means that schools promote the values and beliefs expected of individuals in each social class and prepare students for the types of jobs typically held by members of their class. This principle is often associated with the work of sociologist Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, who argued that the education system in America reproduces and reinforces social inequality.

Question 3

Which sociological perspective views education as an instrument of elite domination?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective views education as an instrument of elite domination because it sees society as divided by power struggles between different groups. The elite, or ruling class, use education to maintain their position of power by controlling the curriculum and perpetuating their values and beliefs through the educational system. This perspective argues that education perpetuates existing social inequalities by reproducing and legitimizing the dominant culture, which benefits the ruling class at the expense of the working class and marginalized groups.

Question 4

What is tracking?

Accepted Answer

Tracking is the practice of placing students into specific curriculum groups based on factors such as test scores, grades, and perceived abilities. This can have consequences for students, as they may not have access to the same resources or opportunities as their peers in higher tracks. It can also perpetuate inequalities and reinforce social hierarchies.

Question 5

Students in Japan are offered guidance sessions to improve the classroom experience and instill values useful in the Japanese business world.These sessions are an example of the

Accepted Answer

The guidance sessions offered to students in Japan to improve classroom experience and instill values useful in the Japanese business world are an example of the hidden curriculum. The hidden curriculum refers to the unwritten, unofficial, and often unintended lessons, values, and perspectives that students learn in school due to the school's culture and environment. In this case, the guidance sessions are not explicitly part of the official curriculum but are intended to impart values and skills relevant to the Japanese business world.

Question 6

Federal Title IX policies required schools to

Accepted Answer

Federal Title IX policies required schools to give girls more opportunities to play sports. Although sex-segregated classes and giving preference to females over males for financial aid were once common practices, Title IX was enacted to prevent gender discrimination in educational programs and activities, including athletics. Therefore, giving girls more opportunities to play sports was the correct answer.

Question 7

Which sociologist(s)argued that capitalism requires a skilled,disciplined labor force,and that the educational system of the United States is structured with that objective in mind?

Accepted Answer

Samuel Bowles and Harold Gintis argued in their book "Schooling in Capitalist America" that the educational system in the United States is structured in a way that creates a skilled and disciplined labor force necessary for capitalism. They suggested that the education system is a reflection of the larger capitalist economic system and that it reinforces social and economic inequalities.

Question 8

Critics of the hidden curriculum are concerned that

Accepted Answer

The answer of Critics of the hidden curriculum are concerned...

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true regarding gender and education?

Accepted Answer

According to recent data, women now outnumber men at college commencements in the United States. While there may be some gender disparities in certain fields of study, overall women are enrolling in and completing higher education at higher rates than men.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT one of Weber's basic characteristics of bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

Sharing of labor roles is not one of Weber's basic characteristics of bureaucracy. The remaining options - hierarchy of authority, written regulations, and impersonality - are all basic characteristics of bureaucracy according to Weber's theory.

Question 11

An increase in the lowest level of education required to enter a field is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Credentialism refers to the requirement of higher and higher levels of education or certification for jobs that previously did not require such qualifications.

Question 12

How many years passed between the establishment of the first men's college and the first women winning admission to an institute of higher learning?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How many years passed between the establishment...

Question 13

Which college was the first institute of higher learning to admit female students?

Accepted Answer

Oberlin College in Ohio was the first institute of higher learning to admit female students in 1837.

Question 14

In the United States,schoolchildren are taught not to speak until the teacher calls on them and to regulate their activities according to clocks or bells.This learning experience illustrates

Accepted Answer

The learning experience described in the question is an example of the hidden curriculum, which refers to the implicit socialization messages conveyed to students through the structure and culture of the educational system. The expectation to remain silent until called upon and to follow a clear schedule based on bells or clocks are examples of such hidden messages. Option A, credentialism, is a concept related to the overemphasis on formal education credentials in hiring decisions. Option B, the correspondence principle, refers to the tendency for schools to reflect the social and economic hierarchies of wider society. Option D, the teacher-expectancy effect, refers to the phenomenon whereby student performance is influenced by the expectations and biases of their teachers. None of these concepts fully capture the learning experience described in the question.

Question 15

In a study of tracking in a California school system,17 percent of students in a tracked system qualified for college credit.What percentage qualified in an open system where any student could enroll in an advanced placement (AP)course?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a study of tracking in a...

Question 16

The hidden curriculum refers to

Accepted Answer

The hidden curriculum refers to the unwritten, unofficial, and often unintended lessons, values, and perspectives that students learn in school, including the standards of behavior that are deemed proper by society and are taught subtly. These can include things like punctuality, respect for authority, and the importance of following rules.

Question 17

Which famous sociologist concluded,as far back as 1916,that the "universal clamor for the creation of educational certificates in all fields makes for the formation of a privileged stratum in businesses and in offices"?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber, in his book "The Theory of Social and Economic Organization" published in 1916, argued that the increasing demand for educational certificates in all fields creates a privileged class of individuals who are able to attain these certificates and use them as a means to gain access to higher positions and better opportunities in businesses and offices. This concept is known as credentialism and is still relevant in today's society.

Question 18

Which researcher's work yielded the concept referred to as the teacher-expectancy effect?

Accepted Answer

The concept of teacher-expectancy effect was introduced by Robert Rosenthal, an American psychologist, in his study on the effect of teacher expectations on student performance.

Question 19

Which sociologist studied both poor and affluent Chicago schools and noted administrators expected less of children from poorer neighborhoods?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which sociologist studied both poor and affluent...

Question 20

The teacher-expectancy effect reflects the views of which sociological perspective?

Accepted Answer

The teacher-expectancy effect, which refers to the impact of teacher expectations on student performance, aligns with the interactionist perspective in sociology. This perspective emphasizes the importance of social interactions, individual perceptions, and the meanings people attach to their experiences in shaping social behavior and outcomes. The teacher-expectancy effect illustrates how the expectations, attitudes, and behaviors of teachers can influence the academic achievement, motivation, and self-esteem of students through interpersonal communication, feedback, and reinforcement. This perspective also suggests that students may respond differently to teacher expectations depending on factors such as race, gender, social class, and cultural background, reflecting the complex and dynamic nature of social reality.

Quiz 14: Education