Question 1

Which sociological perspective is especially interested in ascribed statuses because they often confer privileges or reflect a person's membership in a subordinate group?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective is especially interested in ascribed statuses because it focuses on power struggles between dominant and subordinate groups in society. Ascribed statuses often confer privileges to those in dominant groups and reflect a person's membership in a subordinate group. The functionalist perspective is more concerned with how different parts of society work together to maintain stability, while the interactionist perspective focuses on how individuals interact with one another and create meanings in their everyday lives. The global perspective takes a broad view of social interactions and institutions across different societies and cultures.

Question 2

Which of the following is true regarding marriage in Japan?

Accepted Answer

It is common in Japanese culture for husbands to refer to their wives using a title or term of endearment rather than their given name.

Question 3

A master status is a

Accepted Answer

A master status is a status that dominates others and thereby determines a person's general position within society. It can be based on factors such as occupation, race, gender, or age and can impact how other people perceive and interact with an individual.

Question 4

Which term is used by sociologists to refer to any of the full range of socially defined positions within a large group or society?

Accepted Answer

"Status" is the term used by sociologists to refer to any of the full range of socially defined positions within a large group or society. It can refer to positions that are hierarchical or non-hierarchical, and can be based on factors such as occupation, education, or social class.

Question 5

According to Herbert Blumer,a distinctive characteristic of human interaction is that

Accepted Answer

Blumer's theory of symbolic interactionism emphasizes that human interaction is based on the meanings that humans attach to each other's behavior. These meanings are not fixed, but rather are interpreted and defined by individuals based on their experiences and the context in which the interaction takes place. These meanings shape our perceptions and evaluations of reality, and guide our responses to the behavior of others. Therefore, all of the given choices are correct.

Question 6

Which of the following is an achieved status?

Accepted Answer

Occupation is an achieved status because it is typically obtained through education, experience, or personal effort. Race, gender, and age are all examples of ascribed statuses, which are assigned at birth or based on physical characteristics that are beyond an individual's control.

Question 7

When Malcolm X's eighth grade teacher dismissed Malcolm's desired career goal of lawyer and instead suggested he become a carpenter,the teacher was viewing Malcolm's race as a(n)

Accepted Answer

The answer of When Malcolm X's eighth grade teacher dismissed...

Question 8

Philip Zimbardo's study of a simulated prison environment that used college students as prisoners and prison guards

Accepted Answer

Zimbardo's study demonstrated that the social structure (being assigned the role of prisoner or guard) influenced the type of social interactions that occurred. This supports the idea that social structures can shape human behavior. Option A is incorrect, as Zimbardo's study is often cited as an example of a successful laboratory simulation of a real-life situation. Option C is also incorrect, as Zimbardo's study specifically found that social interactions can be influenced by social structure characteristics.

Question 9

Jan,Randy,and Terry are science majors,and when they graduate from college,they find jobs as a nurse,a midwife,and a hospital administrator,respectively.These new positions are examples of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jan,Randy,and Terry are science majors,and when they...

Question 10

Which of the following statements about an ascribed status is correct?

Accepted Answer

An ascribed status is generally biological in origin (such as race, sex, age) but significant mainly because of the social meanings attached to it within a given culture. It is not easy to change and can have different social meanings in different societies. An individual's skills are the basis for an achieved status.

Question 11

Which of the following terms refers to the way in which a society is organized into predictable relationships?

Accepted Answer

Social structure refers to the way in which a society is organized into predictable relationships. Socialization refers to the process by which individuals internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of their culture. Social interaction refers to the ways in which people interact with one another, while culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that characterize a society or group.

Question 12

An individual can acquire an achieved status by

Accepted Answer

All of these answers are correct. Attending school can lead to obtaining a degree or certification, which can be an achieved status. Establishing a friendship can garner respect and admiration from others, becoming an achieved status. Inventing a new product can lead to entrepreneurship and success, which can also be an achieved status.

Question 13

Ascribed statuses may be based on an individual's

Accepted Answer

Ascribed statuses refer to the social positions that an individual is born into or cannot change, such as race, gender, and age. Therefore, all of the choices A, B, and C are correct.

Question 14

Social interaction is

Accepted Answer

Social interaction refers to the ways in which people respond to one another. It involves verbal and non-verbal communication, gestures, and other forms of social behavior. It is a fundamental component of social life and is necessary for building and maintaining relationships, as well as for learning and socialization. While options A, B, and D all relate to aspects of social interaction, they do not fully capture its meaning.

Question 15

An achieved status is a social position

Accepted Answer

Achieved status refers to a social position that an individual attains largely through their own efforts or achievements. This can include educational attainment, career success, or other personal accomplishments. It is distinct from ascribed status, which is assigned to individuals based on characteristics such as their age, gender, or race, regardless of their personal achievements or abilities.

Question 16

William I.Thomas wrote from which perspective when observing that people respond not only to the objective features of a person or situation but also to the meaning that person or situation has for them?

Accepted Answer

The statement is reflective of the interactionist perspective, which emphasizes the importance of subjective meanings and interpretations in social interactions and the construction of social reality. Thomas's observation is often summarized as "the definition of the situation," which suggests that people's behavior and attitudes are shaped by the meaning they attribute to a given situation, rather than solely by objective features of that situation.

Question 17

Ray is an African American who is currently enrolled at a four-year university where he is studying social work.Which of the following is his achieved status?

Accepted Answer

Achieved status refers to a social position that a person acquires based on their own efforts or achievements, such as becoming a college student. While Ray may also identify as male and African American, these are considered ascribed statuses (traits a person is born with or that are assigned at birth) rather than achieved statuses. It is important to note that one person may hold multiple statuses simultaneously.

Question 18

One crucial aspect of the relationship between dominant and subordinate groups is the ability of the dominant group to

Accepted Answer

All of these answer options are correct because the dominant group holds power and influence in shaping society's values, defining what is considered social reality, and shaping how the subordinate group perceives their own place in society. The dominant group has the ability to mold the "definition of the situation" for both themselves and the subordinate group, which can perpetuate and maintain their dominant status.

Question 19

An ascribed status is a social position

Accepted Answer

An ascribed status is a social position that is "assigned" to a person by society without regard for the person's unique talents or characteristics. This means that the status is not earned or achieved through the individual's efforts, but rather bestowed upon them based on factors such as their age, gender, race, or family background. Examples of ascribed statuses include being born into a wealthy family or being of a particular ethnicity.

Question 20

You walk into your women's studies class,and you look at the person sitting to your left.He is the only male in the class;he is about 20 years old,wears a wedding ring,and carries a bag with a tennis racquet.Which of his characteristics is most likely his master status in the context of this class?

Accepted Answer

In the context of a women's studies class, the fact that he is the only male in the class and therefore representing the male gender is most likely his master status. This would influence the way he is perceived and treated in the class, as he is seen as occupying a privileged position in society that most of the other students do not share.

Quiz 5: Social Interaction,social Structure,and Groups