Question 1

Which theory has proposed the concept of the hidden curriculum?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory proposes the concept of the hidden curriculum, which refers to the implicit lessons and values taught in schools that reinforce social inequalities.

Question 2

After spending his childhood in a war-torn region of Africa, Jorge is walking down the street in a small British Columbia town when a car drives by and backfires. Jorge immediately throws himself on the ground and covers his head. Which sociological concept best explains Jorge's actions?

Accepted Answer

Jorge's reaction is best explained by the Thomas theorem, which states that if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences. In this case, Jorge's past experiences in a war-torn region lead him to interpret the car backfiring as gunfire, prompting him to react as if he were in danger, even though he is not. This demonstrates how an individual's perception of a situation significantly influences their actions.

Question 3

Rosenthal and Jacobson found that when teachers treated students as if they were special, they became high achievers. What is this process known as?

Accepted Answer

This process is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy, where an individual's or group's behavior is influenced and shaped by the expectations placed upon them, leading them to act in ways that confirm those expectations.

Question 4

According to research cited in the textbook, in which of the following areas of their children's later lives do parents play a key role?

Accepted Answer

Parents play a key role in their children's religious identification, as they often introduce and influence their children's religious beliefs and practices from an early age.

Question 5

Which of the following correctly defines the Thomas theorem?

Accepted Answer

The Thomas theorem states that if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences. This means that the subjective interpretation of a situation affects the outcome, emphasizing the power of perception in shaping social reality.

Question 6

What do sociologists call socialization that occurs outside the family after childhood?

Accepted Answer

Secondary socialization refers to the process of learning what is appropriate behavior as a member of a smaller group within the larger society, which occurs outside the family and after childhood.

Question 7

Students may believe that they are evaluated solely on the basis of impersonal test scores. However, the textbook suggests that other criteria also influence success or failure in school and in the work world. What are these other criteria?

Accepted Answer

Class, gender, and race are social factors that can influence success or failure in school and the workplace, as they can affect access to resources, opportunities, and biases.

Question 8

Gaitri and Rowan do not normally attend religious ceremonies, but have decided to have one for their wedding. Who is most likely to influence their decision about the religious organization in which to hold the wedding?

Accepted Answer

Their parents are most likely to influence their decision about the religious organization in which to hold the wedding, as parents often have significant influence on their children's major life decisions, including those related to cultural and religious practices.

Question 9

In school, students are taught not only how to prepare for the job market but also how to be punctual, to cooperate with others, to defer to authorities, and so on. Which of the following refers to the latter area of teaching?

Accepted Answer

The latter area of teaching, which includes lessons on punctuality, cooperation, and deference to authority, is referred to as the hidden curriculum. This term describes the unwritten, unofficial, and often unintended lessons, values, and perspectives that students learn in school.

Question 10

The hidden curriculum is inconsistent with the values to which many students from poor and racial-minority families are exposed at home. What is a common outcome of this situation for these students?

Accepted Answer

The hidden curriculum often includes implicit values, beliefs, and norms that may not align with those of students from poor and racial-minority families. As a result, these students may become skeptical of the education system's ability to provide them with meaningful job opportunities or paths to achievement, reflecting a disconnect between what is taught and their personal experiences or cultural background.

Question 11

Sometimes an expectation leads people to create the very situation that they predicted. What is this phenomenon known as?

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy, where an individual's expectations about a situation or another person lead to the behavior that causes those expectations to come true.

Question 12

How can the great variation in character types, as an outcome of socialization, be explained?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How can the great variation in character...

Question 13

Which of the following statements is consistent with the Thomas theorem?

Accepted Answer

The Thomas theorem posits that if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences. This means that teachers' expectations can significantly influence students' success because if teachers believe certain students will perform better, their actions towards those students can lead to those students actually achieving more, making the expectation a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 14

If people believe that a bank is going to fail, this can cause them to pull their money out of the bank. This, in turn, may lead to the bank's failure. What does this situation illustrate?

Accepted Answer

This situation illustrates a self-fulfilling prophecy, where the belief in a certain outcome leads to actions that cause the outcome to occur.

Question 15

What is the most important agent of primary socialization?

Accepted Answer

Family is considered the most important agent of primary socialization, where individuals, especially children, learn the norms, values, and social practices of their culture from an early age.

Question 16

What does the hidden curriculum refer to?

Accepted Answer

The hidden curriculum refers to the unwritten, unofficial, and often unintended lessons, values, and perspectives that students learn in school. While the formal curriculum consists of the courses, lessons, and learning activities students participate in, the hidden curriculum includes lessons that are learned indirectly but are an integral part of the education system, such as becoming an appropriately socialized citizen.

Question 17

According to the textbook, which of the following changes in primary socialization has occurred over the last century?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the textbook, which of the...

Question 18

Which type of theorist would view the primary goal of education as socializing students to be effective members of the workforce?

Accepted Answer

Functionalists view education as a means to socialize individuals, preparing them for the workforce and maintaining social order by teaching skills, norms, and values necessary for societal functioning.

Question 19

What part of the educational system teaches students how to be "good citizens" once they graduate?

Accepted Answer

The hidden curriculum refers to the unwritten, unofficial, and often unintended lessons, values, and perspectives that students learn in school. While the formal curriculum teaches academic skills, the hidden curriculum imparts social norms, values, and beliefs that contribute to educating students on how to behave as "good citizens" in society.

Question 20

Darlene has generally had good grades in university, until she enrolls in Professor Jameson's course. After studying for days and then failing the midterm test she gets discouraged and decides against studying for the final exam, believing that it will not make any difference in her grade. Consequently, she fails the final exam. Which sociological concept best explains Darlene's situation?

Accepted Answer

Darlene's situation is an example of a self-fulfilling prophecy, where her belief that studying would not improve her grade led her to not study, which in turn resulted in her failing the exam, thus confirming her original expectation.

Quiz 4: Socialization