Question 1

W. E. B. Du Bois is best known for his studies that focused on race relations and double consciousness.

Accepted Answer

W. E. B. Du Bois was a prominent sociologist and civil rights activist known for his work on race relations and the concept of double consciousness, which describes the internal conflict experienced by subordinated or colonized groups in an oppressive society.

Question 2

______ refers to the degree to which a given question produces the same results time after time.

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of the results obtained from a particular measure or assessment. It indicates the extent to which a question or measure produces the same results when administered repeatedly under similar circumstances. Validity, on the other hand, refers to the accuracy or truthfulness of the results and whether they actually measure what they are intended to measure. Authenticity and reality are not directly related to the concept of measurement or assessment.

Question 3

Classical sociological theories have little to do with contemporary sociological theories.

Accepted Answer

Classical sociological theories provide foundational concepts and frameworks that contemporary sociological theories build upon, adapt, or critique.

Question 4

Laud Humphreys's research on homosexual activities in men's restrooms became a famous case of ethical controversy in social scientific research. What about Humphreys's research was ethically questionable?

Accepted Answer

Humphreys's research was ethically questionable because he used license plate numbers to track down the men and interview them at their homes without disclosing the true nature of his study, violating their privacy and informed consent.

Question 5

Émile Durkheim focused on the patterns of consumption and how the elite display their wealth.

Accepted Answer

Émile Durkheim was a sociologist who focused on social facts, collective consciousness, and the role of social institutions, not on patterns of consumption or the display of wealth by the elite.

Question 6

George Homans was the main figure in exchange theory.

Accepted Answer

George Homans was indeed the main figure in exchange theory, which is a social psychological perspective that explores how individuals weigh the costs and benefits of social interactions and relationships.

Question 7

If a researcher tells a participant that his or her identity will remain anonymous but later divulges the identity of the participant to others, this is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

This is a violation of trust because the researcher promised anonymity but failed to keep that promise by revealing the participant's identity.

Question 8

Ethics in research became a central concern at what point in history?

Accepted Answer

Ethics in research became a central concern following World War II, particularly after atrocities committed by the Nazis, including medical experiments on concentration camp prisoners. This led to the development of ethical principles and guidelines for research involving human subjects, such as the Nuremberg Code and the Declaration of Helsinki.

Question 9

Max Weber discussed the concept of the ideal type, which is meant to be the most accurate depiction of social reality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Max Weber discussed the concept of the...

Question 10

Karl Marx created communism as it was practiced by the Soviet Union and other countries in the twentieth century.

Accepted Answer

Marx did not create communism as it was practiced by the Soviet Union and other countries in the twentieth century. While Marx's ideas influenced communism, the version of communism practiced in these countries was shaped by their own particular historical and political contexts.

Question 11

Which one of the following was ethically controversial in the case of the Milgram experiment?

Accepted Answer

The Milgram experiment was ethically controversial because participants were deceived into believing they were administering painful electric shocks to another person, which caused significant stress and emotional discomfort.

Question 12

It is very important that institutional review boards enforce ______ of those being studied.

Accepted Answer

Informed consent is crucial in research to ensure that participants are fully aware of the study's nature, risks, and benefits, and agree to participate voluntarily.

Question 13

Sociologists encounter several key issues when conducting research. These include reliability, validity, and ______.

Accepted Answer

Ethical concerns are a key issue that sociologists encounter when conducting research. Sociologists must ensure that their research is conducted in an ethical manner, respecting the rights and privacy of their participants.

Question 14

Conflict theorists focus on the power struggles that exist between different groups in society.

Accepted Answer

This is the central tenet of conflict theory.

Question 15

Max Weber focused on the intersection between religion and the family.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber was primarily known for his work on the sociology of religion and bureaucracy, and while he did write about the family and its role in society, he did not focus specifically on the intersection between religion and the family.

Question 16

Rational choice theorists believe that institutions act rationally, but people rarely do.

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theorists believe that individuals act rationally to maximize their own self-interest, and that institutions are made up of individuals who also act in their own self-interest. Therefore, rational choice theorists believe that both individuals and institutions act rationally.

Question 17

All sociologists theorize.

Accepted Answer

All sociologists engage in theorizing in order to understand social phenomena and make predictions about future social behavior. Some sociologists may focus more on empirical research, but even this research is informed by theoretical frameworks.

Question 18

John, a sociologist, decides to conduct a research study examining violence in television shows for the past five years. This is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

Content analysis is a research method used to systematically analyze and interpret the content of communication, such as television shows, to study patterns, themes, or biases.

Question 19

The Milgram experiment and the Zimbardo experiment provided scientific evidence of ______.

Accepted Answer

Both the Milgram experiment and the Zimbardo experiment demonstrated the power of authority and situational factors in influencing individuals' behavior, often leading them to act against their personal morals or ethical standards.

Question 20

Which one of the statements below explains the difference between history and historical-comparative sociology?

Accepted Answer

Historical researchers collect far more original historical data than sociologists.

Quiz 2: Thinking About and Researching the Social World