Question 1

A dishonest judge must pretend to be an honest judge, but even an honest judge must play the role of "honest judge" for an audience in order to interact and work with others effectively. This performance is an example of what theoretical perspective?

Accepted Answer

The concept of playing a role or performing a certain persona for an audience is a central idea in dramaturgy, which is concerned with the ways in which individuals present themselves and interact with others in social situations. This performance is not really related to the other theoretical perspectives listed.

Question 2

Which level of analysis and theoretical perspective would be best for a sociologist interested in studying your sociology class?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which level of analysis and theoretical perspective...

Question 3

Postmodernists are interested in ________, or taking apart and examining stories and theories.

Accepted Answer

Postmodernists are interested in deconstruction, which involves taking apart and examining stories and theories to reveal the biases and assumptions within them. This is done to challenge traditional ways of thinking and to promote a more critical and self-aware approach to knowledge.

Question 4

Émile Durkheim's pioneering study Suicide used statistical data to look for correlations between demographic variables and suicide. In what ways is his work compatible with Auguste Comte's ideas about how society should be studied?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Émile Durkheim's pioneering study Suicide used statistical...

Question 5

What are we failing to see, according to C. Wright Mills, when we think of our personal problems as character flaws?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are we failing to see, according...

Question 6

Symbolic interactionism analyzes social phenomena at the macro level, while structural functionalism and conflict theory analyses are at the micro level.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism analyzes social phenomena at the micro level, while structural functionalism and conflict theory analyses are at the macro level.

Question 7

What is the relationship between the self and society according to symbolic interactionism?

Accepted Answer

According to symbolic interactionism, the self is shaped by society, but society is also shaped by the self. In other words, our interactions with others and the meanings we attach to things are crucial in developing a sense of self, but at the same time, our actions and behaviors can also influence and shape the society we live in. It is a reciprocal relationship between the individual and society.

Question 8

Identify what is not an example of postmodernism in popular culture.

Accepted Answer

Liberty University is not an example of postmodernism in popular culture because it is associated with fundamentalist Christianity, which tends to reject postmodernism and its emphasis on subjective truth and cultural relativism. The other choices all exhibit elements of postmodernism in popular culture, such as remixing and re-appropriation (The Grey Album), hybridity and bricolage (hip-hop), and simulation and pastiche (copies of famous landmarks).

Question 9

How does taking the sociological perspective enable sociologists to understand human life in society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does taking the sociological perspective enable...

Question 10

Symbolic interactionism argues that people act toward things on the basis of their meaning. According to this perspective, how does meaning arise?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism suggests that meaning is not inherent in objects or actions, nor is it learned solely through the study of philosophy or history. Instead, meaning is created and negotiated through social interactions with others. It is through these interactions that people attach meanings to objects, actions, and situations, and these meanings then shape their behavior and understandings of the world around them.

Question 11

A postmodernist writes an essay arguing that the "factual" history of a Native American tribe in a textbook is no more accurate than a collection of short oral stories about the tribe. The postmodernist is engaging in what type of critical analysis?

Accepted Answer

The postmodernist is engaging in deconstruction, which is a form of critical analysis that aims to challenge the traditional assumptions and meanings of a text or cultural artifact. In this case, the postmodernist is questioning the idea of a single, objective "factual" history and suggesting that alternative forms of storytelling and knowledge transmission, such as oral traditions, may be equally valid and accurate.

Question 12

Symbolic interactionism was established by

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism was established by the Chicago School of sociology, particularly by scholars such as George Herbert Mead and Herbert Blumer.

Question 13

The writings of Émile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber were deeply influenced by their life experiences.

Accepted Answer

Émile Durkheim was deeply affected by the suicide of his close friend, while Karl Marx's experiences with poverty and inequality fueled his ideas about class struggle. Max Weber, on the other hand, was influenced by his family's background in law and politics.

Question 14

The sociological imagination conceived by C. Wright Mills incorporates the ideas of biography and autobiography.

Accepted Answer

The sociological imagination by C. Wright Mills incorporates the concepts of biography and history, not autobiography, to understand the relationship between individual experiences and larger social forces.

Question 15

C. Wright Mills described a process by which biography (individual lives) and history (larger social forces) are related. He argued that this process works in two ways: individual lives influence society, while society also influences individuals.

Accepted Answer

This is the central concept of C. Wright Mills' theory of the sociological imagination. He argued that individuals are shaped by larger social forces and structures, but individuals also have agency and can shape society through their actions and choices.

Question 16

What is a sociologist's theoretical perspective if they argue that we have seen the "dissolution of master narratives or metanarratives"?

Accepted Answer

The dissolution of master narratives or metanarratives is a central concept in postmodernism. Postmodernism rejects the idea that there are overarching, objective, and universal explanations or stories that explain everything in society. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of multiple, fragmented, and subjective perspectives and experiences.

Question 17

There is only one correct theoretical explanation for any particular social phenomenon.

Accepted Answer

Different theoretical perspectives can offer varying explanations for the same social phenomenon, and no one perspective is universally accepted as inherently correct or superior to others. Sociology is a multi-paradigmatic field with a diversity of theoretical frameworks that can contribute unique insights to our understanding of social life.

Question 18

Sarah believes the ability of science and technology to create progress will solve problems and improve everyone's life. Sarah would best be described as a

Accepted Answer

Sarah's belief in the power of science and technology to drive progress and improve lives aligns with modernist thinking, which emphasizes the role of technological advancement and rational planning in achieving social progress.

Question 19

Which social theory focuses on micro-level interactions?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism is the social theory that focuses on micro-level interactions between individuals and the meanings and symbols they attach to those interactions. It emphasizes the role of communication and shared symbolism in shaping individuals and society.

Question 20

A sociologist's responsibility is to question everything the everyday person would take for granted.

Accepted Answer

As sociologists, we must not take for granted the social phenomena happening around us. We should critically analyze and question social structures, institutions, and practices to understand their implications on individuals and society.

Quiz 1: Sociology and the Real World