Question 1

Based on Karl Marx's perspective, what is the mode of production?

Accepted Answer

According to Karl Marx, mode of production is an economic system that determines the relations and dynamics of production, distribution, and consumption. It includes the technology, social relations, and organizational structures necessary to produce and reproduce goods and services in a society. Marx identified several modes of production, including primitive communism, slavery, feudalism, capitalism, and communism. For Marx, the mode of production is the basis for all other social relations and determines the nature of the superstructure, which includes politics, ideology, culture, and religion.

Question 2

________ can be seen as an early form of globalization.

Accepted Answer

Colonialism involved the expansion of European powers across the world, establishing trade routes, and cultural exchanges, which are key aspects of globalization.

Question 3

Which choice best captures the definition of globalization?

Accepted Answer

Globalization encompasses the integration of various aspects of social life, including economic, cultural, political, and technological dimensions, beyond merely economic integration or cultural homogenization.

Question 4

Which factor was central to Max Weber's perspective of social change, specifically the rise of capitalism?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber believed that religion played a central role in the rise of capitalism. Specifically, he argued that certain Protestant beliefs, such as the idea of a calling and a duty to work hard, encouraged the development of capitalist economic practices. This suggests that religion, rather than culture, power structure, or solely the economy, was a key factor in social change.

Question 5

Even though women today enjoy full equality in the workplace, they still collectively make significantly less money than men. This is evidence that while some beliefs and attitudes change,

Accepted Answer

The persistence of the gender pay gap despite formal workplace equality suggests that deeper structural patterns and biases are still at play. While some beliefs and attitudes around gender may have shifted, the persistent pay gap suggests that these changes have not fully transformed workplace practices and norms.

Question 6

According to Max Weber, Calvinists equated material success with

Accepted Answer

According to Weber's theory of the Protestant work ethic, Calvinists believed that material success was a sign of God's blessing and a reward for hard work and a disciplined lifestyle. This belief motivated them to work hard and accumulate wealth, leading to economic development in Protestant countries.

Question 7

What type of social change do social trends cause?

Accepted Answer

Social trends can lead to unintended consequences, such as changes in the market or social norms.

Question 8

William Ogburn argued that in the face of rapid technological change, ________ the new technological reality.

Accepted Answer

Ogburn's theory of cultural lag posits that material culture (technology) changes rapidly, while non-material culture (beliefs, values) lags behind, struggling to catch up with new technological realities.

Question 9

According to Karl Marx, what is the underlying factor behind all social change?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx believed that the mode of production is the underlying factor behind all social change. This refers to the way society organizes and distributes the means of production (e.g. factories, land, technology) and how this impacts the relationships between different social classes. Marx argued that changes in the mode of production drive changes in the social, economic, and political structures of society.

Question 10

Sociologists who focus on a particular social and historical environment in which social change occurs, rather than focusing on a single factor, are using which perspective of social change?

Accepted Answer

Contextual analysis focuses on understanding social change by examining the particular environment and context in which it occurs, taking into account multiple factors and their interactions. This approach contrasts with more narrow perspectives, such as historical materialism or structural analysis, that emphasize a single factor or set of factors as the driving force behind social change. Cultural analysis may also examine contextual factors, but tends to focus more specifically on cultural values, beliefs, and practices as they relate to social change.

Question 11

Based on Karl Marx's perspective, change in ________ is the foundation of all other social change.

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx believed that the economic base, or the mode of production, is the foundation of all other social change. He argued that changes in the economic base drive changes in society, including changes in politics, culture, and distribution of power. Marx saw the struggle between the bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (workers) as the primary force driving economic and social change, with the ultimate goal being the establishment of a classless society.

Question 12

William Ogburn argued that technological development produces

Accepted Answer

William Ogburn's theory of cultural lag proposes that technological advancements often outpace changes in social norms, leading to new social problems. Therefore, according to Ogburn, technological development produces new social problems rather than the other options listed (more comfortable lifestyles, better opportunities, improved health).

Question 13

The Internet has created a virtual community that brings together people who otherwise would never interact. At the same time, real community involvement suffers as people spend more time isolated from the "real" world. While technology creates new patterns of social interaction, it also produces problems. This reflects the perspective of which social theorist?

Accepted Answer

William Ogburn was a social theorist who studied the effects of technology on society. He coined the term "cultural lag" to describe the time it takes for social institutions to catch up to technological advances. In this perspective, the Internet has created a virtual community that has not been fully integrated into traditional community involvement, leading to both new patterns of social interaction and new problems.

Question 14

Max Weber argued that ________ contributed to the emergence of industrial capitalism.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber argued that the Protestant ethic, particularly the Calvinist branch, contributed to the emergence of industrial capitalism. Calvinists believed in predestination and a calling to work diligently and frugally in their vocations as a sign of their salvation. Weber argued that this philosophy promoted a work ethic that prioritized efficiency and rationality, which were crucial to the development of capitalism.

Question 15

What is the term that refers to when many individuals begin to engage in a similar behavior independently of one another?

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is referred to as a social trend, which is a pattern of behavior or attitude that spreads throughout a population. It can be influenced by various factors, such as social media, popular culture, or societal norms.

Question 16

Social change is always

Accepted Answer

Social change can be partial, meaning it affects certain aspects of society while leaving others unchanged. It does not necessarily have to be complete or bad, but it can certainly be disturbing to some individuals or groups who may be resistant to change.

Question 17

Current trends in sociological theories that explain social change generally focus on material factors and/or

Accepted Answer

Current trends in sociological theories that explain social change generally focus on material factors, such as technology, economic systems, and social structures, but also include non-material factors like ideas and beliefs. Political decisions and powerful people may play a role in social change, but they are not the sole focus of current theories.

Question 18

William Ogburn proposed that ideas and beliefs change less rapidly than technology. This phenomenon is called

Accepted Answer

William Ogburn introduced the concept of cultural lag, which refers to the delay that often occurs between changes in material culture (technology) and changes in nonmaterial culture (ideas, values, beliefs).

Question 19

Karl Marx's perspective focuses on which of the following to explain social change?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx's perspective emphasizes the importance of material factors, such as economic relations and modes of production, in shaping society and bringing about social change. He believed that changes in the material conditions of society (such as technological advancements or changes in the means of production) would ultimately lead to changes in the social and political structures of that society.

Question 20

Which is the most significant feature of globalization?

Accepted Answer

Increasing interconnection of societies is the most significant feature of globalization as it leads to increased exchange of goods, ideas, and culture between different countries and regions. This can have both positive and negative impacts on economies, societies, and individuals. The other options (increasing use of the Internet, decreasing community and civic involvement, access to affordable consumer goods) are all important aspects of globalization, but not as significant as the interconnection of societies.

Quiz 17: Social Change: Globalization, Population, and Social Movements