Question 1

When studying the problem of suicide, sociologists are most interested in explaining its?__________.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists are most interested in explaining the structural origins of suicide, examining factors such as social class, gender, race, and religion, as well as broader social and cultural factors that may contribute to suicide rates. They are less concerned with the psychological dimensions of suicide, as this falls more in the realm of psychology and psychiatry. Suicide is viewed by sociologists as a social phenomenon that reflects broader social trends and issues. Media coverage may contribute to the social construction of suicide, but is not a central focus of sociological inquiry on the topic.

Question 2

A __________ is a large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.

Accepted Answer

A society is defined as a large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations, which matches the description given.

Question 3

Sociology is defined as the __________.

Accepted Answer

Sociology is the systematic study of human society and social interaction. It involves the examination of social relationships, institutions, and cultures in order to gain a better understanding of the social world around us. Sociology explores topics such as marriage and family, education, inequality and social stratification, race and ethnicity, and many others. It is a broad field that seeks to explain how society operates and how human behavior is shaped by social forces.

Question 4

__________ is a socially constructed concept used by many people to specify groups of people based on physical characteristics such as skin color.

Accepted Answer

Race is a socially constructed concept used to categorize groups of people based on physical characteristics such as skin color. However, the biological basis of race is disputed by many scientists and experts in the field of genetics. Ethnicity refers to a group of people sharing common cultural characteristics, such as language or religion. Nationality refers to a person's legal citizenship or country of origin. Genealogy refers to the study of family lineage and ancestry.

Question 5

__________ refers to the fact that the lives of people everywhere are intertwined closely so that one nation's problems are part of a much larger global context.

Accepted Answer

Global interdependence refers to the idea that the world is interconnected and that events in one part of the world can have significant impacts on other parts of the world. This means that countries must work together to address a range of issues, including economic, environmental, and political problems.

Question 6

A significant difference between high-income and low-income countries is that low-income countries tend to be __________.

Accepted Answer

Low-income countries tend to be more agrarian, meaning that they rely heavily on agriculture and farming as their main source of livelihood. High-income countries, on the other hand, tend to have more developed economies that are based on manufacturing, services, and technology. Additionally, low-income countries often have larger populations and may be geographically larger as well, although this is not always the case.

Question 7

A broken thermometer that measures the same temperature every day lacks both reliability and validity.

Accepted Answer

A broken thermometer that measures the same temperature every day may lack reliability, but it cannot be evaluated for validity as it is not measuring the correct temperature in the first place. Validity refers to the accuracy and truthfulness of a measurement, while reliability refers to the consistency and stability of a measurement over time.

Question 8

Quantitative research and qualitative research both follow the same research model.

Accepted Answer

Quantitative and qualitative research follow different research models. Quantitative research usually follows a deductive approach, using hypothesis testing and statistical analysis to collect and analyze numerical data, while qualitative research follows an inductive approach, using open-ended questions and non-numerical data to explore and interpret phenomenon.

Question 9

Which of these is not part of the sociological approach to the study of society and social interaction?

Accepted Answer

The application of commonsense or everyday understandings is not part of the sociological approach, as sociologists aim to use systematic research techniques and search for patterns in human behavior to form empirical conclusions. The presentation of research findings is also important in the sociological approach, as it allows for the dissemination of knowledge and further discussion in the field.

Question 10

Which of these groups has the lowest rate of suicide?

Accepted Answer

Asian/Pacific Islanders have the lowest rate of suicide compared to other racial and ethnic groups. According to data from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the suicide rate for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders was 6.19 per 100,000 individuals in 2018, compared to 14.46 for white Americans, 6.81 for African Americans, and 16.22 for Native Americans.

Question 11

__________ studied suicide in what was probably the first sociological study to use scientific research methods.

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim conducted a seminal study on suicide, titled "Suicide: A Study in Sociology," which utilized scientific research methods and was one of the first sociological studies of its kind.

Question 12

Sociological studies on suicide that have compared rates of suicide with other variables, such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education, are examples of quantitative research.

Accepted Answer

Sociological studies that compare rates of suicide with other variables using statistical methods are considered quantitative research.

Question 13

Sociologist C. Wright Mills coined the term __________ for the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society.

Accepted Answer

Sociologist C. Wright Mills coined the term "sociological imagination" for the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society.

Question 14

According to Mills, the sociological imagination enables one to distinguish between personal troubles that must be solved within the immediate social setting and __________ that affect large numbers of people and often require solutions at the societal level.

Accepted Answer

Mills argues that the sociological imagination helps individuals to distinguish between personal troubles and public issues. Personal troubles are individual difficulties that arise from personal and private circumstances, whereas public issues are social problems that affect large numbers of people and require solutions beyond the immediate social setting.

Question 15

The world's __________ countries are nations with highly industrialized economies; technologically advanced industrial, administrative, and service occupations; and relatively high levels of national and personal income.

Accepted Answer

High-income countries meet the criteria of having highly industrialized economies, technologically advanced industries, and high levels of national and personal income.

Question 16

One person's inability to find a job may be an example of a __________, whereas widespread unemployment as a result of changes in the economy, such as the outsourcing of jobs, is an example of a __________.

Accepted Answer

The first scenario is a personal trouble because it is specific to one individual, while the second scenario is a public issue because it affects a larger group of people and stems from broader societal trends like economic changes.

Question 17

People throughout the world share the same biosphere; environmental pollution in one area may have an adverse effect on people in other places. This makes environmental problems an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

The statement highlights how environmental problems in one area can have adverse effects on people in other places, emphasizing the interconnectivity and interdependence of the global community. Therefore, the best choice is global interdependence (D). While international interlock (A) and universal cooperation (B) may be related concepts, they do not fully capture the idea of shared responsibility for environmental issues. Societal cohesiveness (C) is not relevant here as the statement is discussing environmental concerns and not societal ones.

Question 18

China, Brazil, and Mexico are considered examples of __________.

Accepted Answer

China, Brazil, and Mexico are classified as middle-income countries, meaning they have made significant economic progress but still have lower levels of development compared to high-income countries.

Question 19

The cultural heritage or identity of a group, based on factors such as language or country of origin, is termed __________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnicity refers to the cultural heritage or identity of a group, which can be based on factors such as language, country of origin, customs, traditions, and beliefs. Religion refers to a set of beliefs and practices related to the worship of a higher power or powers. Race refers to physical or biological characteristics shared by a group of people, while genealogy refers to the study of family history and ancestry.

Question 20

Any research question may be answered using any of the various research methods.

Accepted Answer

Not all research questions can be answered using any research method; the choice of method depends on the nature of the question, the type of data needed, and the research objectives.

Quiz 1: The Sociological Perspective and Research Process