Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a question posed by Mills in discussing the promise of sociology?

Accepted Answer

The other three questions are specifically mentioned by Mills as important questions for sociology to answer, but the existential meaning of life is not mentioned in his discussion.

Question 2

Collins suggests that many sociologists become hooked on the discipline through

Accepted Answer

Collins suggests that the appeal of sociology for many is its applicability to the immediate, observable world around them, allowing them to see sociological concepts and theories in action in everyday life.

Question 3

Which of the following does Mills fear best represents our time?

Accepted Answer

Mills fears that indifference and uneasiness have become the dominant cultural mood of our time, reflecting a sense of isolation and powerlessness in the face of complex social and political issues. He sees this as a danger to democracy, as it can lead to apathy and disengagement from civic life.

Question 4

How does sociology differ from other disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, or economics?

Accepted Answer

Sociology is primarily concerned with the study of society and human behavior, while physics, chemistry, and economics focus on different aspects of the natural world or economic systems. Therefore, the focus of sociology is different from these other disciplines.

Answer: B 
 Sociology is unique in that it can be approached from various levels of analysis, such as individual, group, organizational, or societal levels. Other disciplines may not have this variety of levels of approach.

Answer: C and D are incorrect. There is no evidence to suggest that sociology has more interesting things to study than other disciplines, and sociology is different from other disciplines in its focus and methods of study.

Question 5

Why is the study of human beings difficult? What are the unique characteristics of humans that make them different to study than inanimate objects?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is the study of human beings...

Question 6

An allure of sociology is that

Accepted Answer

Sociology is a social science that offers a broad focus on human behavior and social structures, allowing for the analysis of almost any human activity or phenomenon. This makes sociology a flexible and diverse field that is not limited to a specific set of topics or issues. While some sociologists may make a lot of money, or gain prestige in their field, these are not the primary allure or benefits of sociology as a discipline.

Question 7

Collins describes the "sociological eye" as

Accepted Answer

Collins describes the "sociological eye" as the perspective that sociologists use to analyze the world.

Question 8

Disciplines shift and cause changes in their boundaries due to

Accepted Answer

Major advances in theory or research can lead to new discoveries and insights that push the boundaries of a discipline and may even require the formation of new sub-disciplines. This process can lead to significant changes in the scope, focus, and methods of a particular field of study. Administrative turf wars and negotiations with other disciplines may also play a role in shaping the boundaries of academic disciplines, but they are less likely to be the primary drivers of change. The assertion that academic disciplines focus on a fixed and stable subject matter is also incorrect, as disciplines are fluid and constantly evolving in response to new knowledge and discoveries.

Question 9

Which of the following is a part of the sociological imagination, according to Mills?

Accepted Answer

The sociological imagination, according to Mills, involves moving from a personal or individual perspective to a more societal or historical point of view. This includes understanding the connections between private troubles and public issues, and examining the intersectionality of various social factors like race, class, and gender. Looking at the behavior of ants or the stimulus-response patterns of humans do not directly relate to the sociological imagination, while moving from a political perspective to a psychological one aligns with Mills' idea of expanding one's viewpoint beyond individual experiences.

Question 10

Compare the goals and visions of sociology with other social sciences (political science, anthropology, psychology).

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare the goals and visions of sociology...

Question 11

Humans' self-consciousness, according to Mills, is

Accepted Answer

Mills argues that self-consciousness is the ability to understand oneself within a biographical and historical context. This involves reflecting on our own experiences and how they relate to broader societal and cultural forces. It is not simply about being friendly or feeling guilty in our relationships with others, as suggested by options A and B. Option C is a more general statement about a desire to be a friend and is not specific enough to capture the complexity of self-consciousness as Mills defines it.

Question 12

An example of a hybrid discipline that is related to sociology is:

Accepted Answer

All three options listed (criminal justice, ethnic studies, and gender studies) combine knowledge from sociology with knowledge from other fields to form a hybrid discipline. Criminal justice merges sociology with law and criminology, ethnic studies combines sociology with various specific ethnocultural experiences, and gender studies combines sociology with the study of gender and sexuality.

Question 13

How does sociology (and the social sciences, in general) compare to the natural sciences (i.e., chemistry, physics, and biology)? What are the distinguishing characteristics of the social sciences that differentiate them from the natural sciences? How are the social and natural sciences alike?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does sociology (and the social sciences,...

Question 14

According the Collins, the "sociological eye" is developed and used particularly by

Accepted Answer

The "sociological eye" refers to the ability to see societal patterns that influence individual and group life, which is a skill developed and utilized by statisticians, historical comparative researchers, and social theorists alike. Each of these roles involves analyzing social patterns, behaviors, and structures from different perspectives, thereby employing the sociological eye.

Question 15

In considering marriage, which is a structural issue?

Accepted Answer

The rising divorce rate in a society is a structural issue because it is a larger societal trend that impacts individuals and their decisions about marriage. The other choices are more individual or personal decisions and do not have the same level of societal impact.

Question 16

Collins describes the core of sociology as consisting of

Accepted Answer

Collins argues that the core of sociology is not a specific set of texts or ideas, but rather a distinctive intellectual activity. This includes the use of theory, empirical research, and critical analysis to understand social phenomena. While sociology may involve a self-conscious community of practitioners, this is not considered the core of the discipline by Collins. There is also no eternal essence that defines sociology.

Question 17

Collins suggests that a creative way of regaining a refreshing sociological view on the world involves

Accepted Answer

Collins suggests that making the world observationally strange can help regain a refreshing sociological perspective by challenging familiar perceptions and encouraging new insights.

Question 18

One of the major points that Mills is making is that

Accepted Answer

Mills argues that in order to understand human action, we must consider the historical context in which it occurs. He believes that individuals and society are shaped by historical events and that history plays an important role in shaping people's actions and beliefs. Therefore, choice A is the best answer. Choices B, C, and D are all incorrect because they contradict Mills' argument.

Question 19

The sociological promise is that

Accepted Answer

The sociological promise is based on the idea that humans have the ability to understand their personal experiences within a larger historical and societal context. Therefore, choice C best reflects this idea by stating that humans can grasp history and biography and the relation between the two. Choices A, B, and D are inaccurate because humans are capable of lying, the world is unpredictable and at times emotionally unstable, and while human activity may be unpredictable, it is not necessarily devoid of promise.

Question 20

Collins suggests that there is a sociology of everything, specifically including

Accepted Answer

Collins argues that sociology can study anything where human interaction occurs, including mundane settings like a boring committee meeting. This illustrates his point that sociology's scope is broad, encompassing all forms of social interaction, not just traditionally significant or dramatic topics.

Quiz 1: Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Introductory Sociology