Question 1

Effective in the 2000 Census, the classification of data based on race and ethnicity changed the way people were categorized in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

The 2000 Census changed the way people were categorized in all of the ways listed in choices A, B, and C. Five categories were included for race, two categories were added for ethnicity, and "some other race" was included as an option for those who could not identify with the initial five race categories. Therefore, D is the correct answer choice.

Question 2

The school of thought called "symbolic interactionism" is often associated with which university?

Accepted Answer

The school of thought called "symbolic interactionism" is often associated with the University of Chicago, where scholars such as George Herbert Mead, Herbert Blumer, and Erving Goffman were influential in developing this perspective on human communication and social interaction.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a core idea of symbolic interactionism?

Accepted Answer

The core ideas of symbolic interactionism include the importance of meanings assigned to objects and actions, the social construction of those meanings, and the recognition that different groups may assign different meanings to the same object. The idea that all human action can be absolutely measured and controlled is not a core idea of this perspective.

Question 4

From a symbolic interactionist perspective, alcohol Prohibition in the early part of the twentieth century involved

Accepted Answer

From a symbolic interactionist perspective, alcohol Prohibition in the early part of the twentieth century involved a battle over the discrepant meanings regarding alcohol. Different groups had different views on what alcohol represented and how it should be used, and they fought for their definitions to be adopted by society. The desire of one group to have their view of alcohol take precedence over other groups' definitions of alcohol was also a key factor in the Prohibition movement. Ultimately, it was the ability of a powerful group, the temperance movement, to get their interpretation of the law adopted, which led to the enactment of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Question 5

One of the by-products of the slow recognition of Latinos in the census is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

All of the above are true. The slow recognition of Latinos in the census made it easier for discrimination to occur, allowed them to be ignored as part of American society, and limited group awareness and solidarity among Latinos.

Question 6

There are several reasons why the category of "race" is no longer considered to be identified as a meaningful force in American society because we really cannot discuss race in a "pure" sense anymore (due to the frequency of inter-relationships that have occurred). However, another reason the authors discuss for why social scientists and ordinary citizens have begun to shy away from "race" as a category to differentiate people is

Accepted Answer

All three options (A, B, and C) are valid reasons for why the category of "race" is no longer considered to be a meaningful force in American society. Option A highlights the discomfort people may feel with emphasizing the power of racial categories in society, option B underscores the confusion people often have when trying to differentiate between race, ethnicity, and nationality, and option C points out how the concept of race has always had political meanings and uses. Together, these reasons help to explain why the category of race has become increasingly contested and complicated in contemporary American society.

Question 7

For the most part, how did Hispanics become part of the American cultural landscape?

Accepted Answer

Hispanics were largely acquired through imperialism and conquest, with areas like California, Texas, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, and others being annexed or invaded by the United States. This resulted in Hispanic populations becoming part of the American cultural landscape.

Question 8

According to the authors, though the U.S. Census can be considered a consistent form of data, in which of the following categories has the Census been most inconsistent?

Accepted Answer

The authors suggest that the U.S. Census has been most inconsistent in the category of race and ethnicity.

Question 9

According to the authors, which of the following is a reason for why Hispanics have occupied a unique place in American history, as compared to other racial and ethnic groups?

Accepted Answer

The authors argue that Hispanics have occupied a unique place in American history because, unlike other racial and ethnic groups, they were not treated as a menace that needed to be removed like Native Americans, they were not formally enslaved like Africans, and they were not declined citizenship or excluded from American society like Asians. Therefore, the correct answer is D, all of the above.

Question 10

While most Whites accept the idea that racism is just a part of the past, empirical evidence shows that this is not true. Which of the following is cited as an example of the persistence of racism in American society?

Accepted Answer

Media images that continue to portray certain racial and ethnic groups in stereotypical and negative ways, such as being "criminal" or "welfare cheats," are examples of how racism persists in American society through systemic and cultural representations.

Question 11

With the expansion of the definitions of Hispanic or Latino as ethnic categories in the 2000 Census, one can predict that this might have significant effects on the American political, legal, justice, economic, and social systems. How do you see the greater use of the terms Hispanic and Latino as having an effect on American society more generally? Do you see this as a positive or negative for society as a whole? What does it say about the consistency and comparability of the Census as a form of sociological data?

Accepted Answer

The answer of With the expansion of the definitions of...

Question 12

According to Colomy, sociology is generally divided along ___________ and ____________ dimensions.

Accepted Answer

Colomy states that sociology is divided into macro and micro dimensions, referring to the level of analysis. Macro sociology examines large-scale social structures and institutions, while micro sociology focuses on small-scale interactions and individual experiences.

Question 13

For functionalists, which of the following might be considered a latent function?

Accepted Answer

A latent function is a hidden or unintended consequence of a social structure or action. The idea that committing crimes can help define the moral boundaries of a society is a perfect example of a latent function because it is not the intended purpose of committing a crime, but it still has a significant impact on society.

Question 14

The person often associated with being the founder of functionalism is:

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim is often credited with being the founder of functionalism, also known as structural functionalism. He believed that society is made up of interdependent parts that work together to maintain the overall stability and functionality of the society. This perspective views society as a complex system with various components, each of which serves a specific function.

Question 15

Which of the following is not a principle of functionalism?

Accepted Answer

This statement is actually a principle of symbolic interactionism, not functionalism. Functionalism emphasizes the role of larger social structures in shaping individual behavior and focuses on the interdependence of different social institutions.

Question 16

In the 1940 census, the term "Mexican" was dropped from the list of racial responses and Mexicans at that time were listed in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

In the 1940 census, the term "Mexican" was dropped from the list of racial responses and Mexicans were instead classified as White unless they were definitely Indian or some other race other than White. This was a change from the previous census where Mexicans were often classified as a separate racial category or as "other."

Question 17

By the time of the 2000 Census, what percentage of Americans was considered to be part of the Latino population?

Accepted Answer

According to the 2000 Census, approximately 13% of Americans were considered to be part of the Latino population.

Question 18

For many social scientists today, race is no longer considered a biological variable. These people argue that, due to the large amount of inter-racial relationships in the United States, the concept of pure "race" is no longer relevant. However, some people argue instead that race should be considered a social construct. Define what this means and explain the significance of this idea for how categories of people are treated in American society.

Accepted Answer

The answer of For many social scientists today, race is...

Question 19

For the first six censuses in the United States, the primary categories of race were White and Black. Which of the following was not a category that showed up when the census increased the number of categories for describing people according to their race and/or ethnicity?

Accepted Answer

The category of Hispanic was not included when the census increased the number of categories for describing people according to their race and/or ethnicity. This is because Hispanic is an ethnic identifier, rather than a racial identifier. The census eventually added a separate category for Hispanic or Latino ethnicity in the 1970s.

Question 20

According to Nobles (2000), as described in the article by Kilty and Vidal de Haymes, the census classification systems helped to create the concept of race and what it means in American society. However, Census authorities deny what Nobles is arguing and that they are not creating false definitions of race. Explain the position of the Census authorities and their defense of their racial classifications.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Nobles (2000), as described in...

Quiz 1: Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Introductory Sociology