Question 1

Marx's perspective is called dialectical materialism.

Accepted Answer

Marx's perspective is indeed called dialectical materialism, which combines the ideas of dialectics (a way of understanding change through opposite forces) and materialism (the belief that material conditions shape human society and history).

Question 2

C.Wright Mills is credited as the founder of sociology.

Accepted Answer

C. Wright Mills is not credited as the founder of sociology. Although he made significant contributions to the field and is a prominent figure in sociological theory, the discipline of sociology has its roots in the works of other scholars such as Auguste Comte, Karl Marx, and Emile Durkheim.

Question 3

Ideal type is a concept that portrays the most valuable characteristics of phenomena,such as bureaucracies and capitalism.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 4

The sociological imagination allows us to realize the connection between our personal problems and the public issues of our time.

Accepted Answer

The sociological imagination is a concept developed by C. Wright Mills that stresses the importance of understanding the relationship between our personal experiences and the larger social and historical processes shaping them. According to Mills, this requires us to use our imagination to see beyond our individual circumstances and recognize how they are influenced by wider social structures and events, such as cultural norms, economic arrangements, and political systems. The ability to make these connections between our personal problems and public issues is a key feature of the sociological imagination.

Question 5

One of the most important contributions of sociologist Max Weber is his insistence on maintaining a "value-free" approach to the discipline.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber emphasized the importance of objectivity and neutrality in sociological research, advocating for a "value-free" approach to ensure unbiased analysis.

Question 6

Recent data show that more than 18 percent of America's children live in poverty.

Accepted Answer

According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 18.7 percent of children in the United States lived in poverty in 2019.

Question 7

Elliot Liebow's study of streetcorner men demonstrated how sociological research can help us to see beyond the stereotyped images of African American men.

Accepted Answer

Elliot Liebow's study of streetcorner men, titled "Tally's Corner," aimed to humanize and understand the experiences of African American men living in poverty. Through qualitative research, Liebow was able to challenge and go beyond the negative stereotypes often associated with this population.

Question 8

Elliot Liebow's classic study of low-income urban black men offers a fine example of how sociological research is limited to gathering only superficial understandings of social problems like poverty.

Accepted Answer

Elliot Liebow's classic study, "Tally's Corner: A Study of Negro Streetcorner Men," is actually known for its in-depth qualitative research and analysis of the experiences and perspectives of low-income urban black men. The study offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the social and structural factors that contribute to poverty and marginalization.

Question 9

John D.Rockefeller emphasized the role of class conflict in the formation of history.

Accepted Answer

John D. Rockefeller was a prominent industrialist and philanthropist, not a historian or theorist known for emphasizing class conflict. The emphasis on class conflict in history is more closely associated with Karl Marx.

Question 10

English sociologist Harriet Martineau was an ardent defender of women's rights who supported the idea of making the study of society a scientific enterprise.

Accepted Answer

Harriet Martineau was indeed an ardent defender of women's rights who believed in the scientific study of society. She is considered to be one of the first sociologists and is known for her work on the oppression of women and marginalized groups.

Question 11

The sociological imagination was a concept developed by C.Wright Mills that helps us to understand how the creativity of the average American can help us to overcome social obstacles.

Accepted Answer

The Sociological Imagination is a concept developed by C. Wright Mills that provides a framework for understanding our social world. It emphasizes the interplay between history, biography, and social structure, and encourages individuals to question the social norms and institutions that shape their lives. It is not specifically focused on the creativity of the average American or overcoming social obstacles, although these may be related themes.

Question 12

Macrosociology focuses on the up-close and personal events of human beings in their private worlds.

Accepted Answer

Macrosociology is the study of large-scale social structures and broad patterns of social behavior, whereas microsociology focuses on the individual and how they interact in their everyday social lives. Therefore, the statement given is false.

Question 13

From a sociological perspective,what we think,how we feel,and what we say and do are shaped by our social interactions.

Accepted Answer

Sociological perspective emphasizes the influence of social interactions in shaping an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behavior. We learn social norms, values, and beliefs through our social interactions with others, which can impact our attitudes, feelings, and actions. Therefore, our thoughts, emotions, and behavior are not solely determined by individual factors but are shaped by social factors as well.

Question 14

Microsociology involves the detailed study of what people say,do,and think moment-by-moment in their everyday lives.

Accepted Answer

Microsociology is concerned with the analysis of social interactions and practices on a small scale, often through the use of ethnographic methods. It focuses on the moment-by-moment interactions of individuals and the meanings they attach to them.

Question 15

Sociologist Max Weber used verstehen to identify the significance of understanding the subjective meanings people attach to their behavior.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber did indeed use verstehen to emphasize the importance of understanding the subjective meanings individuals attach to their actions and behavior.

Question 16

Emile Durkheim was a French psychologist who promoted the idea that suicide was brought on by the mental illness of the individuals committing the act.

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim's theory on suicide was that social factors, such as lack of social integration or regulation, were the primary causes rather than individual mental illness.

Question 17

Herbert Spencer was an English sociologist who argues that society was like a human organism because it was made up of many interrelated parts.

Accepted Answer

This is correct. Herbert Spencer believed that society was like an organism because it had many different parts that worked together to keep it functioning. He developed the concept of social Darwinism, which argued that societies evolved and developed in a similar way to organisms, with the fittest societies surviving and the weaker ones dying out.

Question 18

Since sociological research is scientific in nature,it is seldom applied to the practical matters of everyday life.

Accepted Answer

Sociological research is often applied to practical matters of everyday life such as public policy, education, healthcare, and social programs. Sociologists use their research findings to inform and improve these areas to create a better society.

Question 19

Most African Americans are not poor with more than 75 percent of African Americans living above the poverty line.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2018 approximately 75% of African Americans lived above the poverty line. This means that the statement in the question is true.

Question 20

The collection of census and national statistical data used to determine federal and state policies on health,education,and housing is collected primarily through telemarketing private businesses.

Accepted Answer

Census and national statistical data is collected primarily through door-to-door surveys, online surveys, and mail-in surveys. While telemarketing may be used as a method of data collection, it is not the primary method.

Quiz 1: Developing a Sociological Consciousness