Chapter One: What is Sociology?

Transcription

1 Multiple Choice 1.0. Sociology can best be characterized as the study of: a. people and their personalities. b. societies and human social behavior. c. economics and politics. d. science and the scientific method. Page-Reference: 5 Answer : b.societies and human social behavior The basic premise of sociology is that human behavior: a. is largely determined by our biological heritage. b. is largely determined by our personalities, which are fully formed early in life. c. is a product of many unrelated decisions, making human life largely unpredictable. d. is unrelated to the kind of society in which a person lives. e. is largely determined by the groups to which people belong and by the societies in which they live. Page-Reference: 5 Answer : e.is largely determined by the groups to which people belong and by the societies in which they live The sociological perspective emphasizes the extent to which: a. group memberships and social forces can shape human behavior. b. individuals can act independently of one another and achieve their goals. c. experiments are to be preferred as a research method over surveys or participant observation. d. ethical considerations sometimes have to be ignored in order to conduct valid research. Page-Reference: 5 Answer : a.group memberships and social forces can shape human behavior "The powerful role that group membership and social forces play in shaping human behavior" is a definition of: a. science. b. the functionalist perspective. c. the sociological perspective. d. the interactionist perspective. Page-Reference: 5 Answer : c.the sociological perspective. 86

2 5.0. A key element of the sociological perspective is the recognition that beliefs, values, and behaviors are relative to particular groups or societies. This means that: a. a central concern of sociology is on understanding kinship and the family. b. some forms of behavior are found in some societies but not in others. c. social practices can be understood only in the context of a shared view of reality found in a particular group or culture. d. people in more primitive societies are not capable of the range of behaviors and practices that people in modern societies are capable of. Page-Reference: 5 Answer : c.social practices can be understood only in the context of a shared view of reality found in a particular group or culture The text draws which of the following conclusions regarding the convergence of cultures in the world today? a. The values and aspirations found commonly in the United States are spreading around the world. b. Less convergence is occurring today than in the last century. c. Much of the cultural convergence today is limited to material technology. d. The world is becoming a more diverse, rather than less diverse, place. Page-Reference: 6 Answer : c.much of the cultural convergence today is limited to material technology Which of the following would NOT be accurate regarding the impact of globalization on social and cultural life? a. It produces greater uniformity in social and cultural life around the world. b. It produces greater interconnectedness between different peoples aroundthe world. c. It produces more social and cultural diversity in societies around the world. d. It results in a growing unification in social and cultural life around the world. Page-Reference: 7 Answer : c.it produces more social and cultural diversity in societies around the world The "sociological imagination" is best described as: a. the creative use of sociological perspectives by sociologists. b. the creative use of sociological perspectives by non-sociologists. c. the imagination required of sociologists to develop accurate theories of human social behavior. d. the ability of people to understand the relationship between what is happening in their personal lives and the social forces that surround them. e. both A and B. Page-Reference: 8 Answer : d.the ability of people to understand the relationship between what is happening in their personal lives and the social forces that surround them. 87

3 Sociology: Concepts and Applications in a Diverse World, eighth edition 9.0. Which sociologist coined the term "sociological imagination"? a. C. Wright Mills b. Robert K. Merton c. Karl Marx d. Laud Humphreys Page-Reference: 8 Answer : a.c. Wright Mills refers to the process of repeating a scientific investigation that has already been completed. a. Replication b. Redundancy c. Objectivity d. Reactivity e. Hypothesizing Page-Reference: 8 Answer : a.replication Although Cesare Lombroso once claimed that some people are genetically inclined to commit crimes, social scientists today no longer accept his findings in this area. The text uses this example to illustrate that: a. scientists typically disagree with one another about how to interpret research findings. b. science is provisional, with no ultimate or unchangeable truths. c. it is probably impossible to achieve objectivity in the study of crime. d. common sense knowledge is sometimes superior to scientific knowledge. Page-Reference: 9 Answer : b.science is provisional, with no ultimate or unchangeable truths To say that science is objective means that: a. scientists have no personal values. b. scientists can set aside their personal values in order to discover the truth. c. replication is no longer necessary in science. d. science is a foolproof way to achieve knowledge. e. scientists strive to prevent their personal values from affecting their investigations. Page-Reference: 9 Answer : e.scientists strive to prevent their personal values from affecting their investigations Which of the following sets of terms best describes science as a method of obtaining knowledge? a. intuitive, objective, and random b. empirical, intuitive, and imaginative c. empirical, systematic, and objective d. systematic, objective, and intuitive e. empirical, intuitive, and systematic Page-Reference: 8-9 Answer : c.empirical, systematic, and objective 88

4 14.0. According to the text, it is most common for sociological research to: a. confirm our common sense assumptions. b. directly contradict our common sense assumptions. c. find that the truth is more complicated than our common sense would suggest. d. assume that common sense assumptions are wrong and not study them. Page-Reference: 9-10 Answer : c.find that the truth is more complicated than our common sense would suggest Which of the following disciplines is NOT considered a social science? a. psychology b. geology c. economics d. anthropology e. political science Page-Reference: 10 Answer : b.geology Which of the following disciplines is the most encompassing, studying all of human social behavior? a. sociology b. economics c. political sociology d. social psychology Page-Reference: 10 Answer : a.sociology According to the text, sociology involves a continual interplay between: a. reactivity and research. b. research and theory. c. hypotheses and objectivity. d. participant observation and surveys. e. theories and common sense. Answer : b.research and theory A theory is best defined as: a. speculation that sociologists make regarding human behavior and social phenomena. b. a tentative statement that can be tested regarding the relationship between two or more variables. c. a set of statements that explain the relationship among phenomena. d. the untested assumptions that underlie theoretical perspectives. Answer : c.a set of statements that explain the relationship among phenomena. 89

5 Sociology: Concepts and Applications in a Diverse World, eighth edition The theories used by detectives and other lay people serve the same purpose as scientific theories, namely to: a. explain and predict behavior. b. test hypotheses. c. confuse and disorient the opposition. d. prove that common sense is correct. e. support a person's pet hunch. Answer : a.explain and predict behavior A variable is best defined as: a. a set of statements that explain the relationship between phenomena. b. a property or characteristic of something that can take on different values. c. something that brings about a change in something else. d. something that is very hard to predict because its value keeps changing. Answer : b.a property or characteristic of something that can take on different values If we say that engaging in delinquent actions will produce a decline in school performance, then "decline in school performance" is a(an): a. independent variable. b. dependent variable. c. control variable. d. hypothesis. e. theory. Answer : b.dependent variable Variables that are changed or influenced by other variables are called: a. dummy variables. b. independent variables. c. dependent variables. d. control variables. Answer : c.dependent variables If we say that family attachment reduces the likelihood that a juvenile will engage in delinquent actions, then the variable "family attachment" is serving as the: a. independent variable. b. dependent variable. c. control variable. d. replicator variable. e. reactive variable. Answer : a.independent variable. 90

6 24.0. Hypotheses can be derived or developed from which of the following? a. scientific theories b. hunches c. intuition d. all of the above e. both A and C Answer : d.all of the above If hypotheses derived from a theory are verified, then our confidence in that theory will be: a. reduced. b. increased. c. unchanged. d. ignored. Answer : b.increased provide some fundamental assumptions about the nature and operation of society and serve as sources of more specific theories. a. Sociological imaginations b. Theoretical perspectives c. Research methods d. Ethics Page-Reference: 12 Answer : b.theoretical perspectives Which one of the following theoretical perspectives would be referred to as macrosociology? a. the functionalist perspective b. the interactionist perspective c. the conflict perspective d. both A and C e. both A and B Page-Reference: 12 Answer : d.both A and C Which of the following perspectives would be referred to as microsociology? a. the functionalist perspective b. the conflict perspective c. the interactionist perspective d. both A and C e. both B and C Page-Reference: 12 Answer : c.the interactionist perspective 91

7 Sociology: Concepts and Applications in a Diverse World, eighth edition The functionalist perspective grew out of the similarities early sociologists observed between society and: a. sporting events. b. the family. c. schools. d. biological organisms. e. religion. Page-Reference: 12 Answer : d.biological organisms The statement "A society is a system made up of interrelated and interdependent parts, each contributing to the operation of the whole" would be most consistent with: a. the functionalist perspective. b. the conflict perspective. c. the interactionist perspective. d. the scientific perspective. e. the sociological imagination. Page-Reference: 12 Answer : a.the functionalist perspective Which of the following statements would most likely be associated with the functionalist perspective? a. Change involves the redistribution of scarce resources among various interest groups. b. Change occurs when social consensus about shared expectations breaks down. c. People use strategies to create a sense that shared meanings exist and govern social interaction. d. Because the parts of society are interdependent, a change in one part will probably lead to changes in other parts. Page-Reference: 12 Answer : d.because the parts of society are interdependent, a change in one part will probably lead to changes in other parts Which of the following sociologists developed the distinction between manifest and latent functions? a. Karl Marx b. Robert K. Merton c. C. Wright Mills d. Max Weber Page-Reference: Answer : b.robert K. Merton 92

8 33.0. Outcomes that are intended consequences of some action or social process are called: a. manifest functions. b. recidivism. c. social consensus. d. latent functions. e. dysfunctions. Answer : a.manifest functions Colleges and universities serve as a marriage market and help reduce unemployment by keeping some adults out of the job market. These are identified in the text as the of colleges and universities. a. manifest functions b. latent functions c. dysfunctions d. shared expectations Answer : b.latent functions Social practices are dysfunctional when: a. they contribute to social equilibrium more than they disrupt it. b. they disrupt social equilibrium more than they contribute to it. c. they are intended consequences of a social practice. d. interest groups cannot agree on an appropriate distribution of existing resources. Answer : b.they disrupt social equilibrium more than they contribute to it The statement "society consists of different groups who struggle with one another to attain scarce resources" would be associated with the perspective. a. functionalist b. conflict c. interactionist d. scientific Answer : b.conflict The sociologist who provided the foundation for the conflict perspective was: a. Max Weber. b. Robert K. Merton. c. Karl Marx. d. C. Wright Mills. Answer : c.karl Marx. 93

9 Sociology: Concepts and Applications in a Diverse World, eighth edition Modern versions of conflict theory in sociology hold that conflict and domination: a. have been brought under control in modern industrial societies such as the United States. b. occur only in the context of a class struggle. c. can be found in some groups in modern societies but not in others. d. occur to some degree in all groups and societies. Answer : d.occur to some degree in all groups and societies "In any society, there are dominant groups whose members will exert power over others to ensure that their interests are served." This statement would most likely be associated with which perspective? a. functionalist b. conflict c. interactionist d. Hawthorne e. both B and D Answer : b.conflict A group whose members share distinctive and common concerns and whose members benefit from similarities in policies and social practices is called: a. a conflict group. b. a functional group. c. a social system. d. an interest group. e. a control group. Answer : d.an interest group The view of social change as the redistribution of scarce resources among various interest groups would be most consistent with the: a. sociological imagination. b. interactionist perspective. c. functionalist perspective. d. conflict perspective. Answer : d.conflict perspective The conflict perspective has been criticized for: a. overemphasizing the prevalence of stability in society. b. its conservative approach which supports existing social conditions. c. disregarding the prevalence of stability in society. d. downplaying the fact that social practices beneficial to one group may be dysfunctional for another group. Page-Reference: 14 Answer : c.disregarding the prevalence of stability in society. 94

10 43.0. The theoretical perspective that focuses on everyday social interaction among individuals rather than on large societal structures such as politics and education is the: a. interactionist perspective. b. functionalist perspective. c. conflict perspective. d. both A and B. Page-Reference: 14 Answer : a.interactionist perspective According to the interactionist perspective, to understand society, the most basic thing we must understand is: a. social conflict. b. manifest and latent functions along with dysfunctions. c. interest groups. d. social interaction. Page-Reference: 14 Answer : d.social interaction The concept of the "definition of the situation" is most central to the perspective. a. functionalist b. conflict c. interactionist d. scientific e. cross-cultural Page-Reference: 14 Answer : c.interactionist It is the process of that is at the center of attention in the interactionist perspective. a. interpretation b. domination c. reactivity d. integration e. objectivity Page-Reference: 14 Answer : a.interpretation A symbol would be best defined as: a. the prestige associated with some object or event. b. the words that make up our language. c. something that is important to a group or society. d. something that stands for or takes the place of something else. Page-Reference: 15 Answer : d.something that stands for or takes the place of something else. 95

11 Sociology: Concepts and Applications in a Diverse World, eighth edition From the interactionist perspective, social change involves: a. a redistribution of scarce and valued resources. b. the development of a new social consensus with different meanings and expectations. c. an infrequent threat to social order when it occurs. d. a change, at least potentially, in all the elements of society. Page-Reference: 15 Answer : b.the development of a new social consensus with different meanings and expectations The interactionist perspective has been criticized on the grounds that: a. it ignores the importance of the individual in social interaction. b. it overemphasizes the extent of stability in society. c. it downplays the importance of social institutions like the family in molding human behavior. d. it is a conservative approach that supports existing social conditions. Page-Reference: 15 Answer : c.it downplays the importance of social institutions like the family in molding human behavior The three sociological perspectives presented in the text should be viewed: a. as the competing approaches that they are. b. in terms of assessing which one is the most correct interpretation of social behavior. c. in terms of each being useful for examining every social topic. d. as three tools, each of which is useful for analyzing particular social phenomena. Page-Reference: 16 Answer : d.as three tools, each of which is useful for analyzing particular social phenomena One of the key concepts of the functionalist perspective is: a. shared expectations. b. symbols. c. dominance. d. equilibrium. Page-Reference: 16 Answer : d.equilibrium One of the key concepts of the interactionist perspective is: a. interdependence. b. symbols. c. shared expectations. d. all of the above are key concepts of the interactionist perspective. e. both B and C are key concepts of the interactionist perspective. Page-Reference: 16 Answer : e.both B and C are key concepts of the interactionist perspective. 96

12 53.0. All of the following are described in the text as social functions performed by the modern mass media, as identified by the functionalist perspective, EXCEPT: a. the mass media assist the exchange of information. b. the mass media serve as a connective "tissue" that enhance social uniformity. c. the mass media enable the powerful to concentrate more resources in their own hands. d. the mass media are a major mechanism for communicating ideas. Page-Reference: Answer : c.the mass media enable the powerful to concentrate more resources in their own hands "The mass media serve to shape definitions of reality." This statement most clearly derives from which theoretical perspective? a. the functionalist perspective b. the conflict perspective c. the interactionist perspective d. the scientific perspective Page-Reference: 18 Answer : c.the interactionist perspective Which of the following is NOT one of the major research methods most commonly used by sociologists? a. observational techniques b. surveys c. experiments d. samples Page-Reference: 16 Answer : d.samples Research in which the investigator takes part in the activities and everyday routines of the people being studied is called: a. a laboratory experiment. b. a survey. c. participant observation. d. verification. Page-Reference: 19 Answer : c.participant observation In conducting her participant observation research on Latino gangs, sociologist Ruth Horowitz: a. lived in the community where the gang members lived. b. conducted a field experiment with both an experimental and control group. c. discovered that for Latino youths, toughness and violence are a prime way of maintaining honor. d. all of the above. e. both A and C. Page-Reference: 19 Answer : e.both A and C. 97

13 Sociology: Concepts and Applications in a Diverse World, eighth edition One of the disadvantages of using observational techniques in sociological research is that: a. they focus on behavior in real-life situations where people are not coaxed by the investigator. b. people behave much as they would if they were not being studied. c. the data gathered are often difficult to analyze. d. they can only be used to study very large numbers of people. Page-Reference: 19 Answer : c.the data gathered are often difficult to analyze The distinguishing characteristic of surveys as a sociological research method is: a. people's behavior is observed in real-life settings. b. people are asked questions about their behavior or attitudes. c. an independent variable is manipulated in order to assess its effect on a dependent variable. d. an artificial environment is constructed in which selected elements of the natural environment can be simulated. Page-Reference: 19 Answer : b.people are asked questions about their behavior or attitudes The survey of college students reported in the text detected which of the following trends since the 1960s? a. an increase in materialistic values b. a decline in the importance of family issues c. a decrease in materialistic values d. an increase in cynicism Page-Reference: 20 Answer : a.an increase in materialistic values A portion of a larger group or population that is to be interviewed or receive a questionnaire is called a: a. survey. b. experiment. c. variable. d. sample. e. hypothesis. Page-Reference: 20 Answer : d.sample One of the shortcomings of surveys as a means of making observations is: a. they are expensive to use when gathering data from large numbers of people. b. there may be an "experimenter effect." c. they tend to focus on what people do rather than on what people say. d. people may forget or misrepresent their views. Page-Reference: 20 Answer : d.people may forget or misrepresent their views. 98

14 63.0. The distinguishing characteristic of an experiment is that: a. people are observed as they behave in real-life settings. b. one variable is manipulated in order to assess its effects on another variable. c. people are asked questions about their behavior or attitudes. d. they utilize representative samples of people. Page-Reference: 20 Answer : b.one variable is manipulated in order to assess its effects on another variable In an experiment, which of the following groups is exposed to the independent variable? a. the sample group b. the control group c. the reactive group d. the experimental group Page-Reference: 20 Answer : d.the experimental group In the field experiment on recidivism reported in the text, which of the following independent variables seemed to have the effect of reducing recidivism with some crimes? a. financial aid b. job placement services c. longer prison terms d. being in the control group Page-Reference: 21 Answer : a.financial aid A major advantage of experiments is: a. people behave more naturally than they do with other types of research methods. b. data can be gathered inexpensively from large numbers of people. c. the likelihood of "experimenter effects" influencing the results is less than with other research methods. d. they provide researchers with the ability to control extraneous variables. Page-Reference: 21 Answer : d.they provide researchers with the ability to control extraneous variables Changes in people's behavior that result from the fact that they are being observed are referred to as: a. representative sampling. b. sampling effects. c. recidivism. d. reactivity. Page-Reference: 22 Answer : d.reactivity. 99

15 Sociology: Concepts and Applications in a Diverse World, eighth edition Early studies of worker productivity found that any change in the working environment both improvements and reversals of those improvements resulted in increased productivity. This phenomenon has been labeled: a. the Hawthorne effect. b. the experimental variable. c. recidivism. d. the dependent variable. e. hypothetical effects. Page-Reference: 23 Answer : a.the Hawthorne effect Which of the following terms refers to a type of reactivity? a. recidivism b. experimenter effects c. replication d. Hawthorne effect Page-Reference: 23 Answer : d.hawthorne effect According to the text, which of the following sociologists took the position that sociology should remain a value-free science? a. Alvin Gouldner b. Max Weber c. Karl Marx d. both B and C Page-Reference: 23 Answer : b.max Weber According to the sociologist Alvin Gouldner, a reasonable position on the value-free controversy in sociology is: a. to forewarn other scientists about what your values are and how they might influence your research. b. to suspend your personal and political values when engaging in scientific research. c. to be guided in your research by personal and political values that will help alleviate social ills. d. to ignore the controversy since it will never be resolved. Page-Reference: 23 Answer : a.to forewarn other scientists about what your values are and how they might influence your research. 100

16 72.0. Critics of Laud Humphreys's studies of male homosexual encounters in public restrooms charged that: a. homosexuality is not an acceptable topic of investigation for sociologists. b. Humphreys should have reported the criminal violations that he observed to the police. c. Humphreys would have collected better data if he had revealed his identity as a sociologist to the men he observed. d. he violated the men's right to privacy. Page-Reference: 25 Answer : d.he violated the men's right to privacy Regarding the communications between a researcher and a research participant, the courts have generally ruled that: a. they are private and cannot be intruded on by courts. b. they are not privileged and thus not protected from intrusion by the courts. c. they are as legally protected as the communication between a physician and a patient. d. there have been no court rulings on this issue. Page-Reference: 25 Answer : b.they are not privileged and thus not protected from intrusion by the courts Which of the following people is considered to be the "father/mother" of sociology? a. Auguste Comte b. W. E. B. Du Bois c. Harriet Martineau d. Albion Small e. Jane Addams Page-Reference: 25 Answer : a.auguste Comte The PRIMARY focus of applied sociology would be on all of the following EXCEPT: a. how to change social policy. b. theory verification. c. how to change people's behavior. d. all of the above are a primary focus of applied sociology. Page-Reference: 26 Answer : b.theory verification According to the text, which of the following would be included in the term "sociological practice"? a. clinical sociology b. theory verification c. sociological consulting d. All of the above are a part of sociological practice. e. Both A and C are a part of sociological practice. Page-Reference: Answer : e.both A and C are a part of sociological practice. 101

17 Sociology: Concepts and Applications in a Diverse World, eighth edition True/False The experience in South Africa illustrates that informed consent can be difficult to achieve when: a. people do not speak English. b. those being studied are the dominant group. c. those being studied are of the same culture as the researcher. d. those being studied are in a subordinate position in society. Page-Reference: 24 Answer : d.those being studied are in a subordinate position in society At the core of the discipline of sociology is the belief that human behavior is largely determined by individual personality characteristics. Page-Reference: 5 Answer : a.false 2.0. When sociologists state that values and behavior are relative, they mean that values and behavior can be understood only when placed in the context of particular groups and societies. Page-Reference: 5 Answer : a.true 3.0. Sociologist C. Wright Mills argued that people's behavior and viewpoints are shaped by the intersection of history and geography. Page-Reference: 7 Answer : a.false 4.0. To say that science is empirical means that scientists must demonstrate what they claim is true by observation in the real world. Page-Reference: 8 Answer : a.true 5.0. According to the text, the problem with commonsense knowledge is that it rarely has an accurate view of reality. Page-Reference: 9-10 Answer : a.false 102

18 6.0. Psychology, anthropology, and geology are all considered social sciences. Page-Reference: 10 Answer : a.false 7.0. In science, theories serve the purpose of explaining and predicting behavior. Answer : a.true 8.0. In science, variables that bring about changes in other variables are called the independent variables. Answer : a.true 9.0. The guiding theme of the functionalist perspective in sociology is that coercion, domination, and inequality are normal and inevitable mechanisms in society. Page-Reference: Answer : a.false Modern conflict theory in sociology holds that domination and coercion occur to some degree in all groups and societies because these social processes serve to regulate behavior and allocate resources. Answer : a.true The concepts of the definition of the situation and the interpretation of social meaning are central to the interactionist perspective. Page-Reference: Answer : a.true 103

19 Sociology: Concepts and Applications in a Diverse World, eighth edition Essay Questions One of the benefits of observational techniques in comparison to surveys is that the former permit scientists to gather data inexpensively from large numbers of people. Page-Reference: Answer : a.false The major advantage of experiments in comparison to other research methods is that experiments best permit us to say whether change in an independent variable was the cause of changes in a dependent variable. Page-Reference: 21 Answer : a.true The Hawthorne effect is a technique for maintaining objectivity in scientific research. Page-Reference: 23 Answer : a.false The main contribution of clinical sociologists is to conduct research and collect data that can be used by applied sociologists to shape public policy. Page-Reference: 26 Answer : a.false 1.0. Define sociology and describe the sociological perspective. How does this perspective differ from other ways of viewing the social world? Page-Reference: What are the characteristics of science? How does science differ from common sense? Page-Reference: Describe the process of theory verification in sociology. In your answer, distinguish between terms such as "variable," "hypothesis," and "theory." What different kinds of variables are there? 104