question

The titles Karl Marx used to describe the two classes in society were the ________ and the ________.

answer

bourgeoisie; proletariat

question

Karl Marx believed that ________ was the central force for social change, while Max Weber believed that ________ was the force most responsible for social change.

answer

economics; religion

question

Because of her outstanding contributions to social reform, as demonstrated in her work as co-founder of Hull-House, ________ was a co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.

answer

Jane Adams

question

According to Max Weber, the Protestant ethic was a central factor in the birth of ________.

answer

capitalism

question

Functionalists and conflict theorists tend to focus on the ________, or large scale patterns of society, in conducting their analyses.

answer

macro level

question

Sociologists who analyze how social life depends on the ways that people define themselves and others are most likely ________.

answer

symbolic interactionists

question

The sociological perspective emphasizes how the social context influences people's lives, particularly how people are influenced by ________.

answer

society

question

The Wall Street Journal has declared that the three greatest modern thinkers were ________, ________, and ________.

answer

Karl Marx; Sigmund Freud; Albert Einstein

question

What was the social event that most influenced Auguste Comte to explore patterns within society and become interested in what holds society together?

answer

the French Revolution

question

The first person to propose that the scientific method could be applied to the study of social life was ________.

answer

Auguste Comte

question

When sociologists' group people into categories based on their age, gender, educational level, job, and income, they are trying to determine ________.

answer

hypothesis

question

What is the defining characteristic of a random sample?

answer

It gives each person in the population of interest an equal chance of being chosen.

question

Karl Marx suggested that the force that drives human history and is at the core of human society is ________.

answer

class conflict

question

Functionalists refer to how parts of a society fit together to form a whole as ________.

answer

a structure

question

Which of the following elements did C. Wright Mills attribute as being the one that sociologists would use to explain individual behavior?

answer

external influence

question

The sociologist responsible for suggesting the connection between history and biography to explain the sociological imagination was ________.

answer

Wright Mills

question

Which research method involves collecting data by having people answer a series of questions?

answer

survey

question

What is the use of objective and systematic observation to test theories, one that is often employed by sociologists?

answer

the scientific method

question

According to Robert Merton, ________ are the intended beneficial consequences of people's actions.

answer

manifest functions

question

The notion that only the fittest members of society deserve to survive and that social programs to help the poor will ultimately weaken the social order is a doctrine known as ________.

answer

social Darwinism

question

Max Weber referred to the self-denying approach to life characterized by people living frugal lives and saving their money as the ________.

answer

Protestant ethic

question

The first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University, who spent his lifetime studying race relations in America and was one of the founders of the NAACP, was ________.

answer

W. E. B. Du Bois

question

Precise ways to measure variables in research so that comparisons can be made and replications can later be done are referred to as ________.

answer

operational definitions

question

Mark views society as a system of interrelated parts, while John views society as composed of groups competing for scarce resources. Mark would be considered a(n) ________ and John would be seen as a(n) ________.

answer

functionalist; conflict theorist

question

A statement that describes how variables are expected to be related to one another, often according to predictions from a theory, is known as a ________.

answer

hypothesis

question

The sociologist who identified ten underlying core values of American society was ________.

answer

Robin Williams

question

The refusal of Christians to accept Islam as a valid religion is a form of ________, while the sincere effort to understand the practice of having multiple wives in some societies is a form of ________.

answer

ethnocentrism; cultural relativism

question

Most American high schools routinely schedule ceremonies to recognize the most talented student athletes and scholars. Such activities illustrate the importance that Americans place on which value, as defined by sociologist Robin Williams?

answer

achievement and success

question

If Alice came to class wearing a soiled and torn blouse, she would be violating a ________. But if Alice came to class not wearing a blouse (or any other garment), she would be violating a ________.

answer

folkway; more

question

Anthropologist Ralph Linton said, "The last thing a fish would ever notice would be water." What does this imply about culture?

answer

Culture is taken for granted by members of society who share it.

question

All of the following statements are examples of countercultures, EXCEPT for which one?

answer

Chicago Cubs fans

question

All of the following statements are accurate in describing gestures, EXCEPT for which one?

answer

Social scientists have identified many common gestures and agree that gestures are universal.

question

The term "cultural lag," referring to the varying ________ among elements within cultures, was coined by sociologist ________.

answer

rates of change; William Ogburn

question

Without language, human culture would ________.

answer

be little more advanced than lower primates

question

While in the Peace Corps, Kristina enjoyed a delicious Cambodian dinner that included several entrees. Later that evening she was told that one of the entrees was roast dog, the same canine Kristina was playing with the day before. At this point Kristina became ill and swore she would be a vegetarian as long as she was in Cambodia. Which statement most applies to Kristina's experience?

answer

Kristina experienced culture shock.

question

Sociologists have identified an emerging set of five interrelated values in American society. What are these emerging values?

answer

leisure, self-fulfillment, physical fitness, youthfulness, and environmental concern

question

Good nutrition, medical care, comfortable housing, and a nice car are included in a classification of values in American society that sociologist Robin Williams would call ________.

answer

material comfort

question

Courtney raises champion sheep, Joe is a cab driver in New York, and Rufus is a member of the RAW family of professional wrestling. What do Courtney, Joe, and Rufus have in common?

answer

They are all members of subcultures.

question

The emerging tools and the skills needed to use them, which have a significant impact on social life, are called ________.

answer

new technology

question

The notion that language determines our consciousness is the basic premise of which concept?

answer

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

question

Which of Williams' U.S. values is contradicts the other values of freedom, democracy, and equality?

answer

group superiority

question

Harry is in the campus dining hall and has chosen a cheeseburger and fries rather than a veggie burger. Harvey, a fraternity playboy, claims he has only dated the most beautiful women on campus. Horace considers earning an "A" in a course far superior than a "C" or even a "B." What do Harry, Harvey, and Horace have in common?

answer

They are expressing their own values in the choices they make.

question

Symbols can be strung together in an infinite number of ways for the purpose of communicating abstract thought. This is referred to as ________.

answer

language

question

The author added three values to the original list of ten core values that Robin Williams identified as the most common in American society. Which of the following is NOT one of the three values added?

answer

equality

question

Receiving the Medal of Honor and making the Dean's List are both examples of ________.

answer

positive sanctions

question

Americans glorify academic progress and material success. However, most students do not graduate with honors and most citizens are not wealthy. This condition characterizes the difference between ________ and ________.

answer

ideal culture; real culture

question

Sociologists use the concept of "norms" to describe ________.

answer

expectations or rules of behavior that develop from values

question

Jewelry, art, hairstyles, and clothing each represent examples of ________.

answer

material culture

question

Language, beliefs, values, norms, behavior, material objects, and technology that are passed from one generation to the next by members of society describe ________.

answer

culture

question

When Harry returned from a business meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, his wife asked him what he thought of the Vietnamese people. Harry replied, "They're primitive people who eat animals from the streets, drive wildly around town on motor scooters, and talk very fast." Harry's reply best qualifies as an example of ________.

answer

ethnocentrism

question

Every December, many Jewish families celebrate Chanukah, the "festival of lights," during which special foods are served, rituals are practiced, and traditional activities take place that are unique to this faith. In this context, members of the Jewish faith would represent which concept?

answer

subculture

question

When a group has a distinctive way of looking at life, but at the same time its values and norms reflect the dominant culture of its society, the group would be considered a(n) ________.

answer

subculture

question

People from all walks of life, races, religions, and ethnic groups participate in the U.S. legislative process. In view of this, which term best describes American society?

answer

America is a pluralistic society.

question

Sociologists are now developing what they call _________, which emphasizes the influence of genes on human behavior.

answer

genetics-informed sociology

question

The author's experience in Morocco, which included the absence of women from public positions, intense stares directed at him, pushing and shoving at the train station, and total disregard for sanitation by food vendors, left the author with a profound sense of ________.

answer

culture shock

Sociology Mid-Term – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards