Question 1

Based on Henslin\'s (author of the text) definition of the sociological perspective, which of the following would be a sociological approach to studying gangs in Salt Lake City?

Accepted Answer

examine family and community practices that monitor youth or provide social control in neighborhoods experiencing gang behavior; study the social context, such as ethnic or neighborhood cultural factors that promote participation in gangs.

Question 2

Three of the great \"founding fathers\" of sociological thought were Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. Their contributions to social theory include: (1) social integration - suicide rates are lowest among people that are more socially integrated into society; (2) class conflict - exploitation of workers is a result of class conflict between those that own the means of production and those that do not; and (3) Protestant ethic - religion, not economics is what produces social change; religious groups that believe financial success is a sign they are \"saved\" are more likely to develop capitalism, relative to societies that do not have these same beliefs. Which of the following correctly attributes the theorist to his theory?

Accepted Answer

Marx: class conflict; Weber: Protestant ethic; Durkheim: social integration

Question 3

One of the primary conclusions of Durkheim\'s work (and could also be said of Marx and Weber) is which of the following:

Accepted Answer

Human behavior cannot be understood simply in individualistic terms; we must always examine the social forces that affect people\'s lives

Question 4

Three major theoretical perspectives that we will discuss in class this semester are introduced in this chapter. One of them is Symbolic Interactionism. Which of the following best describes the main conclusions of this perspective?

Accepted Answer

Social relationships involve interactions that provide feedback on how individuals view themselves; our behavior depends on the way we define ourselves and others

Question 5

Structural Functionalism and Conflict Theory are two macro level theories that approach how societies function from very different perspectives. Functionalism generally is from the perspective of the status quo, or the \"haves\" in society. They see society as an organism in which the various parts need to work together to maintain equilibrium (or the status quo). In contrast, conflict theorists see society from the perspective of the \"have nots\" - those that are competing to get access to resources. After reading about these theories in the text, consider this example: members of a city council are concerned about the recent growth of foreign immigrants in their community and view this as having a negative effect on their way of life; they decide to pass laws that limit non-citizen access to housing and healthcare. Which theory best describes the perspective of the city council members (as opposed to the perspective of the new immigrants)?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism

Question 6

One of the articles you will read later by Professor Sara McLanahan argues that widespread access to contraception, the feminist movement, changes in welfare policies, and changes in the labor market have influenced family life and increased inequality between children born to educated parents, and those born to less educated parents. Based on what the text says, is McLanahan\'s argument that inequality has increased due to macro level or micro level social factors?

Accepted Answer

Macro Level

Question 7

In the research model, you review the literature as part of the research method. Which of the following is NOT a primary reason you review the literature as part of the research process?

Accepted Answer

You need to review the literature to be sure your data are valid and reliable

Question 8

Based on the three ways to measure \"average\" (and note you will do this in one of your group assignments), which of the following measures of \'average\' or central tendency is strongly influenced by extreme values or scores?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Question 9

Which of the following describes a random sample as defined in the text?

Accepted Answer

You get a contact list of all lawyers that passed the bar in Utah; from the list you use a random number generator to identify a sample to contact about participating in a survey; you use the data to represent the views of Utah lawyers

Question 10

You are interested in studying factors associated with dating at BYU. You think that being in a family home evening group increases the likelihood of dating. Based on your hypothesis, which of the following is your DEPENDENT variable?

Accepted Answer

Dating

Question 11

The text defines culture as language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and material objects passed from one generation to the next. Based on this definition, the angle Moroni statue on the spires of LDS temples are an example of what form of culture?

Accepted Answer

material culture

Question 12

My neighbor refuses to get a passport or ever travel outside the United States. He believes that there isn\'t anywhere else in the world that could possibly be better than the US, so why would he ever go anywhere else? This is an example of which of the following:

Accepted Answer

ethnocentrism

Question 13

Eating is a universal human necessity. However, people around the world eat different foods, use different utinsels, and have different meal etiquette. Understanding this, and not thinking that there is only one correct way to eat is what sociologists call (which of the following)?

Accepted Answer

cultural relativism

Question 14

Language, a form of symbolic culture, is the basis of social life and necessary for people to have a shared understanding. However, language also influences how we see the world. We see only what we are prepared or have language to perceive and give meaning to. This is sometimes referred to as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Which of the following is an example of this concept?

Accepted Answer

On a hike in Cedar Breaks recently, I expanded my understanding of \"pine trees\" and learned to distinguish pine, spruce, and fir trees from each other. Prior to this language and characteristic distinction, I didn\'t seen any difference -- they were all \"pine\" trees and looked the same to me.

Question 15

Norms are rules or expectations about behavior that can be formal or informally enforced. Norm enforcement comes in the form of sanctions. If you fall asleep in class while I\'m lecturing, and I stop and glare at you coldly -- this is an example of what?

Accepted Answer

a negative sanction

Question 16

At BYU, which of the following would be an example of breaking a more?

Accepted Answer

Cheating on a test

Question 17

Which of the following distinguishes a subculture from a counterculture?

Accepted Answer

Subcultures are a world within the larger world of the dominant culture, whereas countercultures are subcultures that oppose or are at odds with the dominant culture.

Question 18

In the text, there is a list of core US values created by Robin Williams (the sociologist, not the actor), and the text author (Henslin). Which of the following is not a core value in the list?

Accepted Answer

fame and celebrity recognition

Question 19

In Nazi Germany Helmuth, a Mormon youth, was torn between his religious belief that one should honor and obey the law, and his realization that his government was corrupt. This is an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

value contradiction

Question 20

I struggle with texting on my cell phone. I do not know what \"that\'s gr8! I g2g tho. CU l8r!\" means. I am experiencing which of the following:  old age -- be nice!

Accepted Answer

cultural lag

Question 21

Reports of feral, isolated, and institutionalized children, as well as studies of deprived animals, underscore the importance of human interaction to human development. Which of the following is NOT a conclusion drawn from these studies?

Accepted Answer

Biology or heredity is the dominant factor determining our culture and who we become.

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT an example of socilization (as defined by the text)?

Accepted Answer

Sara\'s five month old daughter cries when she is overly tired, so her mother puts her down for a nap

Question 23

My seventeen-year-old daughter worries about her hair, clothes, and overall appearance when she leaves for school. She responds to the opinions of her peers as she formulates her sense of self. Cooley called this the \"looking-glass self.\" Based on this example, which of the following is NOT one of the three elements of the looking-glass-self:

Accepted Answer

Claire responds back to the girl with a thumbs up and compliments her also. Social interactions have to be reciprocated in order to be meaningful.

Question 24

Piaget was a psychologist that studied the development of reasoning skills. Based on years of testing, he determined that children go through four stages as they develop reasoning skills. If three year-old Bobby picks up the kitty by the neck and isn\'t capable of recognizing how this feels from the perspective of the kitty,but he has the ability to use symbols; which of the following stages of reasoning is he in?

Accepted Answer

The preoperational stage

Question 25

My high school daughter describes how the boys in her Sunday School class sit in the back and talk to each other during the lesson and how they often come in late because they go next door to eat at a friends house first. The girls come on time and sit up front and participate in the lesson. If the girls start talking to each other, the teacher reminds them to pay attention and focus on the lesson. No such reminders are given to the boys. How would sociologists describe the difference in behavior between the boys and the girls (based on reading the section on Socialization into Gender)?

Accepted Answer

Over time, Primary and Sunday School teachers (church teachers) have expected the girls to sit quietly and pay attention to the lesson, and the girls have been negatively sanctioned if they did not. The same behavioral expectations have not been held for the boys and their behavior has not been sanctioned.

Question 26

Children first learn society\'s symbols of gender and gendered expectations from family. Later these gendered messages are reinforced by other social institutions such as the schools and mass media. Which of the following is NOT an example of gender messages as portrayed by the mass media in the US?

Accepted Answer

Because of Title IX, collegiate women\'s sports receive the same news coverage as collegiate men\'s sports.

Question 27

The text mentions the Kohn study regarding family and social class -- i.e. that parenting styles differ by social class. Other studies have found that parents interact differently with their child\'s teacher, depending upon the social class of the parents. Lower class parents are more passive and willing to follow the teacher\'s recommendations and decisions regarding their child. In contrast, middle and upper class parents are more likely to tell the teacher what they think their child needs. Middle and upper class parents are more likely to argue with the teacher and take an active role in making decisions about their child\'s learning. Which of the following is a conclusion that sociologists would draw from this observation?

Accepted Answer

Because lower class parents generally have less education than teachers, they view the teacher as the \"expert\". In contrast, middle and upper class parents generally have equal or more education and view themselves as the \"expert\" regarding their child.

Question 28

The text notes a series of studies on children in day care that conclude that the more time children spend in day care, the less affectionate they are with their mothers, and the more likely they are to fight with other children. Children in day care also scored higher on language tests the more hours spent in day care. If these findings are causal, then which of the following is a latent function (as defined by the text) of being in day care?

Accepted Answer

Higher language development

Question 29

The stages from birth to death are called the life course. Which of the following is NOT an example illustrating the sociological significance of the life course in the US?

Accepted Answer

All convicted prisoners are stripped and clothed in the prison uniform. They live in cells and their daily routine is highly structured and monitored by the prison guards.

Question 30

Which of the following represents how sociologists perceive the process of socialization and the development of the self?

Accepted Answer

Socialization is powerful, but each individual has a self that is actively involved in making choices and responding to his or her environment

Question 31

Which of the following is TRUE about macro versus micro sociological perspectives?

Accepted Answer

A recent study by economists at BYU found that Utah has one of the highest bankruptcy rates in the nation due to differences in bankruptcy laws and legal institutions compared to other states in the US. This is a macro level perspective.

Question 32

At the macro level, sociologists are very interested in social structures because they guide our behavior (at the micro level). Social structures are the rules about behavior within various social institutions. The text uses the example of college football to help define social structure. Which of the following is NOT correct based on this example?

Accepted Answer

The nature of the social structure is dependent upon particular individuals. Roles change depending upon the specific individuals that hold a particular status. For example, when Max Hall (the BYU quarterback) graduates and leaves the team, the nature of the quarterback role will change depending upon who the new team member is and how he wants to structure the role of quarterback.

Question 33

Which of the following is an example of an achieved status?

Accepted Answer

the highest level of education you obtain

Question 34

Social institutions are the \"ways that each society develops to meet its basic needs\" -- and tend to be more formalized in industrial, relative to tribal societies. Which of the following is NOT an example of a social institution in the US?

Accepted Answer

The Catholic Church

Question 35

In 1956, sociologist C. Wright Mills published his book, The Power Elite, which argued that the US is ruled by the heads of three interlocking powerful institutions: military, corporate, political. Mills concluded that the same individuals held positions of power at the top of these institutions. Today, many of the same \"elite\" sit on as many as seven different boards of the top 500 companies. These people move easily across various coporate boards, and in and out of government committees and positions. Many argue that these elite (for example former Vice President Dick Cheney), because of their positions of power, basically are the decisionmakers in control of American and increasingly global society. Which of the following theoretical perspective best aligns with Mills\' argument?

Accepted Answer

conflict theory

Question 36

Below are titles from the American Sociological Review (a top academic journal in sociology) and the American Psychologist (a top academic journal in psychology). Based on the title, which of the following is an example of a micro level study?

Accepted Answer

Replicating Milgram: Would people still obey today?

Question 37

My dentist has an advertisement in his office for teeth bleaching that says studies show people with a whiter smile have better employment opportunities. You would think there would be no connection between how white your teeth are and job performance. Yet, Synder\'s research suggests that there is a connection based on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

stereotypes

Question 38

Stopped at a traffic light, you look over and see the guy in the car next to you pick his nose. This is an example of what (according to dramaturgy)?

Accepted Answer

back stage behavior

Question 39

If am trying to grade 178 Soc 111 papers, but my daughter also needs me to help her with her homework -- I\'m experiencing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

role conflict

Question 40

The next notes the study by William Chambliss of two groups of high school boys: the \"Saints\" and the \"Roughnecks.\" (We will talk in greater detail about the study in class). The findings from this study underscore the importance of using both micro and macro perspectives to study social behavior. Based on this study, which of the following is an example of social structure (as opposed to social interaction)?

Accepted Answer

because of their low social class, the teachers had low expectations for the Roughnecks, even though they were academically similar to the Saints. No one in the community expected them to ever go to college or even necessarily graduate from high school.

Question 41

Which of the following is the definition Henslin (the text author) uses for society (as opposed to just a group)?

Accepted Answer

People who share a culture and a territory.

Question 42

As I write this question, I am sitting at a table in a condo near Bass Lake, California. I\'m on vacation with my husband, kids, my dad, and my siblings and their spouses and children. We will be here for a week enjoying Yosemite. Which of the following best describes the type of group we, the \"Tonks\" clan, form? (Tonks is my maiden name).

Accepted Answer

primary group

Question 43

Which of the following is a functional consequence of in-group/out-group behavior (as opposed to dysfunctional consequences)?

Accepted Answer

As part of new student orientation, incoming freshmen learn the Cougar Fight Song (Rise and Shout), to promote school spirit and connect to the university. They hope to sing it multiple times at the football game against the Utes!

Question 44

A mother was shocked when her teen daughter walked downstairs wearing a short skirt, high boots, tight short tank (tummy showing) and lots of make-up. She was headed to a concert with her friends. What her mother didn\'t realize was that her daughter\'s reference group was which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Pop stars like Britney Spears

Question 45

Which of the following is the best example of a social network?

Accepted Answer

Your friends on facebook

Question 46

According to Milgram\'s study known as the small world phenomenon, and Kleinfeld\'s replication of the Milgram study, which of the following is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Most of Milgram\'s starters or senders were not able to reach the target

Question 47

Which of the following is TRUE about group dynamics?

Accepted Answer

As group size increases, relationships become more stable and tend to develop more formal structures.

Question 48

Which of the following is an example of diffusion of responsibility?

Accepted Answer

You are walking in the crowded bookstore and a girl in front of you grabs her stomach and falls to the ground in pain. Everyone just stands there or walks on by, assuming someone else will respond and help her.

Question 49

Based on the power of peer pressure and conformity, variations of Asch\'s experiment have provided interesting results. In the original experiment, only 25 percent of the subjects gave the correct answer every time. If the \"subject\" was able to write his answer down on a sheet of paper, rather than say it out loud -- which of the following outcomes, based on group dynamics, would be most likely?

Accepted Answer

The percentage of subjects always giving the correct answer would increase (more than 25 percent).

Question 50

You become president of an organization. In order to avoid the problem of groupthink, which of the following qualities among your decision-makers (top administration) should you emphasize?

Accepted Answer

diversity of opinions and information

Question 51

Based on the definitions presented under What is Deviance? Walking across the grass on BYU campus where signs ask you not to is which type of violation?

Accepted Answer

deviance

Question 52

From a sociological perspective, if I came to class dressed like a punk rocker and sang profane songs accompanied by an electric guitar, which of the following would be TRUE?

Accepted Answer

I would be considered deviant and disrupting the social order of BYU.

Question 53

In Nazi Germany, Hitler Youth painted the word JEW in yellow paint and painted crude yellow outlines of the Star of David on the windows and doors of businesses that were owned by German Jews. Jews were blamed for the economic problems of Germany and boycotted; the Hitler Youth wanted the Jews to be publicly \"shamed\" and marked as no longer members of their community. Marking these businesses was a form of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

degradation ceremony

Question 54

Which of the following is a sociological explanation for why a low-income, inner city young man is a drug dealer in his impoverished neighborhood?

Accepted Answer

The young man lives in a neighborhood where unemployment is high and drug dealing is the primary occupation of men his age. There are no positive role models in the community that encourage staying in school and legal employment.

Question 55

Sociologists consider the influence of the group on individuals. Which of the following best describes this process as viewed by sociology?

Accepted Answer

Individuals are active agents in the socialization process. They choose which groups to participate in and help produce their own orientations to life.

Question 56

Social Bond Theory (Hirschi) examines not why some people are deviants, but why most people are not. Hirschi argues that strong social bonds provide an inner control not to deviate. Which of the following is NOT one of the social bonds described by Hirschi?

Accepted Answer

Although many people look down on Amanda and don\'t think she will amount to much in life, she is determined to show them they are wrong and works hard to be good.

Question 57

In the study by Chambliss of the Saints and the Roughnecks, which of the following theoretical perspectives is a labeling theory approach to explaining the difference between the two groups of boys?

Accepted Answer

Because the Roughnecks came from a lower social class background, the community, teachers, and police had low expectations for them and didn\'t expect them to amount to much in life. In contrast, they had high expectations for the Saints and evaluated their behavior differently. These differences in expectations influenced how the two groups interacted in the community.

Question 58

If I push the speed limit to see just how far above the limit I can drive and not get a speeding ticket, my deviance helps determine the boundary of this law. Such deviance helps society define boundaries of acceptable behavior -- according to which theoretical perspective?

Accepted Answer

Functional Perspective

Question 59

In Florida a young man from the inner city is sentenced to 20 years for possession of 75 kg of marijuana. In contrast, Harvey Fein was sentenced to 2 years in prison for tax evasion and emblezzlement to the tune of $1.5 million dollars. Which theoretical perspective in sociology argues that the criminal justice system benefits the upper class and disproportionately punishes the working and lower classes?

Accepted Answer

Conflict Theory

Question 60

Which of the following is NOT a factor likely to influence official crime statistics?

Accepted Answer

Making official crime statistics available for the public to access online. Access to published crime statistics is greater now with online reports relative to previous reports published only in book form.

Question 61

In 1985, the United Nations reported that \"women comprise about half the world\'s population, perform about two-thirds of its work, receive only one-tenth of its income, and own less than one-hundreth of world assests.\" This statement supports which argument below?

Accepted Answer

gender cuts across all systems of social stratification and is a basis of social stratification

Question 62

World System Theory argues that countries interact in a global stratified structure. Maquiladoras are factories that have shifted from the US to Mexico based on trade agreements. Wages in Mexico are low and hours long relative to working conditions in the US. Which theoretical perspective would argue that US company owners benefit from the exploitation of Mexican workers in part because foreign workers are discouraged or unable to organize and demand better conditions.

Accepted Answer

Conflict Perspective

Question 63

Which of the following best describes the Culture of Poverty perspective?

Accepted Answer

Poverty may intially result from structural conditions, but it becomes a lifestyle that continues to be followed, even if structural conditions improve. This poverty lifestyle is passed on to the next generation

Question 64

Which of the following is a Functionalist Perspective on stratification?

Accepted Answer

stratification is inevitable because to get the best people into the most important positions in society, you need to provide greater rewards

Sociology Quizzes

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards