ch1: Studying Social Problems

Question 1

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the specific conditions defined as __ __ change over time

Answer 1

social problems

Question 2

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at any particular time, the __ __ and the __ __ of any social issue may or may not be the same

Answer 2

objective facts; subjective perception

Question 3

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a __ __ is important because many social problems cross __ __

Answer 3

global perspective; national boundaries

Question 4

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__ made by one group of people typically prompt __ by other groups

Answer 4

claims; counterclaims

Question 5

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the four stages of social movements:

Answer 5

emergence, coalescence, formalization, decline

Question 6

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sociologists use __ __ to guide their research and theory building

Answer 6

theoretical approaches

Question 7

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the four all provide insights into various social problems

Answer 7

structural functional, social-conflict, feminist, and symbolic-interaction

Question 8

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the __ __ sees society as a complected system of many different parts

Answer 8

structural-functional approach

Question 9

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early __ __ theory viewed problems as disruptions in society’s normal operation

Answer 9

social pathology theory

Question 10

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later, __ __ theory linked social problems to rapid change

Answer 10

social disorganization thoery

Question 11

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__ views social problems in terms of the dysfunctions of various social patterns

Answer 11

functionalism

Question 12

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the ___ approach highlights social inequality based on class and on race and ethnicity

Answer 12

social-conflict approach

Question 13

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__ __ theory, based on the ideas of Karl Marx, links social social problems to the operation of a capitalist economic system

Answer 13

class conflict theory

Question 14

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__ theory spotlights problems arising from inequality between people in various racial and ethic categories

Answer 14

multicultural theory

Question 15

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the __ __ highlights social inequality based on gender

Answer 15

feminist approach

Question 16

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__ __ links social problems to men’s domination of women

Answer 16

feminist theory

Question 17

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the __ approach helps us understand how people experience social problems in their routine, everyday interactions

Answer 17

symbolic-interaction approach

Question 18

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the __ approach links social problems to the learning of undesirable skills and attitudes from others

Answer 18

learning approach

Question 19

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the __ approach investigation how and why people come to define certain behaviors as problematic and others as normal

Answer 19

labeling approach

Question 20

a __ is a series of items a researcher presents to subjects for their response

Answer 20

questionnaire

Question 21

an __ is a more personal survey technique in which a researcher meets face-to-face with respondents to discuss some issue

Answer 21

interview

Question 22

a __ __ focuses on a single person, organization, or event

Answer 22

case study

Question 23

__ __ allows a researcher to observe people over a long period of time while joining them in their everyday activities

Answer 23

field research

Question 24

__ __ is carried out in a specially designed laboratory. researchers change one variable while keeping the others the same in order to identify specific causes of certain patterns of behavior

Answer 24

experimental research

Question 25

__ __ of __ __ can be a quick and easy research method, but a researcher must be careful not to rely on data that may be incorrect or may contain a political bias

Answer 25

secondary analysis of existing data

Question 26

__ __ refers to strategies that societies use to address problems

Answer 26

social policy

Question 27

a society evaluates a social policy based on its its __ , its __ , and whether the population it targets represents the best solution to a __ __

Answer 27

success; cost; social problem

Question 28

societies favor social policy that reflect important __ __

Answer 28

cultural values

Question 29

the kinds of policies individual people favor depend on their __ __

Answer 29

political attitudes

Question 30

the __ __ is a model representing people’s attitudes about social issues and economic issues

Answer 30

political spectrum

Question 31

__claim that social problems arise from the shortcomings of particular individuals or the bad choices people make about how to live

Answer 31

conservative

Question 32

__ see the family and religion as important social institutions transmitting the moral traditions that guide people to live good lives

Answer 32

conservative

Question 33

__ claim that social problems arise from the operation of society, including patterns of social inequality that prevent categories of people from having equal opportunity

Answer 33

liberals

Question 34

__ seek reform rather than radical change in social institutions

Answer 34

liberals

Question 35

on the __, __ claim that social problems result from the operation of the capitalist economic system

Answer 35

radical left, Marxists

Question 36

from __ , the solution to social problems requires radical change to our society’s institutions, beginning with the economy

Answer 36

Marxism

Question 37

the __ claims that the most serious problem our society faces is the growth of big government, which threatens individual freedoms

Answer 37

radical right