Institutions Flashcards
1
Q
Which of the following does NOT describe a “nuclear family”?
A
a husband and wife, with no children
2
Q
A sociologist who studies families as a way to understand how social inequalities (particularly gender inequalities) are perpetuated in society is working within the ____.
A
conflict theory
3
Q
In the classic 1967 film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Joanna Drayton, a white woman from an upper-class San Francisco family brings home her fiancé, John Prentice (played by Sidney Poitier), a widowed black physician. The marriage between Joanna and John is an example of ____.
A
exogamy
4
Q
The term “marriage” describes ____.
A
a legally recognized relationship usually involving economic, social, emotional, and sexual bonds
5
Q
Throughout history, many cultures have practiced and recognized different forms of marriage. A marriage involving two or more men and one woman is a form of ____.
A
polygamy
6
Q
Thalia grew up with a single-parent father, her grandmother, and her two brothers. This was her ____.
A
family of orientation
7
Q
The term “kinship” describes social bonds based on ____.
A
common ancestry, marriage, or adoption
8
Q
A sociologist who studies the role families play in socializing children or how families help society regulate sexual activity is working within the ____.
A
structural-functional paradigm
9
Q
As an adult, Thalia marries Bruce. Together with Bruce and his daughter, Barbara, from a previous relationship, Thalia has created a ____.
A
family of procreation
10
Q
The term “family” describes ____.
A
a group of people who are related by genetics, marriage, or choice, and who share material, emotional, and economic resources
11
Q
the term “family life cycle” describes ____.
A
the developmental stages that a family passes through over time
12
Q
Which of the following statements is NOT supported by historical data on divorce in the US?
A
Since the 1990s, divorce rates have steadily increased.
13
Q
Historically, marriage has been based on romantic love. (T/F)
A
false
14
Q
Which of the following is NOT a recent trend in family patterns in the US?
A
The average age in which people are getting married is declining steadily.
15
Q
The practice of arranged marriage has been common across many cultures, especially in the past. An arranged marriage is ____.
A
a marriage negotiated between two families, usually in order to create strong bonds between them
16
Q
Large families with multiple children were most common ____.
A
in pre-industrial America, around the 1800s
17
Q
Because various social pressures emphasize the importance of economic or social compatibility in marriage, ____.
A
most people marry someone from a similar socioeconomic background
18
Q
According to years of research on successful marriages, passion is one of the most important factors in maintaining stable relationships. (T/F)
A
false
19
Q
Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons families today tend to have fewer children than in the past?
A
The high rate of infant mortality discourages people from having children
20
Q
A bedroom’s primary function is ____.
A
sleep
21
Q
In the 1950s and 1960s, TV sitcoms regularly showed married couples sleeping in separate beds. (T/F)
A
true
22
Q
Why is it difficult for many families to meet the expectations of giving each child a separate bedroom?
A
large house expensive & difficult to maintain
23
Q
The video about why children have their own bedrooms illustrates what important sociological principle?
A
That cultural norms vary across time and across different societies, and are often shaped by changing ideas and/or changes in the mode of production
24
Q
Which of the following is NOT one of the major factors explaining why children are expected to have their own bedrooms?
A
The important socialization benefits that children acquire by learning to be independent
25
Which of the following is NOT a reason why people practice communal sleeping?
As a way to help prevent the spread of disease
26
Children sleeping separately from their parents ____.
is a cultural norm that has only taken hold in the US since the 1800s, and is not a universal practice
27
Historically, what has been the main purpose (or "social function") of "calling" and/or "dating"?
To select a suitable mate in order to start a family
28
Which of the following applies to the practice of "calling" as a form of dating?
- A young man and a young woman would meet in a parlor (or similar room) together, usually with the supervision of a family member
- A young woman would have specific hours/days when she would receive callers
- A young man would arrive at a young woman's house and ask if he could see her
29
Based on what you know about how "calling" works, which social class was largely excluded from this practice?
urban working class
30
What kind of economic forces helped create the modern practice of "dating"?
- The emergence of "leisure" activities (restaurants, movie theaters, amusement parks)
- Women entering the paid workforce
- Rapid urbanization
31
Based on the information in the video, which of the following statements is accurate about the modern practice of "dating"?
- The social practice of dating is intertwined with our economic system, including systems of inequality
- The rise of the internet and smartphones is transforming the norms and rituals of dating
- Modern dating is expensive; it requires spending money (at restaurants, movie theaters, etc.)
32
When did the practice of teenagers dating emerge?
During the economic boom of the 1950s
33
What "event" is credited with setting in motion cultural changes in society, including the emergence of modern "dating"?
Industrial Revolution
34
Which of the following is true about religious beliefs and practices in the US, based on survey and other data?
Religious belief and practice is higher in the US than in other countries, but is also recently in decline.
35
In developing a sociological understanding of religion, Émile Durkheim called the things that make up the mundane, everyday parts of life as ____.
profane
36
Social conflict theorists are interested in how religion is related to existing social inequalities, or even as an agent of stratification. Which of the following is NOT an example of how conflict theorists might study religion?
A study of how different denominations have conflict over how to interpret key biblical passages, such as the Sermon on the Mount
37
Which of the following is NOT a common function of religion identified by sociologists using the structural functionalist paradigm.
Religion helps orient the soul to a good relationship with God and God's creation.
38
Sociologists define "religion" as ____.
a social institution that involves a unified system of beliefs and practices that recognize the sacred
39
In developing a sociological understanding of religion, Émile Durkheim called the things that society sets apart as extraordinary, inspiring awe, and deserving reverence as ____.
sacred
40
Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism are all examples of churches. Sociologists define "churches" as ____.
well-established religious faiths that are well-integrated into society
41
Catholics lighting candles before entering the sanctuary, speaking in tongues in Pentecostal denominations, and the removal of shoes and hand and foot washing before Friday prayers by Muslims are all examples of religious ____.
rituals
42
Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians are all examples of ____ within Christianity.
denominations
43
symbolic interactionists who study religion may focus on significant objects, such as the cross, crescent, or Star of David. They refer to these symbols as ____.
totems
44
Buddhism's solution to overcoming the problem of human suffering begins with ____.
following a "middle way" (or balance) between luxury and poverty
45
Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism, began with a quest to understand ____.
why humans suffered
46
The early Christian practice of a shared meal (or "communion") was in part a way to ____.
illustrate Jesus' "kingdom of God" in which outcasts, sinners, and saints ate together as equals
47
Abrahamic religions are those can trace their origins to Abraham and share the Old Testament as a common sacred text. Which of the following is NOT an Abrahamic religion?
buddhism
48
Despite their many differences, what all religions have in common is that they are ____.
systems of belief that have developed or evolved over time to answer questions about meaning of human life
49
Why are Jews referred to as "the people of the book"?
After the Romans conquered their homeland and destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem, Judaism transformed from a religion of temples, priests, and sacrifices to one that emphasized reverence of scriptures and the associated symbols and rituals.
50
The Hindu principle of "dharma" is that ____.
each of us has a duty to our place in society, and shouldn't worry about the outcome
51
Which of the following founders of a religion is NOT considered to be divine by the religion's adherents?
Muhammad
52
Which of the following is NOT one of the Five Pillars of Islam?
Jihad (or "holy war") against unbelievers
53
Hindus believe that when a person dies, he or she ____.
is reincarnated, based on how well they lived their life (karma)
54
Which of the following best describes the relationship between slaveholders and their slaves?
Slaveholders did NOT want their slaves exposed to Christianity
55
Historically, religion has been used ____.
- as a tool for survival and liberation by African-Americans
- to justify slavery and persecution of African-Americans
- to justify existing social inequalities, including racial hierarchies
56
Islam began to spread among the African-American community in the 1920s. Why was Islam an appealing alternative to Christianity for many African-Americans?
- It was more explicitly anti-racist and emphasized fighting white supremacy
- It encouraged self-reliance and political independence
- It preached a universal brotherhood that say all men as equals, regardless of race or ethnicity
57
Churches and religious leaders played a leading role in the 1950s and 1960s Civil Rights Movement. (T/F)
true
58
The largest African-American religious denomination is ____.
national baptist convention
59
A study of religion in the African-American community that focuses on how it was used for survival and/or liberation movements fits within the ____ paradigm
structural-functionalism
60
Churches and religious leaders play a leading role in today's movements against systemic racism. (T/F)
false
61
American sociologist Robert Wuthnow argues that America's civil religion has two variants. The "prophetic" (or liberal) variant emphasizes ____.
America's obligations
62
Which of the following is NOT true about America's civil religion?
America's civil religion offers a path to salvation in the afterlife.
63
Discussions about American civil religion, many often to point to Thanksgiving as a great example of a secular ritual that epitomizes the "founding" of our country in a way that evokes religion. Which religious story most closely resembles Thanksgiving?
The Exodus story of how the Israelites fled Egypt and arrived in the Promised land given to them by God
64
Which of the following is NOT a statement that reflects belief in America's civil religion?
The belief that the procedural niceties of the Constitution can be ignored when popular majorities want to
65
Which is NOT one of the positive functions of American civil religion, according to Mark Galli?
Giving every individual a sense of moral purpose and answers to questions about the afterlife
66
America's civil religion is ____.
the implicit religious values of a nation, as expressed through public rituals, symbols, and ceremonies on sacred days and at sacred places
67
American sociologist Robert Wuthnow argues that America's civil religion has two variants. The "priestly" (or conservative) variant emphasizes ____.
America's greatness
68
Education and ____ are closely related processes because education builds on the base of knowledge already acquired early in life.
socialization
69
A sociologist using the symbolic interactionist paradigm would emphasize ____.
the day-to-day interactions that take place in school settings
70
Horace Mann advocated for the creation of taxpayer-funded public schools in the United States. The Prussian "factory school model" public school system he promoted reflects a ____ approach to education.
structural-funtionalist
71
Which of the following is NOT a latent social function of public schools?
They provide important credentials necessary for the workforce or for admission to higher education
72
Traditionally (prior to the late 1800s at least), education was ____.
for elite
73
A sociologist using the structural-functionalist paradigm would emphasize ____.
the social functions that schools serve in society
74
n sociology, "education" refers to ____.
the social institution through which society provides its members with important knowledge, including norms and values
75
Which of the following is NOT an important manifest social function of public schools?
They are places where students are free to independently explore their own identities
76
Many advocates for publicly-funded education open to all argued that ____.
a well-educated population was essential for democracy
77
One important feature of the modern educational system that supports Ken Robinson's argument that schools reflects an "industrial" approach to education is ____.
the emphasis on standardization
78
In his animated presentation about changing education paradigms, Ken Robinson argues that one important function of schools is to pass on culture and give students a cultural identity. A sociologist would say this reflects the fact that ____.
schools are agents of socialization
79
In his animated presentation about changing education paradigms, Ken Robinson argues that traditional ways of thinking about education divide people into two basic types, ____.
academic vs. non-academic
80
Which of the following is NOT a basic element of the definition of "public" education?
It's done in a single language of instruction
81
In his animated presentation on changing education paradigms, Ken Robinson cites a study on lateral intelligence that studied a group of children over time. What did the study find?
In kindergarten, 98% of children scored "genius" level. That figured quickly dropped over years, as the students acquired more education.
82
In his animated presentation about changing education paradigms, Ken Robinson argues that the idea that intelligence is marked by the capacity for deductive reasoning and knowledge about "classic" texts reflects a specific ____.
model of the mind
83
In his animated presentation on changing education paradigms, Ken Robinson suggests that rote memorization, standardized tests, and other aspects of modern education leave many students alienated. This reflects the thinking of which major sociological thinker?
Marx and his theory of alienation of labor
84
In his animated presentation about changing education paradigms, Ken Robinson argues that the modern educational system resembles factories. Why does he say that?
Students are divided into "batches" corresponding to their birth years and move together through the school day and year on a set schedule acquiring knowledge divided into subject categories
85
In his animated presentation about changing education paradigms, Ken Robinson's argument that schools serve to prepare students for the economy of tomorrow and to pass on culture reflect the ____.
structural-functionalism paradigm
86
What is an important reason why the quality of schools reflects the socioeconomic inequalities between neighborhoods in the US?
Because local schools are primarily funded by property taxes, schools in low-income neighborhoods and communities (where the prices of homes are lower) tend to have fewer economic resources.
87
Using natural experiments to study the effects of school financing, Kirabo Jackson, Rucker Johnson, and Claudia Persico concluded that ____.
increasing school funding tends to improve student outcomes
88
The term "meritocracy" means ____.
a system in which individual hard work and talent is recognized and rewarded
89
The term "school-to-prison pipeline" was coined after statistical evidence shows that ____.
minority students are more likely to be disciplined in school, and often receive harsher punishments
90
Pierre Bourdieu argued that parents with more resources are able to give their children ____, which gives them advantages in school and later in life.
cultural capital
91
Which of the following is NOT true about the relationship between educational outcomes and social inequalities in the US?
Students from wealthy backgrounds are less likely to receive college scholarships.
92
Which of the following is NOT a way in which race and gender inequalities affect education in the US?
Dress codes and other "morality" behavioral standards are less strict for female students than they are for male students
93
Which of the following is NOT one of the factors driving up the cost of college education?
The increasingly high salaries paid to faculty and campus staff
94
When economics consider education as a _____ they mean that it's a benefit enjoyed by a third party as a result of economic transaction.
positive externality
95
Americans owe $1 trillion in student loan debts. That's more than Americans owe in credit card debts or car loans. (T/F)
true
96
Students tend to take on higher student loan debts at ____.
for-profit colleges and universites
97
According to the "human capital" theory, college graduates tend to earn higher wages (on average) because ___.
going to college actually teaches you skills (both in and out of the classroom) that help you land higher-income jobs
98
The higher cost of college education is primarily driven by fast-rising tuition rates. (T/F)
false
99
American education policy tends to give preference to ____, giving it higher levels of funding.
college and university education
100
Which of the following is an NOT an economic benefit of a better educated population?
Higher levels of patriotism
101
Of the two theories that explain why college graduates earn more, which is consistent with the data?
Both signaling theory and human capital theory
102
According to the "signaling" theory, college graduates tend to earn higher wages (on average) because ___.
going to college signals to potential employers that you are smart and hard-working
103
How can population health statistics help us understand and provide evidence of inequality in access to health care?
We could look at subpopulations (race, gender, social class, etc.) and compare them to see if they have significantly different life expectancy, fertility rates, or mortality rates
104
One of the key indicators of health in a population, or across subpopulations, is the ____ because it looks at the most vulnerable in a society.
infant mortality rate
105
The three basic factors that shape population growth (or decline) are ____.
fertility, mortality, and migration
106
In terms of disease, the ____ is the number of cases reported at any given time frame.
incidence
107
Which of the following is NOT an example of the kind of work that professional demographers do?
Help advise a local hospital on what medications are most effective at treating highly contagious diseases
108
The statistic that measures how many live births (per 1,000 people) a given population has in a year is called the ____.
birth rate
109
____ is a specialized field of sociology that uses statistics to study a population, especially its growth, decline, and movement of its people.
Demography
110
The three basic processes of concern for demographers are ____.
fertility, mortality, and migration
111
Which of the following is an example of evidence that points to how social factors can explain health disparities across subpopulations?
Research by David Williams that showed a link between the day-to-day stress of racism and discrimination on stress-related disease among African-Americans
112
Which of the following is an example of evidence that points to how physical factors can explain health disparities across subpopulations?
Research by Currie, Greenstone, and Moretti that studied environmental "superfund" sites to isolate environmental factors, which found that children born after the environmental cleanup were less likely to become ill than those born before
113
Globally, fertility rates are ____.
dropping
114
What is a major factor causing the slowdown in population growth in most countries?
Women are having fewer children than they did in the past
115
Sociologists use the term "age stratification" to describe how ____.
wealth, power, and status are unevenly distributed among people of different ages
116
The "compression of morbidity" in wealthy nations reflects that ____.
people are healthier for most of their lives, then experience rapid health decline in old age
117
Most advertisements feature young, vibrant people. Some sociologists might point to this cultural obsession with "youth" as an indication of ____.
ageism
118
Which of the following is NOT of a cultural aspect of aging?
The process of mental deterioration that comes with old age
119
The term "senescence" describes ____.
the process of becoming old, including the mental and physical deterioration that comes with age
120
The term "demographic transition" is used to mean ____.
the process of moving from a young, growing population to an older, stable population
121
People working in the subfield of "medical sociology" ____.
study how society approaches and shapes health, disease, and illness
122
The contemporary view of "health" in our society defines it as ____.
a state of physical, mental, and social well-being
123
Which of the following best describes the relationship between health and culture?
How society defines and treats different diseases (or even whether it defines something as a "disease") varies by culture
124
Only a few decades ago, children who had a difficult time paying attention in school and were constantly fidgeting were disciplined. Today, they are often diagnosed with ADHD or other conditions and given various interventions that can include medication, counseling, or special accomodations. This is an example of ____.
medicalization
125
Sociologists define "medicalization" as ____.
the process of taking social behaviors that may be on the fringes of what we consider "typical" and redefining them as medical conditions to be corrected
126
Two students are diagnosed with different diseases at the local doctor. One is diagnosed with syphilis, the other other is diagnosed with pneumonia. Both are treatable with prescription antibiotics. Why is the student with pneumonia able to tell her friends, and adopt the "sick role," while the other student will try to keep his private?
Because society doesn't recognize syphilis as a "legitimate" illness
127
Ralph has just been diagnosed with a treatable form of cancer. The specific symptoms and his body's biological responses to the cancer would be referred to as a(n) ____.
disease
128
Patterns of behavior that a sick person adopts to minimize the disruptive effects of illness are called ____.
sick roles
129
Which of the following public health concerns is directly related to diet and food consumption? (You may select more than one answer.)
diabetes & obesity
130
In 2015, 19 million US households spent more than 50% of their income on housing. (T/F)
true
131
What are some reasons why fresh fruits and vegetables are often typically more expensive than processed foods? (You may select more than one answer.)
- Fresh fruits and vegetables are more expensive to farm
- Soy, wheat, and corn (the main ingredients in many processed foods) are heavily subsidized by the US government
132
The term "social determinants of health" refers to ____.
the conditions in the environment where people carry out their daily lives that affect a wide range of health outcomes
133
What are the different dimensions in which housing affects the quality of health? (You may select more than one answer.)
- Quality & Safety
- Neighborhood
- Stability
- Affordability
134
How does the affordability of housing affect health?
The more money families spend on housing, the less money they have available for other things, including food and healthcare.
135
Studies show that public investments in affordable housing and making fresh fruits and vegetables available to low-income families ____.
significantly improves health outcomes and reduces healthcare costs, which actually saves taxpayers money
136
When you purchase health insurance, payments made to that insurance policy are only used to cover YOUR medical expenses, not those of other people in the same plan. (T/F)
false
137
There are five dimensions (the "five A's") to assess health care access. ____ looks at whether a person lives near the health care services he or she needs.
Availability
138
The US health care system is actually a combination of various different systems. Americans with private health insurance plans (whether provided by their employer or purchased individually) are part of the ____ health care system.
private
139
The US health care system is actually a combination of various different systems. Americans covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA systems are part of the ____ health care system.
public
140
the US health care system is actually a combination of various different systems. Americans who buy coverage through the Obamacare exchanges are part of the ____ health care system.
private
141
There are five dimensions (the "five A's") to assess health care access. ____ looks at whether the doctors available meet the patient's preferences, both in terms of professional abilities but also other factors (gender, age, etc.).
Acceptability
142
People with private health insurance pay a monthly fee to their insurance provider in order to keep their coverage. This is called a(n) ____.
insurance premium
143
On average, which group of people have higher medical costs, which drives up the cost for everyone else?
People who have no health care coverage
144
There are five dimensions (the "five A's") to assess health care access. ____ looks at whether the services are organized to accept clients, particularly those with special needs or who might require interpreters.
accommodation
145
Regardless of how individuals receive health care coverage, the US system is primarily a fee-for-service system, which means that ____.
services are unbundled and paid for separately
146
Which of the following is true about the Affordable Care Act (ACA or "Obamacare")?
- It requires that everyone enroll in a health insurance plan, or pay a fee
- It requires private insurers to insure everyone who applies, charge similar premiums to people of the same age, and cover pre-existing conditions
- It provides subsidies to help buy health insurance based on ability to pay
147
It what ways is the healthcare market UNLIKE other markets (such as the market for housing, cars, clothing, etc.)?
- In an emergency, you're not going to "shop around" for better prices
- You never know when you're going to need it
148
Roughly, what share of Americans currently receive health care through a taxpayer-funded government insurance plan (Medicare, Medicaid, the VA)?
About a third
149
Which of the following countries has a socialized healthcare system?
the UK
150
The US healthcare system is actually made up of a number of different systems. Which part of the US healthcare system operates like a single-payer system?
Medicare and Medicaid
151
The US healthcare system is actually made up of a number of different systems. Which part of the US healthcare system operates like a socialized healthcare system?
The Veterans Administration (VA)
152
In 2012, the US spent about $8,745 per person on health care (in 2017, that figure was $10,739). How does that compare to what other peer wealthy democracies spend?
The US spends about 2x per person
153
Why do many blame high administrative costs as a main contributor to the high cost of healthcare in the US?
Tying together so many different systems, particularly the hundreds of individual private insurance companies, requires a lot of paperwork and staff to manage that paperwork.
154
Which of the following is a major contributor to the high cost of healthcare in the US?
- Procedures and tests tend to cost more than they would in other countries, largely because the lack of a unified system to negotiate prices gives healthcare providers more leverage in price negotiations.
- The cost of paperwork to tie so many different systems (and hundreds of private health insurance companies) together drives up administrative costs.
- Americans tend to order many (often unnecessary) tests and procedures, often because these are profitable for healthcare providers (who encourage them).
155
Which of the following is true about the British National Health Service (NHS)?
Britain's NHS system provides universal coverage to any UK resident
156
Which of the following best describes the Canadian healthcare system?
Canada has a single-payer, socialized healthcare system
157
In which country do people receiving healthcare usually pay no out-of-pocket "copay" fees?
Canada & UK
158
How do Germans receive healthcare coverage?
Germans must enroll in one of the various Social Health Insurance (SHI) programs, or they can purchase private health insurance (PHI)
159
In which country are most doctors government employees?
Germany & UK & Cananda
160
A large number of doctors leave Canada every year because they prefer to work in the US, and thousands of Canadians prefer to come to the US for medical treatment every year. (T/F)
false
161
Approximately what percentage of Germans choose to enroll in one of the government-sponsored Social Health Insurance (SHI) plans?
80%
162
Which of the three systems qualifies as a "universal" healthcare system?
UK & Germany & Canada
163
In Germany, most health insurance programs and hospitals operate on a not-for-profit model. (T/F)
true
164
Which of the three systems qualifies as a "socialized" healthcare system?
the UK
