midterm review Flashcards
Front: What is the primary focus of micro sociology?
A) Broader social forces and life chances
B) Personal choices and individual experiences
C) Social institutions and norms
D) Systematic analysis of societal trends
B) Personal choices and individual experiences
Front: Which of the following is the focus of macro sociology?
A) Small groups and individual interactions
B) Broader social forces, life chances, and social institutions
C) Personal choices and personal relationships
D) Personal expression and individual behavior
B) Broader social forces, life chances, and social institutions
Front: Why are the interconnections between micro and macro sociology important?
A) They are completely unrelated.
B) Micro sociology influences macro sociology but not the other way around.
C) The experiences of individuals (micro level) are influenced by larger social forces (macro level), and vice versa.
D) Macro sociology only focuses on large systems without individual perspectives.
C) The experiences of individuals (micro level) are influenced by larger social forces (macro level), and vice versa.
Front: In sociology, how are symbols like tattoos interpreted?
A) As a form of artistic expression only
B) As having specific social meanings, such as “120” being associated with murder
C) As purely individual without any social context
D) As unimportant to understanding social interactions
B) As having specific social meanings, such as “120” being associated with murder
Front: What is the definition of sociology?
A) The study of individual psychology
B) The scientific study of human society and collective interactions
C) The study of animals in human societies
D) The study of human interactions in small groups only
B) The scientific study of human society and collective interactions
: In sociology, what do the terms “structure,” “institution,” “social group,” and “system” all refer to?
A) Specific historical events
B) Political organizations
C) Organized patterns of behavior and norms within society
D) Small communities or groups of people
C) Organized patterns of behavior and norms within society
What does the sociological imagination allow us to see?
A) The connection between personal choices and broader social forces
B) The connection between economic systems and religion
C) The relationship between biology and social behavior
D) The link between family structure and education
A) The connection between personal choices and broader social forces
What does global sociology involve?
A) Understanding individual experiences in different societies
B) Examining collective interactions in a global context
C) Studying how biology affects social behavior globally
D) Focusing only on social problems in Canada
B) Examining collective interactions in a global context
Who is considered the “founder of sociology”?
A) Karl Marx
B) Emile Durkheim
C) Auguste Comte
D) Max Weber
C) Auguste Comte
According to Karl Marx, what drives social change?
A) Collective conscience
B) Class conflict
C) Religious ideology
D) Bureaucracy
B) Class conflict
What is Emile Durkheim known for studying?
A) Alienation in capitalist society
B) The relationship between religion and capitalism
C) Social order, suicide, and collective conscience
D) The role of bureaucracy in society
C) Social order, suicide, and collective conscience
What does Max Weber focus on in his sociological work?
A) The economic base of society
B) The importance of class struggle
C) The role of religion in societal change
D) The collective consciousness of society
C) The role of religion in societal change
What is the focus of functionalist perspective in sociology?
A) Social change and power dynamics
B) The smooth functioning of society and its structures
C) The emotional responses in social interactions
D) The contest for resources and inequality
B) The smooth functioning of society and its structures
What is a key idea of the conflict perspective in sociology?
A) The harmony of society’s institutions
B) The importance of collective consciousness
C) Competition over resources and the struggle for power
D) The role of social cohesion in maintaining order
C) Competition over resources and the struggle for power
What does the interactionist perspective focus on?
A) Broad societal structures
B) Social norms and laws
C) Social interactions and meaning-making at the micro level
D) Collective actions and movements
C) Social interactions and meaning-making at the micro level
What is a key concept in feminist perspective?
A) Social order and stability
B) Gender equality and the deconstruction of traditional gender roles
C) The role of religion in shaping society
D) Competition between classes
B) Gender equality and the deconstruction of traditional gender roles
What is the postmodern perspective’s view on traditional theories?
A) They are universally applicable to all societies
B) They should be rejected, as they oversimplify human behavior
C) They are the only valid perspectives for understanding society
D) They focus on economic forces over social structures
B) They should be rejected, as they oversimplify human behavior
: What is the purpose of sociological theorizing?
A) To memorize facts and figures about society
B) To provide a set of propositions to explain social phenomena
C) To study how social institutions are irrelevant
D) To focus on individual psychology
B) To provide a set of propositions to explain social phenomena
What is “socialization”?
A) The process by which individuals learn about the natural world
B) The biological process of developing social instincts
C) The process by which people learn to become members of society
D) The study of social behavior in animals
C) The process by which people learn to become members of society
According to George Herbert Mead, what is the “I” in the self?
A) The reflective, controlled part of the self
B) The spontaneous, creative, and impulsive part of the self
C) The stage of socialization when we imitate others
D) The collective conscience of society
B) The spontaneous, creative, and impulsive part of the self
What does the “looking-glass self” concept focus on?
A) Imagining how others see us and interpreting their reactions
B) The role of genetic inheritance in shaping personality
C) The importance of peer groups in early childhood
D) The biological factors that influence behavior
A) Imagining how others see us and interpreting their reactions
What is the “hidden curriculum” in educational socialization?
A) The formal, explicit lessons taught in schools
B) The informal and unwritten rules that reinforce social conventions
C) The lessons learned through extracurricular activities
D) The shared values and beliefs taught by parents
B) The informal and unwritten rules that reinforce social conventions
How does socialization through media impact young people?
A) It has no influence on their behavior
B) It provides subtle and direct socialization, setting unrealistic expectations
C) It focuses only on academic education
D) It encourages self-reliance and independence
B) It provides subtle and direct socialization, setting unrealistic expectations
What is the concept of “gender” in sociology?
A) Biological differences between males and females
B) The socially constructed roles and characteristics associated with males and females
C) The genetic code that determines physical traits
D) The legal rights and responsibilities of individuals based on sex
B) The socially constructed roles and characteristics associated with males and females
What is the bidirectional relationship between individual choices and larger social forces?
A) Social forces only influence individual choices and have no reciprocal impact.
B) Individual choices are solely based on personal preferences, unaffected by social forces.
C) Individual choices are influenced by larger social forces, and those choices can affect society.
D) Larger social forces determine individual choices, without any reciprocal influence.
C) Individual choices are influenced by larger social forces, and those choices can affect society.
What is the sociological imagination?
A) The ability to view the world purely from a personal perspective.
B) The ability to connect individual experiences to larger societal forces.
C) The process of analyzing one’s personal biases in research.
D) The study of social behavior in isolated, individual contexts.
B) The ability to connect individual experiences to larger societal forces.
In what historical context did sociology emerge?
A) During a period of social stability with minimal change.
B) In the 18th and 19th centuries, marked by colonialism, industrialization, and revolutions.
C) Following the discovery of the internet and digital technology.
D) During the rise of ancient Greek philosophy and political theory.
B) In the 18th and 19th centuries, marked by colonialism, industrialization, and revolutions.
What sets sociology apart from other disciplines like political science?
A) Sociology focuses only on economic systems, while political science looks at political institutions.
B) Sociology analyzes all aspects of society, including the connections between social parts.
C) Sociology is primarily concerned with individual psychological development.
D) Sociology is exclusively concerned with social problems, while political science covers both social and political issues.
B) Sociology analyzes all aspects of society, including the connections between social parts.
Which of the following tools are used to develop the sociological imagination?
A) Financial analysis, personal anecdotes, and social surveys.
B) Empirical research methods, sociological theories, and critical thinking.
C) Political lobbying, public relations strategies, and individual opinions.
D) Emotional responses, personal observations, and gut feelings.
B) Empirical research methods, sociological theories, and critical thinking.
How do positivist, interpretive, and critical approaches to theorizing differ?
A) Positivism seeks understanding, interpretivism aims for prediction, and critical theory focuses on analysis.
B) Positivism focuses on explanation and prediction, interpretivism on understanding, and critical theory on emancipation.
C) Positivism and interpretivism are essentially the same approach, while critical theory emphasizes emotional responses.
D) All three approaches aim for the same outcomes but use different terminologies.
B) Positivism focuses on explanation and prediction, interpretivism on understanding, and critical theory on emancipation.
What is the functionalist perspective on society?
A) Society is made of individuals who compete for power and resources.
B) Society consists of structures that work together to maintain stability and meet needs.
C) Society is constantly in flux, and change is chaotic and destructive.
D) Society’s primary focus is on individual rights and freedoms over group needs.
B) Society consists of structures that work together to maintain stability and meet needs.
What is a core assumption of the feminist perspective in sociology?
A) Society is inherently fair and gender-neutral.
B) Research and theory should address power imbalances, especially gender inequality.
C) Gender differences are biological and should be embraced in social roles.
D) All academic research has been based on objective, non-gendered principles.
B) Research and theory should address power imbalances, especially gender inequality.
What does the postmodern perspective in sociology focus on?
A) The idea that society functions smoothly due to fixed structures.
B) How knowledge and power are connected, especially after World War II.
C) The role of religion in maintaining societal values.
D) The biological foundation of human behavior in modern society.
B) How knowledge and power are connected, especially after World War II.
What is critical thinking in sociology?
A) The practice of accepting information at face value.
B) The process of evaluating information with intellectual standards to apply it to various situations.
C) Focusing only on individual perspectives without considering societal influence.
D) Rejecting all information that does not align with personal beliefs.
B) The process of evaluating information with intellectual standards to apply it to various situations.
Which is an example of “public sociology”?
A) Writing academic articles for peer-reviewed journals.
B) Applying sociological knowledge in one’s personal life decisions.
C) Using sociological research to inform government policies.
D) Communicating sociological concepts to a non-academic audience through media.
D) Communicating sociological concepts to a non-academic audience through media.
What is “policy sociology”?
A) Theoretical discussions about social problems.
B) Applying sociological research to the development of policies for social change.
C) The study of individual experiences in small groups.
D) Focusing on abstract sociological theories without practical applications.
B) Applying sociological research to the development of policies for social change.
Why is sociological reasoning important?
A) It focuses on personal experiences and opinions.
B) It uses empirical methods and systematic procedures to understand people and society.
C) It ignores data and relies on intuition.
D) It always agrees with common sense.
B) It uses empirical methods and systematic procedures to understand people and society.
What is the key difference between deductive and inductive reasoning?
A) Deductive reasoning begins with observation, while inductive reasoning starts with theory.
B) Deductive reasoning starts with theory and ends with research findings, while inductive reasoning begins with observation and ends in theory construction.
C) Deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning are the same process.
D) Deductive reasoning only applies to qualitative research, while inductive reasoning applies to quantitative research.
B) Deductive reasoning starts with theory and ends with research findings, while inductive reasoning begins with observation and ends in theory construction.
What is the goal of exploratory research?
A) To test hypotheses based on previous theories.
B) To understand an area that is not well-established or understood.
C) To evaluate the effectiveness of a social program.
D) To gather numerical data for analysis.
B) To understand an area that is not well-established or understood.
What is the correct order of steps in conducting sociological research?
A) Develop a research design, collect data, analyze data, identify an area of interest.
B) Identify an area of interest, develop a research design, collect data, analyze data, draw conclusions, disseminate findings.
C) Collect data, analyze data, disseminate findings, identify an area of interest.
D) Draw conclusions, collect data, identify an area of interest, develop a research design.
B) Identify an area of interest, develop a research design, collect data, analyze data, draw conclusions, disseminate findings.
What ethical principle should guide research involving human participants?
A) The researcher’s personal beliefs and preferences.
B) The potential for the researcher’s financial gain.
C) A concern for welfare, respect for dignity, and prioritizing justice.
D) Only ensuring participants are aware of the research findings.
C) A concern for welfare, respect for dignity, and prioritizing justice.
What is the main difference between qualitative and quantitative research methods?
A) Qualitative methods focus on counting data, while quantitative methods focus on understanding or describing something.
B) Qualitative methods use deductive reasoning, while quantitative methods use inductive reasoning.
C) Qualitative methods focus on understanding or describing, while quantitative methods are focused on counting or testing hypotheses.
D) Both methods use the same type of reasoning and data analysis.
C) Qualitative methods focus on understanding or describing, while quantitative methods are focused on counting or testing hypotheses.
What is the main use of experiments in sociological research?
A) To observe people’s behaviors in natural settings without interference.
B) To test causality through control and random assignment.
C) To gather data on opinions through surveys.
D) To analyze existing data for patterns.
B) To test causality through control and random assignment.
What is the purpose of surveys in sociological research?
A) To test causality through control.
B) To gather detailed opinions and personal experiences.
C) To gather opinions from a large number of respondents using questionnaires.
D) To observe individuals in their natural environment.
C) To gather opinions from a large number of respondents using questionnaires.
What is the main goal of focus group interviews in sociological research?
A) To gather numerical data through surveys.
B) To analyze statistical trends in secondary data.
C) To obtain in-depth opinions from small groups of people.
D) To test hypotheses through experimental design.
C) To obtain in-depth opinions from small groups of people.
What is secondary analysis in sociological research?
A) The study of a researcher’s own observations and experiences.
B) Analyzing data originally collected for another purpose, such as government statistics.
C) The process of conducting in-depth interviews with individuals.
D) Observing people in their natural settings without interacting with them.
B) Analyzing data originally collected for another purpose, such as government statistics.
What is content analysis in sociological research?
A) A method to analyze quantitative data.
B) A technique used to examine messages in images and print material.
C) A way of observing people’s behavior in natural settings.
D) A method to gather opinions through interviews.
B) A technique used to examine messages in images and print material.
What does ethnography in sociological research involve?
A) Collecting numerical data through surveys.
B) Analyzing secondary data from government reports.
C) Fieldwork that allows researchers to study people in natural settings.
D) Using experiments to test theories in controlled environments.
C) Fieldwork that allows researchers to study people in natural settings.
What is the difference between systematic observation and participant observation in sociological research?
A) Systematic observation involves active participation in the group being studied, while participant observation does not.
B) Systematic observation involves no involvement with the group, while participant observation requires the researcher to engage with the group.
C) Both methods are used for experiments in controlled environments.
D) Systematic observation focuses on numerical data, while participant observation focuses on qualitative data.
B) Systematic observation involves no involvement with the group, while participant observation requires the researcher to engage with the group.
