WGU INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY C273
ACTUAL EXAMINATION TEST 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Trace the origins of sociology, from tradition to Max Weber. Answer:
Sociology emerged in the mid-1800s in western Europe, during the onset
of the Industrial Revolution. Industrialization affected all aspects of
human existence—where people lived, the nature of their work, their
relationships, and how they viewed life. Early sociologists who focused
on these social changes include Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl
Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Harriet Martineau, and W. E. B. Du
Bois.
⩥ Trace the development of sociology in North America and explain the
tension between objective analysis and social reform. Answer: What was
the position of women and minorities in early sociology?
The few women who received the education required to become
sociologists tended to focus on social reform. The debate between social
reform and social analysis was won by male university professors who
ignored the contributions of the women. W. E. B. Du Bois faced deep
racism in his sociological career. Pp. 8-11.
Why are the positions of Parsons and Mills important?
,C. Wright Mills criticized Parsons' abstract analysis of the components
of society, saying that it does nothing for social reform, which should be
the goal of sociologists. The significance of this position is that the
debate about the purpose and use of sociology continues today. P. 11.
What tension runs through sociology?
The fundamental tension is between the goals of reforming society (or
changing negative conditions) and doing basic research on society. For
an overview of basic, public, and applied sociology, see Figure 1.4 on
page 12. Pp. 11-13.
⩥ Explain the basic ideas of symbolic interactionism, functional
analysis, and conflict theory. Answer: Sociologists use three primary
theoretical frameworks to interpret social life. Symbolic interactionists
examine how people use symbols (meanings) to develop and share their
views of the world. Symbolic interactionists usually focus on the micro
level—on small-scale, face-to-face interaction. Functional analysts, in
contrast, focus on the macro level—on large-scale patterns of society.
Functional theorists stress that a social system is made up of interrelated
parts. When working properly, each part contributes to the stability of
the whole, fulfilling a function that contributes to the system's
equilibrium. Conflict theorists also focus on large-scale patterns of
society. They stress that society is composed of competing groups that
struggle for scarce resources. Pp. 13-18.
With each perspective focusing on select features of social life, and each
providing a unique interpretation, no single perspective is adequate. The
combined insights of all three yield a more comprehensive picture of
social life. Pp. 18-19.
,⩥ Explain why common sense can't replace sociological research.
Answer: Common sense is unreliable. Research shows that common-
sense ideas are often limited or false.
⩥ Know the 8 steps of the research model. Answer: (1) Selecting a topic,
(2) Defining the problem, (3) Reviewing the literature, (4) Formulating a
hypothesis, (5) Choosing a research method, (6) Collecting the data, (7)
Analyzing the results, and (8) Sharing the results. These steps are
explained in detail on pages 20-22.
⩥ Know the main elements of the 7 research methods: surveys,
participant observation, case studies, secondary analysis, analysis of
documents, experiments, and unobtrusive measures. Answer: To gather
data, sociologists use seven research methods (or research designs):
surveys, participant observation, case studies, secondary analysis,
analysis of documents, experiments, and unobtrusive measures. Pp. 22-
30.
⩥ Explain how gender is significant in sociological research. Answer:
Gender can lead to interviewer bias, with participants shaping their
responses based on the gender of the researcher.
⩥ Explain why it is vital for sociologists to protect the people they
study; discuss the two cases that are presented. Answer: Ethics are of
fundamental concern to sociologists, who are committed to openness,
honesty, truth, and protecting their subjects from harm. The Brajuha
, research on restaurant workers and the Humphreys research on
"tearooms" illustrate ethical issues of concern to sociologists
⩥ Explain how research versus reform and globalization are likely to
influence sociology. Answer: Sociology has gone through three phases:
In the first, the emphasis was on reforming society; in the second, the
focus was on basic sociology; the third, today's phase, with its applied
sociology and public sociology, is taking us closer to our roots of
applying sociology to social change. Today's globalization is likely to
broaden sociological horizons, refocusing research and theory away
from its concentration on U.S. society.
⩥ sociological perspective Answer: understanding human behavior by
placing it within its broader social context. stresses the social contexts in
which people live. It examines how these contexts influence people's
lives.
⩥ society Answer: people who share a culture and a territory
⩥ social location Answer: the group memberships that people have
because of their location in history and society
⩥ Auguste Comte (1798-1857) Answer: who is credited as the founder
of sociology, began to analyze the bases of the social order. Although he
stressed that the scientific method should be applied to the study of
society a process known as positivism, he did not apply it himself.
ACTUAL EXAMINATION TEST 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Trace the origins of sociology, from tradition to Max Weber. Answer:
Sociology emerged in the mid-1800s in western Europe, during the onset
of the Industrial Revolution. Industrialization affected all aspects of
human existence—where people lived, the nature of their work, their
relationships, and how they viewed life. Early sociologists who focused
on these social changes include Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl
Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Harriet Martineau, and W. E. B. Du
Bois.
⩥ Trace the development of sociology in North America and explain the
tension between objective analysis and social reform. Answer: What was
the position of women and minorities in early sociology?
The few women who received the education required to become
sociologists tended to focus on social reform. The debate between social
reform and social analysis was won by male university professors who
ignored the contributions of the women. W. E. B. Du Bois faced deep
racism in his sociological career. Pp. 8-11.
Why are the positions of Parsons and Mills important?
,C. Wright Mills criticized Parsons' abstract analysis of the components
of society, saying that it does nothing for social reform, which should be
the goal of sociologists. The significance of this position is that the
debate about the purpose and use of sociology continues today. P. 11.
What tension runs through sociology?
The fundamental tension is between the goals of reforming society (or
changing negative conditions) and doing basic research on society. For
an overview of basic, public, and applied sociology, see Figure 1.4 on
page 12. Pp. 11-13.
⩥ Explain the basic ideas of symbolic interactionism, functional
analysis, and conflict theory. Answer: Sociologists use three primary
theoretical frameworks to interpret social life. Symbolic interactionists
examine how people use symbols (meanings) to develop and share their
views of the world. Symbolic interactionists usually focus on the micro
level—on small-scale, face-to-face interaction. Functional analysts, in
contrast, focus on the macro level—on large-scale patterns of society.
Functional theorists stress that a social system is made up of interrelated
parts. When working properly, each part contributes to the stability of
the whole, fulfilling a function that contributes to the system's
equilibrium. Conflict theorists also focus on large-scale patterns of
society. They stress that society is composed of competing groups that
struggle for scarce resources. Pp. 13-18.
With each perspective focusing on select features of social life, and each
providing a unique interpretation, no single perspective is adequate. The
combined insights of all three yield a more comprehensive picture of
social life. Pp. 18-19.
,⩥ Explain why common sense can't replace sociological research.
Answer: Common sense is unreliable. Research shows that common-
sense ideas are often limited or false.
⩥ Know the 8 steps of the research model. Answer: (1) Selecting a topic,
(2) Defining the problem, (3) Reviewing the literature, (4) Formulating a
hypothesis, (5) Choosing a research method, (6) Collecting the data, (7)
Analyzing the results, and (8) Sharing the results. These steps are
explained in detail on pages 20-22.
⩥ Know the main elements of the 7 research methods: surveys,
participant observation, case studies, secondary analysis, analysis of
documents, experiments, and unobtrusive measures. Answer: To gather
data, sociologists use seven research methods (or research designs):
surveys, participant observation, case studies, secondary analysis,
analysis of documents, experiments, and unobtrusive measures. Pp. 22-
30.
⩥ Explain how gender is significant in sociological research. Answer:
Gender can lead to interviewer bias, with participants shaping their
responses based on the gender of the researcher.
⩥ Explain why it is vital for sociologists to protect the people they
study; discuss the two cases that are presented. Answer: Ethics are of
fundamental concern to sociologists, who are committed to openness,
honesty, truth, and protecting their subjects from harm. The Brajuha
, research on restaurant workers and the Humphreys research on
"tearooms" illustrate ethical issues of concern to sociologists
⩥ Explain how research versus reform and globalization are likely to
influence sociology. Answer: Sociology has gone through three phases:
In the first, the emphasis was on reforming society; in the second, the
focus was on basic sociology; the third, today's phase, with its applied
sociology and public sociology, is taking us closer to our roots of
applying sociology to social change. Today's globalization is likely to
broaden sociological horizons, refocusing research and theory away
from its concentration on U.S. society.
⩥ sociological perspective Answer: understanding human behavior by
placing it within its broader social context. stresses the social contexts in
which people live. It examines how these contexts influence people's
lives.
⩥ society Answer: people who share a culture and a territory
⩥ social location Answer: the group memberships that people have
because of their location in history and society
⩥ Auguste Comte (1798-1857) Answer: who is credited as the founder
of sociology, began to analyze the bases of the social order. Although he
stressed that the scientific method should be applied to the study of
society a process known as positivism, he did not apply it himself.
