WGU C273 Introduction to Sociology Practice Questions and Answers
Updated 2026 | Complete WGU Sociology Study Guide with Verified
Questions, Detailed Rationales, Social Institutions, Culture, Socialization,
Deviance, Inequality, Race & Ethnicity, Gender, Family Structures, Social
Change & Objective Assessment Exam Prep
Question 1: Which sociological perspective views society as a complex system
whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability?
A. Conflict theory
B. Symbolic interactionism
C. Functionalism
D. Feminist theory
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Functionalism
Rationale: Functionalism, also known as structural functionalism, views society as a
complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. This
perspective emphasizes how social institutions fulfill essential functions to maintain
social order, with each part contributing to the overall stability of society.
Question 2: Who is considered the founder of conflict theory in sociology?
A. Émile Durkheim
B. Max Weber
C. Karl Marx
D. George Herbert Mead
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Karl Marx
Rationale: Karl Marx is considered the founder of conflict theory, which emphasizes the
role of coercion and power in producing social order. Marx argued that society is in a
state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources, particularly
between social classes.
Question 3: What term describes the ability to see the relationship between
individual experiences and larger social influences?
A. Social imagination
B. Sociological imagination
C. Cultural relativism
D. Ethnocentrism
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Sociological imagination
Rationale: The sociological imagination, a concept coined by C. Wright Mills, refers to
the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and larger social
influences. It enables individuals to understand how personal troubles are connected
to public issues and broader social structures.
,Question 4: Which research method involves collecting data through direct
observation of participants in their natural environment?
A. Survey research
B. Experimental research
C. Participant observation
D. Secondary data analysis
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Participant observation
Rationale: Participant observation is a qualitative research method in which
researchers collect data by directly observing and participating in the activities of the
group being studied within their natural environment. This method is commonly used in
ethnographic research to gain an insider's perspective.
Question 5: What is the term for using one's own culture as a standard to judge
other cultures?
A. Cultural relativism
B. Ethnocentrism
C. Cultural diffusion
D. Multiculturalism
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ethnocentrism
Rationale: Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another culture by the standards of
one's own culture. This perspective can lead to misunderstanding and prejudice, as it
assumes one's own cultural norms and values are superior to those of other societies.
Question 6: Which of the following best defines a social norm?
A. A biological instinct shared by all humans
B. A rule or expectation for behavior within a society or group
C. A personal preference that varies by individual
D. A government law enforced by police
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A rule or expectation for behavior within a society or group
Rationale: A social norm is a shared rule or expectation for behavior within a society or
group. Norms guide social interactions and can be formal (laws) or informal (customs),
and they vary across cultures and contexts.
Question 7: According to symbolic interactionism, how do individuals create
meaning in social interactions?
A. Through economic competition and class struggle
B. Through the use of shared symbols, language, and gestures
C. Through biological instincts and evolutionary pressures
D. Through institutional structures and formal rules
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Through the use of shared symbols, language, and gestures
,Rationale: Symbolic interactionism emphasizes that individuals create meaning
through social interaction using shared symbols, language, and gestures. This
perspective focuses on micro-level interactions and how people interpret and respond
to the actions of others.
Question 8: What is the primary purpose of a hypothesis in sociological research?
A. To summarize the findings of a completed study
B. To provide a testable prediction about the relationship between variables
C. To describe the cultural context of a research topic
D. To establish the ethical guidelines for conducting research
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To provide a testable prediction about the relationship
between variables
Rationale: A hypothesis is a testable prediction about the relationship between two or
more variables in sociological research. It guides the research design and allows
researchers to systematically investigate whether empirical evidence supports their
theoretical expectations.
Question 9: Which concept refers to the process by which individuals learn and
internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of their society?
A. Social stratification
B. Socialization
C. Social mobility
D. Social deviance
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Socialization
Rationale: Socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals learn and
internalize the values, beliefs, norms, and behaviors of their society. This process
occurs through various agents including family, peers, education, and media.
Question 10: What term describes a group to which a person belongs and with
which they feel a sense of identity?
A. Reference group
B. Out-group
C. In-group
D. Secondary group
CORRECT ANSWER: C. In-group
Rationale: An in-group is a social group to which a person psychologically identifies as
being a member and with which they feel a sense of loyalty and identity. In-group
membership often influences attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of those outside
the group.
, Question 11: Which sociologist developed the concept of "anomie" to describe a
state of normlessness in society?
A. Karl Marx
B. Max Weber
C. Émile Durkheim
D. George Herbert Mead
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Émile Durkheim
Rationale: Émile Durkheim developed the concept of anomie to describe a state of
normlessness that occurs when social regulations break down, often during periods of
rapid social change. Durkheim argued that anomie can lead to increased rates of
deviance and suicide.
Question 12: What is the term for the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or
groups in society based on factors such as wealth, power, and prestige?
A. Social mobility
B. Social stratification
C. Social integration
D. Social construction
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Social stratification
Rationale: Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or
groups in society based on factors such as wealth, power, and prestige. This system
creates unequal access to resources and opportunities across different social classes.
Question 13: Which research design involves manipulating an independent
variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable?
A. Survey research
B. Ethnography
C. Experiment
D. Content analysis
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Experiment
Rationale: An experiment is a research design in which researchers manipulate an
independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable while controlling for
other factors. This method allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect
relationships.
Question 14: What term describes the practice of understanding a culture on its
own terms rather than judging it by the standards of another culture?
A. Ethnocentrism
B. Cultural relativism
Updated 2026 | Complete WGU Sociology Study Guide with Verified
Questions, Detailed Rationales, Social Institutions, Culture, Socialization,
Deviance, Inequality, Race & Ethnicity, Gender, Family Structures, Social
Change & Objective Assessment Exam Prep
Question 1: Which sociological perspective views society as a complex system
whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability?
A. Conflict theory
B. Symbolic interactionism
C. Functionalism
D. Feminist theory
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Functionalism
Rationale: Functionalism, also known as structural functionalism, views society as a
complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. This
perspective emphasizes how social institutions fulfill essential functions to maintain
social order, with each part contributing to the overall stability of society.
Question 2: Who is considered the founder of conflict theory in sociology?
A. Émile Durkheim
B. Max Weber
C. Karl Marx
D. George Herbert Mead
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Karl Marx
Rationale: Karl Marx is considered the founder of conflict theory, which emphasizes the
role of coercion and power in producing social order. Marx argued that society is in a
state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources, particularly
between social classes.
Question 3: What term describes the ability to see the relationship between
individual experiences and larger social influences?
A. Social imagination
B. Sociological imagination
C. Cultural relativism
D. Ethnocentrism
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Sociological imagination
Rationale: The sociological imagination, a concept coined by C. Wright Mills, refers to
the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and larger social
influences. It enables individuals to understand how personal troubles are connected
to public issues and broader social structures.
,Question 4: Which research method involves collecting data through direct
observation of participants in their natural environment?
A. Survey research
B. Experimental research
C. Participant observation
D. Secondary data analysis
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Participant observation
Rationale: Participant observation is a qualitative research method in which
researchers collect data by directly observing and participating in the activities of the
group being studied within their natural environment. This method is commonly used in
ethnographic research to gain an insider's perspective.
Question 5: What is the term for using one's own culture as a standard to judge
other cultures?
A. Cultural relativism
B. Ethnocentrism
C. Cultural diffusion
D. Multiculturalism
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ethnocentrism
Rationale: Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another culture by the standards of
one's own culture. This perspective can lead to misunderstanding and prejudice, as it
assumes one's own cultural norms and values are superior to those of other societies.
Question 6: Which of the following best defines a social norm?
A. A biological instinct shared by all humans
B. A rule or expectation for behavior within a society or group
C. A personal preference that varies by individual
D. A government law enforced by police
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A rule or expectation for behavior within a society or group
Rationale: A social norm is a shared rule or expectation for behavior within a society or
group. Norms guide social interactions and can be formal (laws) or informal (customs),
and they vary across cultures and contexts.
Question 7: According to symbolic interactionism, how do individuals create
meaning in social interactions?
A. Through economic competition and class struggle
B. Through the use of shared symbols, language, and gestures
C. Through biological instincts and evolutionary pressures
D. Through institutional structures and formal rules
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Through the use of shared symbols, language, and gestures
,Rationale: Symbolic interactionism emphasizes that individuals create meaning
through social interaction using shared symbols, language, and gestures. This
perspective focuses on micro-level interactions and how people interpret and respond
to the actions of others.
Question 8: What is the primary purpose of a hypothesis in sociological research?
A. To summarize the findings of a completed study
B. To provide a testable prediction about the relationship between variables
C. To describe the cultural context of a research topic
D. To establish the ethical guidelines for conducting research
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To provide a testable prediction about the relationship
between variables
Rationale: A hypothesis is a testable prediction about the relationship between two or
more variables in sociological research. It guides the research design and allows
researchers to systematically investigate whether empirical evidence supports their
theoretical expectations.
Question 9: Which concept refers to the process by which individuals learn and
internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of their society?
A. Social stratification
B. Socialization
C. Social mobility
D. Social deviance
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Socialization
Rationale: Socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals learn and
internalize the values, beliefs, norms, and behaviors of their society. This process
occurs through various agents including family, peers, education, and media.
Question 10: What term describes a group to which a person belongs and with
which they feel a sense of identity?
A. Reference group
B. Out-group
C. In-group
D. Secondary group
CORRECT ANSWER: C. In-group
Rationale: An in-group is a social group to which a person psychologically identifies as
being a member and with which they feel a sense of loyalty and identity. In-group
membership often influences attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of those outside
the group.
, Question 11: Which sociologist developed the concept of "anomie" to describe a
state of normlessness in society?
A. Karl Marx
B. Max Weber
C. Émile Durkheim
D. George Herbert Mead
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Émile Durkheim
Rationale: Émile Durkheim developed the concept of anomie to describe a state of
normlessness that occurs when social regulations break down, often during periods of
rapid social change. Durkheim argued that anomie can lead to increased rates of
deviance and suicide.
Question 12: What is the term for the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or
groups in society based on factors such as wealth, power, and prestige?
A. Social mobility
B. Social stratification
C. Social integration
D. Social construction
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Social stratification
Rationale: Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or
groups in society based on factors such as wealth, power, and prestige. This system
creates unequal access to resources and opportunities across different social classes.
Question 13: Which research design involves manipulating an independent
variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable?
A. Survey research
B. Ethnography
C. Experiment
D. Content analysis
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Experiment
Rationale: An experiment is a research design in which researchers manipulate an
independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable while controlling for
other factors. This method allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect
relationships.
Question 14: What term describes the practice of understanding a culture on its
own terms rather than judging it by the standards of another culture?
A. Ethnocentrism
B. Cultural relativism
