ISS 215 MIDTERM 1 EXAM QUESTIONS WELL ANSWERED LATEST UPDATE 2026
Social Science - Answers Systematic study of human society and relationships.
Theory - Answers A set of ideas intended to explain how and why social phenomena occur.
Theoretical Perspective - Answers A broad framework for explaining social behavior and society.
Conflict Theory - Answers View that society is shaped by inequality and power struggles.
Structural Functionalism - Answers Society functions as an interrelated system working toward
stability.
Symbolic Interactionism - Answers Society is created through shared meanings and interactions.
Capitalism - Answers Economic system based on private ownership and profit.
Division of Labor - Answers Specialization of work tasks to increase efficiency.
Class - Answers Group defined by similar socioeconomic status or relation to production.
Bourgeoisie - Answers The capitalist class who owns the means of production.
Proletariat - Answers The working class who sell their labor for wages.
Class Consciousness - Answers Awareness among a class of its shared interests and struggles.
Race - Answers A social construct based on perceived physical differences.
Gender - Answers Social and cultural roles associated with being male, female, or nonbinary.
Ethnicity - Answers Shared cultural traits such as language, ancestry, and traditions.
Sociological Imagination - Answers Ability to see connection between personal experiences and wider
society.
Public Issues vs. Personal Troubles - Answers Public issues are societal problems; personal troubles
are individual issues.
Industrialization - Answers Transformation from agrarian to industrial economies.
Reciprocity - Answers Mutual exchange of goods and services.
Redistribution - Answers Central collection and reallocation of goods.
Markets - Answers Systems for voluntary exchange of goods and services.
Feudalism - Answers Medieval system of land ownership and social hierarchy.
Patriarchal Societies - Answers Societies dominated by men in power and authority.
Kuznets Curve - Answers Hypothesis that inequality rises then falls as economies develop.
Caste System - Answers Rigid social hierarchy with little mobility, based on birth.
Social Construction - Answers Concepts that exist because society collectively agrees on them.
Hunting and Gathering Societies - Answers Nomadic groups relying on subsistence hunting and
foraging.
Horticultural and Herding Societies - Answers Small-scale farming and domestication of animals.
Agrarian Societies - Answers Large-scale agriculture with social stratification.
Industrial Societies - Answers Mass production and wage labor economies.
Postindustrial Societies - Answers Service and information-based economies.
Conservative Thesis - Answers Inequality is natural and beneficial for social order.
Radical Antithesis - Answers Inequality is unjust and must be challenged.
Dialectic - Answers Historical change through conflict between opposing forces.
Ideology - Answers System of beliefs that justify social arrangements.
Means of Production - Answers Physical tools, resources, and technology used to produce goods.
Relations of Production - Answers Social relationships formed around production (e.g., worker-
owner).
Surplus Value - Answers Profit created by workers but taken by owners.
Labor Theory of Value - Answers Value of a good determined by the labor used to produce it.
Alienation - Answers Workers' loss of connection to their work and humanity.
Exploitation - Answers Using others' labor for profit without fair return.
Weber's Types of Power Class - Answers (economic), Prestige (social), Party (political).
Durkheim's Solidarity Types - Answers Mechanical (similarity-based) vs. Organic (interdependence-
based).
Ecological-Evolutionary Theory - Answers Explains how societies evolve through adaptation to
environments.
Modernization Theory - Answers Economic growth occurs by adopting Western models.
Dependency Theory - Answers Underdevelopment caused by exploitation by wealthy nations.
World Systems Theory - Answers Global inequality: core, semi-periphery, periphery nations.
Political Economy - Answers Relationship between politics and economics shaping society.
Social Science - Answers Systematic study of human society and relationships.
Theory - Answers A set of ideas intended to explain how and why social phenomena occur.
Theoretical Perspective - Answers A broad framework for explaining social behavior and society.
Conflict Theory - Answers View that society is shaped by inequality and power struggles.
Structural Functionalism - Answers Society functions as an interrelated system working toward
stability.
Symbolic Interactionism - Answers Society is created through shared meanings and interactions.
Capitalism - Answers Economic system based on private ownership and profit.
Division of Labor - Answers Specialization of work tasks to increase efficiency.
Class - Answers Group defined by similar socioeconomic status or relation to production.
Bourgeoisie - Answers The capitalist class who owns the means of production.
Proletariat - Answers The working class who sell their labor for wages.
Class Consciousness - Answers Awareness among a class of its shared interests and struggles.
Race - Answers A social construct based on perceived physical differences.
Gender - Answers Social and cultural roles associated with being male, female, or nonbinary.
Ethnicity - Answers Shared cultural traits such as language, ancestry, and traditions.
Sociological Imagination - Answers Ability to see connection between personal experiences and wider
society.
Public Issues vs. Personal Troubles - Answers Public issues are societal problems; personal troubles
are individual issues.
Industrialization - Answers Transformation from agrarian to industrial economies.
Reciprocity - Answers Mutual exchange of goods and services.
Redistribution - Answers Central collection and reallocation of goods.
Markets - Answers Systems for voluntary exchange of goods and services.
Feudalism - Answers Medieval system of land ownership and social hierarchy.
Patriarchal Societies - Answers Societies dominated by men in power and authority.
Kuznets Curve - Answers Hypothesis that inequality rises then falls as economies develop.
Caste System - Answers Rigid social hierarchy with little mobility, based on birth.
Social Construction - Answers Concepts that exist because society collectively agrees on them.
Hunting and Gathering Societies - Answers Nomadic groups relying on subsistence hunting and
foraging.
Horticultural and Herding Societies - Answers Small-scale farming and domestication of animals.
Agrarian Societies - Answers Large-scale agriculture with social stratification.
Industrial Societies - Answers Mass production and wage labor economies.
Postindustrial Societies - Answers Service and information-based economies.
Conservative Thesis - Answers Inequality is natural and beneficial for social order.
Radical Antithesis - Answers Inequality is unjust and must be challenged.
Dialectic - Answers Historical change through conflict between opposing forces.
Ideology - Answers System of beliefs that justify social arrangements.
Means of Production - Answers Physical tools, resources, and technology used to produce goods.
Relations of Production - Answers Social relationships formed around production (e.g., worker-
owner).
Surplus Value - Answers Profit created by workers but taken by owners.
Labor Theory of Value - Answers Value of a good determined by the labor used to produce it.
Alienation - Answers Workers' loss of connection to their work and humanity.
Exploitation - Answers Using others' labor for profit without fair return.
Weber's Types of Power Class - Answers (economic), Prestige (social), Party (political).
Durkheim's Solidarity Types - Answers Mechanical (similarity-based) vs. Organic (interdependence-
based).
Ecological-Evolutionary Theory - Answers Explains how societies evolve through adaptation to
environments.
Modernization Theory - Answers Economic growth occurs by adopting Western models.
Dependency Theory - Answers Underdevelopment caused by exploitation by wealthy nations.
World Systems Theory - Answers Global inequality: core, semi-periphery, periphery nations.
Political Economy - Answers Relationship between politics and economics shaping society.
