Test Bank for Our Social World Introduction to Sociology 7th Edition Ballantine

Instructor Resource
Ballantine, Our Social World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2020

Chapter 1: Sociology: A Unique Way to View the World

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. The scientific study of social life, social change, and social causes and consequences
of human behavior is ______.
a. psychology
b. anthropology
c. biology
d. sociology
Ans: D
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: What Is Sociology?
Difficulty Level: Easy

2. According to the text, the smallest unit sociologists study is a(n) ______.
a. triad
b. dyad
c. individual
d. community
Ans: B
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: What Is Sociology?
Difficulty Level: Easy

3. By comparison, ______ focuses on group patterns, whereas ______ focuses on the
behavior of individuals.
a. psychology; anthropology
b. sociology; anthropology
c. psychology; sociology
d. sociology; psychology
Ans: D
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

, Instructor Resource
Ballantine, Our Social World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2020
Answer Location: What Is Sociology?
Difficulty Level: Medium

4. The entire world is becoming interconnected in a process known as ______.
a. nations
b. globalization
c. communities
d. societies
Ans: B
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: What Is Sociology?
Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Which statement is included in the underlying assumptions of sociology?
a. People prefer to be isolated.
b. We do not need change in society to proceed with human life.
c. Interactions between individuals and groups are a two-way process.
d. People have inherent qualities of kindness and generosity.
Ans: C
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Ideas Underlying Sociology
Difficulty Level: Hard

6. The sociological perspective on race argues that ______.
a. racial categories are biologically determined
b. racial categories are the same across societies
c. racial categories are socially constructed
d. racial categories do not change over time
Ans: C
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Sociological Findings and Commonsense Beliefs
Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Which statement is TRUE regarding how sociology views conflict and social change?
a. Conflict and social change are inherent features of groups and societies.
b. Conflict and social change are unique to industrial societies.
c. Conflict and social change can be measured in decades.

, Instructor Resource
Ballantine, Our Social World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2020
d. Conflict and social change are negative features of dysfunctional societies.
Ans: A
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Ideas Underlying Sociology
Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Which statement is a sociological finding?
a. Most of the differences in the behaviors of women and men are based on “human
nature.”
b. Racial groupings are based on biological differences among people.
c. Most marriages in the U.S. do not last.
d. The meaning and boundaries of racial categories change over time.
Ans: D
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Sociological Findings and Commonsense Beliefs
Difficulty Level: Hard

9. According to a commonsense belief, “most marriages in the U.S. do not last”. What
sociological factor may explain this belief?
a. values
b. demographic variables
c. norm violations
d. social policies
Ans: B
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Sociological Findings and Commonsense Beliefs
Difficulty Level: Hard

10. Which statement is TRUE regarding commonsense findings?
a. Commonsense refers to ideas that are taken for granted while sociology tests beliefs
is a scientific manner.
b. Commonsense is only useful in survival situation.
c. Sociology finds the true answers while commonsense is not true.
d. There are no differences between commonsense and sociology.
Ans: A
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain the sociological perspective.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension