SOCI 1001 FINAL EXAM
PREP
INTRODUCTION TO
SOCIOLOGY
ANSWERED
2023/2024
, 1. What is sociology and what are its main goals? (2 marks)
Sociology is the scientific study of human social behavior, groups and societies. Its main
goals are to understand the patterns, causes and consequences of social interactions
and to apply this knowledge to improve social conditions.
2. What are the three major sociological perspectives and how do they differ? (3 marks)
The three major sociological perspectives are functionalism, conflict theory and
symbolic interactionism. Functionalism views society as a system of interrelated parts
that work together to maintain stability and harmony. Conflict theory views society as a
arena of inequality and struggle between different groups over scarce resources and
power. Symbolic interactionism views society as a product of everyday interactions and
meanings that people create through symbols and language.
3. What is the difference between culture and society? Give an example of each. (2
marks)
Culture is the shared beliefs, values, norms, symbols and practices that guide the
behavior of a group of people. Society is the organized and patterned interactions of
people who live in a specific geographical area. For example, American culture includes
the values of individualism, freedom and democracy, while American society consists of
the institutions, laws and policies that regulate the interactions of its citizens.
4. What are some of the main agents of socialization and how do they influence our
social development? (3 marks)
Some of the main agents of socialization are family, peers, school, media and religion.
They influence our social development by teaching us the skills, values, norms and
expectations that we need to function in society. For example, family socializes us into
our gender roles, peers socialize us into our peer groups, school socializes us into our
academic roles, media socializes us into our consumer roles and religion socializes us
into our moral roles.
PREP
INTRODUCTION TO
SOCIOLOGY
ANSWERED
2023/2024
, 1. What is sociology and what are its main goals? (2 marks)
Sociology is the scientific study of human social behavior, groups and societies. Its main
goals are to understand the patterns, causes and consequences of social interactions
and to apply this knowledge to improve social conditions.
2. What are the three major sociological perspectives and how do they differ? (3 marks)
The three major sociological perspectives are functionalism, conflict theory and
symbolic interactionism. Functionalism views society as a system of interrelated parts
that work together to maintain stability and harmony. Conflict theory views society as a
arena of inequality and struggle between different groups over scarce resources and
power. Symbolic interactionism views society as a product of everyday interactions and
meanings that people create through symbols and language.
3. What is the difference between culture and society? Give an example of each. (2
marks)
Culture is the shared beliefs, values, norms, symbols and practices that guide the
behavior of a group of people. Society is the organized and patterned interactions of
people who live in a specific geographical area. For example, American culture includes
the values of individualism, freedom and democracy, while American society consists of
the institutions, laws and policies that regulate the interactions of its citizens.
4. What are some of the main agents of socialization and how do they influence our
social development? (3 marks)
Some of the main agents of socialization are family, peers, school, media and religion.
They influence our social development by teaching us the skills, values, norms and
expectations that we need to function in society. For example, family socializes us into
our gender roles, peers socialize us into our peer groups, school socializes us into our
academic roles, media socializes us into our consumer roles and religion socializes us
into our moral roles.
