Soc 200 Exam Questions With Correct
Answers Graded A+
Define Sociology
the systematic study of society and social interaction
Auguste Comte's 'positivism'
the scientific study of social patterns
C. Wright Mills' Sociological Imagination
the ability to understand how your own past relates to that of other people, as well as to history in
general and societal structures in particular
Conflict Theory
a theory that looks at society as a competition for limited resources
Quantitative Research Methods
statistical methods such as surveys with large numbers of participants
Qualitative Research Methods
in-depth interviews, focus groups, and/or analysis of content sources as the source of its data
Karl Marx and communism
predicted that inequalities of capitalism would become so extreme that workers would eventually
revolt leading to the collapse of capitalism, which would be replaced by communism, believed that
communism was a more equitable system than capitalism.
Macro-level vs micro-level sociology
macro: a wide-scale view of the role of social structures within a society
micro: the study of specific relationships between individuals or small groups
Structural Functionism
sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability
Secondary Data Analysis
using data collected by others but applying new interpretations
Ethnography
observing a complete social setting and all that it entails
What is field research?
gathering data from a natural environment without doing a lab experiment or a survey
Purpose of ASA ethics
formal guidelines for conducting sociological research
, What is validity in research? What is reliability in research?
validity: the degree to which a sociological measure accurately reflects the topic of study
reliability: a measure of a study's consistency that considers how likely results are to be replicated if a
study is reproduced
Participant observation
when a researcher immerses herself in a group or social setting in order to make observations from an
"insider" perspective
Cooley's "Looking Glass" self
a self-image based on how we think others see us
Role Strain
conflicts that someone feels within a role
What did Asch conclude in his research study?
The bigger the majority group (no of confederates), the more people conformed, but only up to a
certain point.
Characteristics of bureaucracy
division of labor, hierarchy of authority, written rules and regulations, impersonality, employment
based on technical qualifications
What does McDonaldization refer to?
the increased uniformity and rationality of society due to automation
Meritocracy
a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement
Ethnocentrism
Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.
Incest taboo
a norm forbidding sexual relations or marriage between certain relatives
Cultural relativism
the practice of judging a culture by its own standards
Mores and folkways
mores: norms that embody the moral views and principles of a group
folkways: are norms without any moral underpinnings
Define language
Answers Graded A+
Define Sociology
the systematic study of society and social interaction
Auguste Comte's 'positivism'
the scientific study of social patterns
C. Wright Mills' Sociological Imagination
the ability to understand how your own past relates to that of other people, as well as to history in
general and societal structures in particular
Conflict Theory
a theory that looks at society as a competition for limited resources
Quantitative Research Methods
statistical methods such as surveys with large numbers of participants
Qualitative Research Methods
in-depth interviews, focus groups, and/or analysis of content sources as the source of its data
Karl Marx and communism
predicted that inequalities of capitalism would become so extreme that workers would eventually
revolt leading to the collapse of capitalism, which would be replaced by communism, believed that
communism was a more equitable system than capitalism.
Macro-level vs micro-level sociology
macro: a wide-scale view of the role of social structures within a society
micro: the study of specific relationships between individuals or small groups
Structural Functionism
sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability
Secondary Data Analysis
using data collected by others but applying new interpretations
Ethnography
observing a complete social setting and all that it entails
What is field research?
gathering data from a natural environment without doing a lab experiment or a survey
Purpose of ASA ethics
formal guidelines for conducting sociological research
, What is validity in research? What is reliability in research?
validity: the degree to which a sociological measure accurately reflects the topic of study
reliability: a measure of a study's consistency that considers how likely results are to be replicated if a
study is reproduced
Participant observation
when a researcher immerses herself in a group or social setting in order to make observations from an
"insider" perspective
Cooley's "Looking Glass" self
a self-image based on how we think others see us
Role Strain
conflicts that someone feels within a role
What did Asch conclude in his research study?
The bigger the majority group (no of confederates), the more people conformed, but only up to a
certain point.
Characteristics of bureaucracy
division of labor, hierarchy of authority, written rules and regulations, impersonality, employment
based on technical qualifications
What does McDonaldization refer to?
the increased uniformity and rationality of society due to automation
Meritocracy
a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement
Ethnocentrism
Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.
Incest taboo
a norm forbidding sexual relations or marriage between certain relatives
Cultural relativism
the practice of judging a culture by its own standards
Mores and folkways
mores: norms that embody the moral views and principles of a group
folkways: are norms without any moral underpinnings
Define language
