CHAPTER 1
ANSWERS FOR THE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. b The sociological perspective is an approach to understanding human behavior by
placing it within its broader social context. (4)
2 . d Sociologists consider occupation, income, education, gender, age, and race as
dimensions of social location.(4)
3. d All three statements reflect ways in which the social sciences are like the natural
sciences. Both attempt to study and understand their subjects objectively; both attempt
to undercover the relationships that create order in their respective worlds through
controlled observation; and both are divided into many specialized fields. (5-7)
4. c Generalization is one of the goals of ...view middle of the document...
b In his research on suicide rates, Durkheim found that individuals’ integration into
their social groups influences the overall patterns of suicide between groups. He called
this concept social integration. (12)
11. a In response to the development of the new, impersonal industrial society, Durkheim
suggested that new social groups be created to stand between the state and the family.
He believed this would address the condition of anomie. (12)
12. c Max Weber's research on the rise of capitalism identified religious beliefs as the key.
(13)
13. d All are correct. Replication helps researchers overcome distortions that values can
cause, results can be compared when a study is repeated, and replication involves the
repetition of a study by other researchers. (14)
14. c Social facts and Verstehen go hand-in-hand. Social facts are patterns of behavior that
characterize a social group. By applying Verstehen, your understanding of what it means
to be human and to face various situations in life, you gain an understanding of people's
behavior. (15)
15. b In the nineteenth century, it was unlikely that women would study sociology because
gender roles were rigidly defined; women were supposed to devote themselves to the four
K's — Kirche, Küchen, Kinder, und Kleider (church, cooking, children, and clothes).
(16-17)
16. b The statement that, “Unlike the situation in Europe, many North American women
found that there were few barriers and they were able to train in sociology and receive
faculty appointments,” is incorrect. In the early years of sociology, the situation of
women in North America was similar to that of European women — they were largely
CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER ANSWER KEY
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excluded and their work ignored. As a result, many turned to social activism, especially
working with the poor and immigrant groups. Many male sociologists who worked as
professors denied female sociologists the title of sociologist, preferring to call them
social workers. (17)
17. c W. E. B. Du Bois was an African-American sociologist who wrote extensively on race
relations. In both his personal and professional life, he experienced prejudice and
discrimination. His commitment to racial equality led him to establish the NAACP. (19-
20)
1 8 . c Sociologists who conduct research for government commissions or agencies
investigating social problems are practicing applied sociology. (21)
19. b Symbolic interactionism is the theoretical perspective that views society as composed
of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and
communicate with one another. (23)
20. c In explaining the high U.S. divorce rate, the symbolic interaction perspective would
focus on explanations such as emotional satisfaction, the meaning of children, and the
meaning of parenthood. (23-25)
21. d According to Robert Merton, an unintended consequence that can hurt a system’s
equilibrium is a latent dysfunction. (26)
22. d...
