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SOC 2000 SOCIOLOGY MIDTERM EXAM
PRACTICE SET 2 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2025 GALEN COLLEGE OF
NURSING
1. What is the primary focus of sociology? a. Human biology b. Human behavior in social contexts c. The study of social life, social change, and social causes and consequences of human behavior d. Political science Sociology examines how people interact within groups and how societies function, change, and influence individual behavior. 2. Who is considered the “father of sociology”? a. Emile Durkheim b. Auguste Comte
c. Karl Marx d. Max Weber Comte coined the term "sociology" and was the first to advocate for a scientific approach to studying society.
3. What is a social norm? a. A biological impulse b. An established standard of behavior maintained by a society c. A deviant act d. An individual belief Social norms are rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members. 4. Which term describes a group of people who share a culture and territory? a. Family b. Government c. Society d. Institution Society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction within a shared geographical or social territory. 5. What is the sociological imagination? a. A creative way of thinking b. The ability to see the connection between personal experiences and larger social influences
d. Animal instinct Culture includes all learned behaviors, beliefs, and symbols that unite people in a society.
9. Which of the following is an example of material culture? a. Smartphones b. Language c. Beliefs d. Morals Material culture includes physical objects that people create and use, such as technology. 10. What are mores? a. Casual norms b. Personal preferences c. Norms with great moral significance d. Cultural artifacts Mores are strongly held norms with moral significance that are widely observed within a society. 11. What is ethnocentrism? a. Respecting cultural differences b. Judging another culture by the standards of one's own c. Cultural relativism d. Cultural diffusion
Ethnocentrism leads to viewing one's own culture as superior and judging others by those standards.
12. What is a subculture? a. A culture that opposes the dominant culture b. A cultural group within a larger culture that maintains distinct values and norms c. A deviant culture d. A historical culture Subcultures coexist with the dominant culture but retain their unique values and practices. 13. Which method is most commonly used in sociological research? a. Experimentation b. Case study c. Survey d. Genetic analysis Surveys are widely used to collect data from large populations quickly and efficiently. 14. What is role conflict? a. When a person refuses to perform a role b. When multiple people want the same role c. When expectations of two roles clash d. When someone plays one role poorly
Achieved statuses are earned or chosen, as opposed to ascribed statuses like race or gender. 18. What is an example of a total institution? a. Prison b. Church c. School d. Supermarket Total institutions, like prisons, control all aspects of a person's life under a single authority.
19. Which term refers to behavior that violates social norms? a. Conformity b. Deviance c. Obedience d. Normalcy Deviance is any behavior that violates significant social norms. 20. What is the primary focus of conflict theory? a. Harmony b. Symbolism c. Power and inequality d. Stability Conflict theory views society as composed of groups competing for scarce resources and focuses on inequality.
21. According to Durkheim, deviance is: a. Always harmful b. Always criminal c. A normal part of society d. A social dysfunction Durkheim argued that deviance serves important functions like clarifying norms and promoting social change. 22. Which of the following is a secondary group? a. Family b. Co-workers c. Close friends d. Childhood playmates Secondary groups are larger and more impersonal, like those formed around work or school. 23. What is social stratification? a. Random placement in society b. The hierarchical arrangement of people in terms of power and resources c. Social networking d. Cultural assimilation Social stratification organizes people into ranked categories based on income, education, or occupation. 24. What does the term “gender role” refer to? a. Socially constructed behaviors and expectations for males and females
b. Horizontal mobility c. Structural mobility d. Intergenerational mobility Horizontal mobility occurs when an individual changes their job or status without changing their social class.
28. What is a stereotype? a. A proven fact b. A neutral observation c. An oversimplified generalization about a group of people d. A personal experience Stereotypes are fixed, overly simple ideas about a particular group, often inaccurate and harmful. 29. Which term refers to the denial of opportunities and equal rights based on group membership? a. Pluralism b. Racism c. Discrimination d. Assimilation Discrimination involves actions that deny rights or opportunities to individuals or groups based on characteristics. 30. What is prejudice? a. Fair judgment b. A negative attitude toward a group
c. A neutral opinion d. A policy decision Prejudice refers to irrational, negative beliefs or feelings toward a group, not necessarily accompanied by actions.
31. Which sociological perspective emphasizes stability and interdependence in society? a. Conflict theory b. Symbolic interactionism c. Functionalism d. Feminist theory Functionalism views society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain balance and stability. 32. What is ethnomethodology? a. Studying crime rates b. The study of the methods people use to understand social interactions c. Measuring norms d. Classifying ethnicity Ethnomethodology explores the everyday rules people use to construct and maintain their social reality. 33. What does the term “glass ceiling” refer to? a. A type of architectural design b. A transparent job role c. An invisible barrier preventing women and minorities from advancing in
d. Moral behavior Gender norms are culturally defined rules that dictate how men and women should behave.
37. Who believed in the idea of “class conflict”? a. Emile Durkheim b. Karl Marx c. Max Weber d. Charles Cooley Karl Marx argued that social conflict, especially between the bourgeoisie and proletariat, drives societal change. 38. What is a bureaucracy? a. A type of informal group b. A formal organization with hierarchy and rules c. A religious organization d. A family unit Bureaucracies are organized with clear hierarchies, written rules, and specialized roles for efficiency. 39. What is meant by cultural relativism? a. Ethnocentrism b. Understanding a culture by its own standards c. Judging another culture d. Assuming cultural superiority
Cultural relativism promotes understanding cultural practices without making value judgments.
40. Which of the following best illustrates resocialization? a. Raising a child b. A person learning a new lifestyle in a rehab center c. Attending a concert d. Voting in an election Resocialization occurs when individuals are radically retrained in values, beliefs, and norms—often in total institutions. 41. What is groupthink? a. Independent decision-making b. Conformity to group norms despite personal doubts c. Encouragement of diverse opinions d. Random choices in groups Groupthink occurs when the desire for group harmony overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives. 42. Which term refers to learning that occurs in schools but is not part of the formal curriculum? a. Functional learning b. Hidden curriculum c. Secondary curriculum d. Overt education
46. What is meant by anomie? a. Strict regulation b. Family structure c. Normlessness or breakdown of social norms d. Role overload Anomie, as defined by Durkheim, occurs when social norms lose their hold on individual behavior. 47. What is the main focus of feminist theory? a. Economic growth b. Social harmony c. Gender inequality and power dynamics d. Technological advancement Feminist theory examines power relations and inequality rooted in gender and challenges patriarchy. 48. What does the term “social construction of reality” mean? a. People follow instincts b. Reality is created through social interaction and interpretation c. Society is predetermined d. Norms are genetic According to this concept, people collectively create meanings that shape what they consider real. 49. What is stratification based on personal achievement called? a. Caste system
b. Meritocracy c. Aristocracy d. Patriarchy Meritocracy rewards individuals based on ability and effort rather than birth or privilege.
50. Which of the following best describes institutional discrimination? a. A personal insult b. Individual prejudice c. Discrimination woven into the fabric of society's institutions d. Occasional bias Institutional discrimination is systematic and built into laws, policies, and social practices. 51. What is a folkway? a. A law b. A norm for routine or casual interaction c. A moral principle d. A religious code Folkways guide everyday behavior but are not morally significant or legally enforced. 52. Which of the following is a characteristic of primary groups? a. Temporary b. Goal-oriented c. Intimate and long-lasting relationships
56. What is the term for applying scientific principles to the study of society? a. Positivism b. Humanism c. Relativism d. Pragmatism Positivism is the use of scientific methods to observe and analyze social facts objectively. 57. What is a dyad? a. A group of three people b. A large social group c. A group of two people d. A solitary individual A dyad is the smallest possible social group—comprising two individuals. 58. What is collective behavior? a. Routine interaction b. Spontaneous activity by a large group in response to an event c. Organized meetings d. Rule-following behavior Collective behavior includes events like riots, mobs, or fads where normal norms may be suspended. 59. What is meant by alienation in Marx’s theory? a. Happiness with work
b. Disconnection from the products of one’s labor c. Social mobility d. Religious devotion Alienation is the worker's loss of control over the labor process and its outcomes under capitalism.
60. Which of the following is a function of the family? a. Promoting crime b. Political campaigns c. Socialization of children d. Business contracts Family plays a critical role in teaching norms, values, and roles to children. 61. What is meant by secularization? a. Rise of religion b. Religious authority c. Decline in religious influence in society d. Forced conversion Secularization refers to the process by which religion loses social and cultural significance. 62. Which term refers to a society dominated by males? a. Matriarchy b. Egalitarianism c. Patriarchy d. Monarchy
