Chapter 1 Test Yourself: What is Sociology?

. Sociological study of the world produces knowledge that is more trustworthy than the knowledge we gain through everyday observation because

using social scientific methods reduces the chance of bias.

sociological knowledge is gathered in simple situations where it is easy to control variables.

sociology as a discipline attracts people who are unbiased, so whether they use sociological methods or gather information from everyday observation, it is unlikely to be shaped by their personal opinions.

sociological observation is haphazard.

. Which of the following is the best example of a society, as that term is defined by sociologists?

women of a sorority living together in a sorority house

dolphins traveling in a pod

people who enjoy going to yard sales

an anthropologist who lives adjacent to a band of gorillas and observes them

. Kendra wants to study how American women define modesty in swimwear. Which of the following would be an example of a systematic study to address this question?

analyzing ads for swimwear in magazines in a waiting room at a local plastic surgeon's office

asking women in a women's group associated with the local mosque, where Muslim women worship, to show her their swimsuits so that she can determine how "modest" they are

surveying a large and diverse sample of American women to ask them to rank 20 different swimsuits on a scale of "modest" to "immodest"

counting the number of one-piece v. two-piece swimsuits that women wear in the Miss Universe pageant

. What core belief about sociology justifies sociologists' hope that their discipline can improve the world?

Sociology can create social change by changing individuals' hearts and minds.

Sociology teaches people that they have little power in the face of overwhelming social forces.

Sociology can give people hope, though it is misplaced, in the fact of social forces beyond their control.

Sociology helps people identify social problems and solutions.

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