1. What did Auguste Comte apply to the study of the social world?
A. Class conflict
B. The scientific method Correct
C. Theory
D. Logic
Explanation
Auguste Comte founded positivism and argued that sociology should rely on the scientific method to study society systematically and objectively. Unlike Marx’s focus on class conflict, or general intellectual tools like theory and logic, Comte’s hallmark was applying empirical scientific principles to understand and improve the social world.
2. Who proposed the idea that societies are improved by the principle of "the survival of the fittest"?
A. Jane Addams
B. Max Weber
C. Herbert Spencer Correct
D. Karl Marx
Explanation
Spencer is credited with popularizing the phrase “survival of the fittest†by applying Darwin’s ideas of biological evolution to human societies, arguing that social progress occurs as the most capable individuals and groups rise while the less capable fall behind. In contrast, Jane Addams emphasized social reform and helping the poor, Max Weber analyzed how rationalization and bureaucracy shape society, and Karl Marx focused on class conflict and the struggle between the bourgeoisie and proletariat.
3. Which perspective involves thinking about society as a functioning unit, with each part related to the whole?
A. Symbolic interactionism
B. Functionalist Correct
C. Feminist
D. Conflict
Explanation
The functionalist perspective views society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to promote stability and order; institutions like family, education, and religion each serve essential functions that help maintain social equilibrium. In contrast, symbolic interactionism focuses on how individuals create shared meanings through interactions, the feminist perspective highlights gender inequalities, and the conflict perspective emphasizes power struggles and competition rather than societal harmony.
4. What is the focus of a social-conflict analysis of sports?
A. The way sports show how society is composed of many parts
B. The importance of how much money a team makes
C. The way sports reflect social inequality and competition Correct
D. The different meanings people attach to games
Explanation
From a conflict theory viewpoint, sports are seen as arenas that reproduce social inequality and reflect wider power struggles reinforcing class, race, and gender hierarchies both on and off the field. This contrasts with functionalism, which focuses on how sports contribute to social cohesion and stability; perspectives that emphasize revenue or commercialization, which highlight economic benefits; and symbolic interactionism, which examines how individuals create meaning through participation and interaction in sports rather than addressing underlying stratification.
5. In which research method does the researcher participate with the subjects in their own setting while observing what is happening?
A. Case study
B. Experiment
C. Field research Correct
D. Survey
Explanation
Field research involves immersing oneself in a natural social setting in order to observe people’s behaviors directly while actively participating in their everyday activities. This hands-on, in-context approach allows researchers to gain rich, in-depth insights that cannot be captured through more detached methods like case studies, controlled experiments, or surveys, which do not involve direct, ongoing participation in the subjects’ environment.