CHAPTER ONE
1. Describe the characteristics of the global villagepresented by the author. What are your reactions to these          characteristics?
2. Differentiate between the concepts manifest and latent functions and provide an example for each.
3. Discuss Emile Durkheim's explanation of how suiciderates vary between different categories of people. Explain how this researchdemonstrates the application of the sociological perspective.
4. What three key societal changes during the 17^th and 18^th centuries were significant for the emergence of sociology as a scientific discipline?
5. What are the three key aspects of the sociologicalperspective? Define each.
6. What are the four basic benefits of using the sociological perspective?
7. What are the three major theoretical paradigms usedby sociologists? Identify the key questions raised by each.
8. Discuss the contributions to sociology made by thefollowing theorists: Robert Merton, Karl Marx, W.E.B. DuBois.
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CHAPTER TWO
1. What are the two requirements which underlie the process of sociological investigation?
2. What are the four ways of knowing discussed in thetext? Please describe and provide an illustration for each.
3. What are the three factors which must be determinedto conclude that a cause and effect relationship between two variablesmay exist?
4. Margaret Eichler points out five dangers to soundresearch that involves gender. Please identify and define each.
5. Define the concept hypothesis. Further, write yourown hypothesis and operationalize the variables which you identify.
6. Describe Lois Benjamin's research methods and conclusions. What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of her research?
7. What are the five areas of concern identified in theSocial Diversity box (pp. 40-42) regarding research with Hispanics?
8. What are the four major research designs used by Sociologists? Describe each, comparing their relative advantages and disadvantages.
9. What are the twin roles of the research involved inparticipant observation?
10. What are the basic steps of the sociological research process? Please briefly describe each step in the process.
11. What are Alvin Gouldner's points concerning politicsand research?
12. Review Max Weber's points concerning objectivityin science.
13. Compare and contrast W. F. Whyte's participant observation study "Street Corner Society" with E.D. Baltzel's historical
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CHAPTER THREE
1. Three causes of cultural change are identified inthe text. Identify these and provide an illustration for each.
2. Discuss the research presented in the text concerningthe uniqueness of language to humans. Make specific reference to the research involving the chimp Kanzi in your discussion.
3. What are the four basic principles of natural selection?
4. Review the information presented in Global Map 3-1.What are the three most widely spoken languages in the world? What is theirregional distribution?
5. What are the basic qualities of the Yanomamo culture?To what extent are you able to view these people from a cultural relativistic perspective? Explain.
6. What is the basic position being taken by sociobiologists concerning the nature of culture? What are three examples used by sociobiologists to argue human culture is determined by biology? To what extent do youagree or disagree with their position? Explain.
7. Define the philosophical doctrine of idealism.
8. What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis? Provide an example.
9. What are the dominant values of U.S. culture identified by Robin Williams? What other values do you feel should be included insuch a list?
10. Define the philosophical doctine of materialism.How does this doctrine fit into the conflict theory of society?
11. What is multiculturalism? What benefits does it offer society? What are the three major criticisms of this approach?
12. Differentiate between the concepts culture, nationand society.
13. What evidence is there that a global culture exists?What are the three limitations to the global culture thesis? Provide anexample for each.
14. Identify two limitations for each of the followingtheoretical perspectives: structural-functionalism, social-conflict andsociobiology.
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CHAPTER FOUR
1. How do the Lenskis define sociocultural evolution?
2. What are the basic types of societies identified bythe Lenskis? What are the basic characteristics of each?
3. What is meant by the term material surplus? What areits effects on society?
4. What does Macionis mean by the "limits of technoogy"?
5. What is the meaning of the philosophy of materialism?
6. How does Karl Marx understand the role of social conflict through history?
7. According to Karl Marx, what are the four ways inwhich industrial capitalism alienates workers?
8. Differentiate between Marx's concepts of infrastructure and superstructure.
9. According to Max Weber, what are the components ofrationality in modern society?
10. For Max Weber, what are the components of rationality in modern society?
11. What is the meaning of the term social fact as discussed by Emile Durkheim?
12. Define the two types of solidarity according to Emile Durkheim.
13. Review the major points presented in the criticalevaluation section concerning the four visions of society. What are themajor strengths and weaknesses of each of the theorists discussed?
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CHAPTER FIVE
1. Briefly review the history of the nature-nurture debate concerning human development.
2. Review the cases of social isolation described inthe text. What are the effects of social isolation on nonhuman primates?What are the effects of social isolation on children?
3. According to Sigmund Freud, what are the basic components of personality? what stages of human development does Freud identify?
4. According to Jean Piaget, what are the stages of cognitive development? What are the characteristics of each stage?
5. Differentiate between the three stages of moral development according to Lawrence Kohlberg. How does Carol Gilligan's research enhance Kohlberg's model? What are the two moral reasoning perspectives she identifies? Describe these and provide illustrations from your own experience.
6. What is G.H. Mead's theory of personality development? What are the stages identified in his model? What is the "self" and howdoes it develop?
7. What are the major agents of socialization? Brieflydescribe how each influences human development.
8. What are the two major characteristics of adulthood?Briefly describe each.
9. According to Kubler-Ross, what are the stages of death? Define each.
10. What is a total institution? What are their threeprimary characteristics? Provide an example of a total institution.
11. Discuss the similarities and differences betweenthe developmental theories of Freud, Piaget, Kohlberg, and Mead.
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CHAPTER SIX
1. What is your reaction to the story told at the beginning of the chapter? Get together with a classmate of the opposite sex and discuss this issue. How do your respective perspectives differ? How representative is this situation to your lives? Review the "sociology of everyday life"box on page 171 to develop your answers.
2. What are the four types of information provided bya "performer" in terms of nonverbal communication which can be used todetermine whether or not the person is telling the truth?
3. Refer to Figure 6-1 (p157) and using it as a modeldiagram your own status and role sets. Identify points of role conflictand role strain.
4. What are the three ways in which language functionsto define the sexes differently? Provide an illustration for each.
5. What is ethnomethodology? Provide an illustrationof how a researcher using this approach would study social interaction.
6. Discuss Paul Ekman's clues for determining if someoneis lying. Can you provide an example to support his research? What otherclues could be used?
7. Define the concept idealization.
8. Discuss the issue of gender and role performancesas reviewed in the text.Provide illustrations from your own experienceto demonstrate the points being made about the respective patterns of maleand female social interaction.
9. What are the basic characteristics of humor? Writedown a joke and analyze how it manifests the characteristics discussed.
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CHAPTER SEVEN
1. Differentiate between the qualities of bureaucraciesand small groups. In what ways are they similar?..
2. What are the three factors in decision-making processes in groups that lead to "groupthink?"
3. What are the major problems of bureaucracy? Providean example for each.
4. In what ways do bureaucratic organizations in Japandiffer from those in the U.S.? Why?
5. Provide two examples of coercive organization.
6. Differentiate between the concepts "aggregate" and"category".
7. Identify the basic types of leadership in groups (interms of both "styles" and "decisionmaking" approach) and provide examplesof the advantages and disadvantages for each type.
8. What are the three "paths" to a more humane organizational structure? How does Rosabeth Kanter's research relate to the humanizingof bureaucracy?
9. Give a brief description of Peter Blau's researchconcerning how the structure of social groups regulates intergroup association.
10. Give a brief description of the research by Janis,Milgram and Asch concerning group conformity.
11. What are factors relating to the organizational environment? Provide an example for each.
12. What is meant by the phrase "the McDonalization ofsociety?" What are the four principles of McDonalization? What are thearguments concerning its irrationality?
13. Discuss evidence presented in this chapter concerning the significance of gender and race in organizations.
14. What are the basic characteristics of bureaucracy?Define and provide an illustration for each from personal experience.
15. Briefly describe the evidence presented by RosabethKanter concerning inequalities based on gender and race in formal organizations. Make specific reference to Figure 7-4.
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CHAPTER EIGHT
1. According to Travis Hirschi's control theory thereare four types of social controls. What are these? Provide an example ofeach.
2.According to Robert Merton's strain theory, what arethe four deviant responses by individuals to dominant cultural patterns?PRovide an illustration for each. What are two criticisms of his theory?
3. What are the functions of deviance according to EmileDurkheim? Provide illustrations for each.
4. What characteristics are likely to have people labeled as being a member of a "problem population" according to Steven Spitzer?
5. How do researchers using the differential associationtheory explain deviance?
6. What is meant by the term medicalization of deviance?
7. What factors seem to be responsible for the relatively high crime rates in the US?
8. What are the four justifications for the use of punishment against criminals? In your opinion, what evidence exists for the successof each type of justification?
9. What are the social foundations of deviance? Illustrate each.
10. Summarize the basic explanations of deviance usingeach of the following perspectives: social-conflict, symbolic interactionism,and structural functionalism.
11. Differentiate between the biological and psychological theories of deviance.
12. What are the two major parts or components of crime?Discuss how the criminal justice system is tied to this type of understandingof criminality.
13. What are the data reported in Figure 8-2 on crimerates in the U.S. suggesting to us? What factors across the years coveredin this figure might be related to the changes in the crime rate?
14. In what ways are the variables of age, gender, raceand ethnicity related to arrest rates for alleged criminals?
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CHAPTER NINE
1. What are the four basic principles which help explainthe existence of social stratification?
2. Briefly describe the social stratification systemof the United Kingdom today. In what ways is it similar to the U.S.? Inwhat way is it different?
3. According to information provided in the text, whyhasn't the Marxist revolution occurred? What are the counterpoints beingmade by social conflict theorists?
4. What are the basic qualities of a caste system?
5. What is meant by the concept structural social mobility?
6. What are the dimensions of Max Weber's multidimensional model of social stratification?
7. What are the three criteria of the Davis-Moore Thesis?
8. How do structural-functionalists and social conflicttheorists differ in terms helping us understand social stratification?
9. How do the theories of Max Weber and Karl Marx differin terms of their respective understanding of social stratification? Inwhat ways did they envision the history of social stratification differently?
10. Review the history of apartheid in South Africa.What is the current policy in that nation regarding race?
11. Discuss the Lenskis sociocultural evoution perspective and how it relates to a global and historical understanding of social stratification.
12. What are the propositions being made in the bookThe Bell Curve? What are your reactions to the basic thesis being proposedin this book?
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CHAPTER TEN: SOCIAL CLASS IN THE UNITED STATES
1. What are four reasons why we in the U.S. tend to underestimate the extent of social inequality in our society?
2. How are wealth and income distributed (by quintiles)throughout the population in the United States? To what degree has thisdistribution changed over the last forty to fifty years?
3. What are the basic components of socioeconomic statusin the United States? How are these measured?
4. To what extent do ascribed statuses affect a person'splace in our social stratification system? Provide examples.
5. Using the factors of health, values, and politicsdiscuss the difference social class makes in the lives of people withinout society.
6. What is structural social mobility? Provide two examples.
7. What are the four general conclusions being made about social mobility in the U.S.?  What evidence can you provide to illustrate each?
8. What is meant by the concept middle-class slide? Provide illustrations of this phenomenon.
9. What are the basic demographic characteristics ofthe poor in the U.S. society?
10. What is the culture of poverty? What evidence isthere for this condition?
11. Differentiate between Edward Banfield's and WilliamRyan's viewson the causes for poverty in the U.S.
12. Briefly describe the general demographics of homelessness in the U.S.
13. What is the femininization of poverty? To what extent does it characterize the poor population in the United States?
14. Briefly describe Figure 10-7 concerning attitudestoward government action to reduce income differences in the U.S. Whatare your reactions?
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CHAPTER TWELVE: RACE ANDETHNICITY
1. Identify and describe the four explanations of whyprejudice exists.
2. Differentiate between the concepts prejudice and discrimination.
3. What are the four types of people identified by Merton's typology of patterns of prejudice and discrimination? Provide an illustration for each.
4. What is institutional prejudice or discrimination?Provide an example.
5. What are the four stages in the vicious cycle of prejudice and discrimination.
6. What are the four models representing the patternsof interaction between minority groups and the majority group?
7. In what two important ways did Japanese immigrationand assimilation into our society differ from the Chinese?
8. How do Native Americans, African Americans, HispanicAmericans and Asian Americans compare to whites in terms of relative socialstanding using the variables of educational achievement, family income,and poverty rates?
9. What was the Dred Scott ruling by the Supreme Court?What was the Court's ruling in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topekacase?
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN: SEX AND GENDER
1. Review the concept of the "beauty myth" as suggestedby Naomi Wolf. Provide examples from your own experience.
2. What does Alfred Kinsey mean by the statement that"in many cases, sexual orientations are not mutually exclusive?"
3. Compare the research by Margaret Mead in New Guineawith the research done at the Israeli Kibbutzim in terms of the culturalvariability concerning gender.
4. What generalizations about the linkage between sexand gender can be made based ont he cross-cultural research of George Murdock?
5. Review Table 10-1. Based on your analysis of the variables identified, to what extent do you feel sexism and racism are equivalent?Briefly explain your answer. In what ways are sexism and racism different?
6. According to our author, is patriarchy inevitable?Why or why not? What roles have technological advances and industrializationplayed in terms of changing the relative status of women and men in oursociety?
7. Discuss the issue of sexual harassment against womenin our society. What needs to be done to help solve this problem?
8. In what ways is pronography an underlying factor forviolence against women in our society? Explain.
9. Table 10-2 presents lists of traits linked to thetraditional gender identities of femininity and masculinity. Develop aquestionnaire using the traits identified to survey females and males inorder to determine the extent to which these traits differentiate betweenthe sexes.
10. What are Erving Goffman's points about how the massmedia portrays females and males? Provide three ilustrations in supportof this view.
11. Carol Gilligan suggests that moral reasoning is different for females and males. Briefly explain her points. How could a researcher measure for such a difference in moral reasoning?
12. What is the meaning of the phrase housework as asecond shift for women? What evidence exists of this in our society today?
13. Identify five important demographic facts about gender stratification within the occupational domain of our society.
14. Are women a minority group? What are the argumentsfor and against this idea?
15. Compare and contrast the analyses of gender stratification as provided by structural-functionalists and social-conflict theorists.
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN: AGING AND THE ELDERLY
1. What is the Hemlock Society? What are your thoughtsand feelings about this organization and its purposes? What are some ofthe broader concerns relating to this issue?
2. Define gerontology. Further, many different demographic facts concerning the aged in our society are presented on pages 388-389.Select the two which most interest or surprise you and discuss their significance using your own opinions.
3. Define age stratification. How does it vary betweenhunting and gathering, horticultural, agrarian, and industrial societies?
4. What are the four types of personalities identifiedby Bernice Neugarten? In what ways are they different in terms of helpinga person adjust to old age?
5. Differentiate between activity theory and disengagement theory in terms of how each helps us understand the changing status ofthe aged in society.
6. Why is elder abuse so common in the U.S.?
7. Discuss the relative economic condition of the agedin our society today?
8. According to social-conflict theorists, why is thestatus of the aged diminished in capitalist societies?
9. What are the arguments in the debate concerning whether the aged are a minority group?
10. What are Daniel Callahan's points concerning howmuch old age can the U.S. afford?
11. Briefly describe the points being made by Betty Friedan concerning the aged in our society. What are your reactions to her views?
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE ECONOMY AND WORK
1. What is meant by the term cottage industry?
2. What were the five revolutionary changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution?
3. Define the concept postindustrial economy. Be sureto identify its key characteristics and how they are represented in theU.S.
4. What are the basic characteristics of capitalism asreviewed in the text?
5. What are the basic characteristics of socialism asreviewed in the text? What two factors are identified as being reasonsfor why sweeping changes occurred in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s?
6. Differentiate between socialism and communism.
7. What is democratic socialism? How is it differentfrom state capitalism?
8. Comparing productivity and economic equality meausresfor capitalist and socialist economic systems, what are their relativeadvantages and disadvantages?
9. Differentiate between primary and secondary labormarkets.
10. What are the basic characteristics of a profession?
11. What is the differentiation between the competitiveand noncompetitive sectors of the economy?
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN: POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
1. Differentiate between the concepts of power and authority.
2. Differentiate among Max Weber's three types of authority.
3. Four types of political systems are reviewed in the text. Identifyand describe these systems.
4. It is pointed out in the text that political views of the U.S. differon two kinds of issues. What are these issues? What are the general patterns of the attitudes of people in the U.S. on these issues?
5. What is voter apathy? What are its causes? To what extent is voterapathy a problem in theU.S. as compared to other industrialized democracies?
6. Differentiate between the pluralist and power-elite models concerningthe distribution of power in the United States. Review research findingsreported in the text concerning these two approaches to understanding thedistribution of power in our society.
7. What are the five general patterns identified in the text concerningrevolutions?
8. What are the five factors identified in the text as promoting war?Provide an illustration for three of these.
9. Several approaches for reducing the chances for nuclear war areaddressed in the text. What are these approaches?
10. What are the four important dilemmas or trends that seem likelyto command widespread attention as we approach the next century?
11. What is information warfare? What impact do you think the Information Revolution is going to have on war?
12. Briefly describe the data presented in the section on the costsand causes of militarism. What conclusions do you draw from this information?
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: FAMILY
1. What are the four basic functions of the family according to structural-functionalists?
2. Define and describe the three patterns of descentoutlined in the text.
3. What were the basic conclusions of the Moynihan Report of 1965? What are some criticisms of this report?
4. Why has the divorce rate increased in recent decadesin the U.S.? Why has it begun to level off or even decline in recent years?
5. What are the four stages of the family life cyclethat are outlined in the text? Describe the major events which occur duringeach stage.
6. Six adjustments to divorce are identified by PaulBohannan. Identify and describe each.
7. Four types of marriages are described that are related to depression in men and women. What are these?
8. In what ways are middle-class and working-class marriages different according to research cited in the text?
9. Review the statistics in Figure 17-2. What are theimplications of this pattern of hourshold forms in theU.S.?
10. Briefly describe the key demographic facts concerning family violence in the U.S.
11. What are the four types of alternative family formsdiscussed in the text? Briefly describe each and their demographic patternin our society today.
12. What are the five conclusions being made about marriage and family into the twenty-first century?
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: RELIGION
1. According to structural-functionalists, what are thethree major functions of religion? Provide an example for each.
2. Discuss Max Weber's points concerning the historicalconnection between Protestantism, the Industrial Revolution and capitalism.
3. Differentiate between the concepts church, sect, andcult.
4. How do theorists operating from the social-conflictperspective understand religion and how it operates in society? Provideexamples to illustrate their points.
5. In a one-page written discussion, debate the issueof whether science threatens or strengthens religion in modern industrializedsocieties.
6. Discuss the issue concerning the extent of religiosity in the U.S. today. Why is it so difficult to determine a measure for religiosity in our soceity?
7. Briefly describe the history and religious beliefsof two of the following religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism,Hinduism, Confucianism.
8. Differentiate between the concepts ecclesia and denomination.
9. Differentiate between the nature of religion in preindustrial and industrial societies.
10. Differentiate between civil religion and religiousfundamentalism.
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CHAPTER NINETEEN: EDUCATION
1. Describe the four basic functions of education asreviewed in the text. What are the latent functions of education?
2. What were the basic methods and findings of the Coleman Report?
3. How do lifetime earnings differ for men and womengiven different levels of educational achievement?
4. What are the five serious problems with the bureaucratic nature of our educational system?
5. What recommendations were made in the report A NationAt Risk?
6. Briefly describe the data reported in Table 19-4.What are your reactions to the findings?
7. Discuss the similarities and differences between schooling in Japan, Great Britain, India and the United States.
8. Discuss the issue of testing and inequality withinour educational system.
9. What are the major problems confronting schools inthe United States today? What is being done about these problems? Whatdo you think we should be doing?
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CHAPTER TWENTY: HEALTH AND MEDICINE
1. It is pointed out in the text that the health of anypopulation is shapaed by important characteristics of the society as awhole. What are the three general characteristics identified? Provide anexample of each.
2. How have the causes of death changed in the U.S. overthe last century in terms of which one account fo most deaths?
3. What is social epidemiology? Provide two illustrations of patterns of health found using this approach.
4. What is AIDS? How is AIDS transmitted? How widespreadis it globally? In the U.S.?
5. What are the two types of euthanasia? Discuss theCruzan and Kevorkian cases to illustrate. Relate these cases to the ethicalissues confronting death as reviewed in the chapter.
6. What is meant by the sick role? What are its components? Provide an illustration, suggesting how it is functional for society.
7. Describe the characteristics of holistic medicine.How do they differ from those of scientific medicine?
8. How do health care systems operate in socialist societies? Provide specific examples.
9. In what ways does the health-care system of the United States differ from health-care systems in other capitalist systems? Whatare your recommendations for improving our health care system? Be specific.
10. What are social-conflict analysts' arguments aboutthe health care system in the United States?
11. Discuss how symbolic-interactionists help us understand our health care system and our sense of health and illness, making reference to the issues of the social construction of illness and treatment.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: POPULATION AND URBANIZATION
1. What are the three basic factors which determine thesize and growth rate of a population? Define each of the three concepts.
2. Differentiate between Malthusian theory and demographic transition theory as perspectives on population growth.
3. What are the three stages in the demographic transition theory? Describe each.
4. Identify and describe the five periods of growth ofU.S. cities presented in the text.
5. Differentiate between the concepts of metropolis andmegalopolis.
6. Differentiate between the perspectives of Louis Wirthand Robert Park concerning urbanization in the U.S.
7. What factors are causing urban growth in poor nations?
8. How are urbanization patterns changing worldwide?
9. Differentiate between the work of Ferdinand Toenniesand Emile Durkheim in terms of their views on urbanization.
10. What are the major points being made by the authorconcerning the historical importance of cities?
11. What dothe terms "low-growth-north" and "high-growth-south" mean? What are the factors related to the differences in demographics for these two parts of the world?
12. Select any two tables in this chapter and summarize,analyze and interpret the data contained in them.
13. Select any two figures in this chapter and summarize, analyze and interpret the data contained in them.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
1. What are three basic characteristics of dispersedcollectivities?
2. Differentiate between the four types of crowds identified by Herbert Blumer on the basis of level of emotional intensity.
3. Differentiate between contagion theory, convergencetheory, and emergent-norm theory in terms of how each explains crowd behavior.
4. Differentiate between the concepts of rumor and gossip.
5. Using structural-strain theory, Smelser identifiessix social conditions that help foster social movements. What are thesesocial conditions?
6. What are the five theories of social movements? Compare and contrast each of these in terms of how they help us explain socialmovements.
7. What are the four stages of social movements? Defineand provide an illustration for each.
8. What are the four types of social movements identified in the text? Select two of these and provide an illustration for each.
9. Defferentiate between the concepts of mass hysteriaand panic. Provide examples of each.
10. Why are social movements expected to increase inscope over the next decades? Do you agree? Why?
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:SOCIAL CHANGE
1. What are the four general characteristics of socialchange?
2. Five general domains which are involved in causingsocial change are identified and discussed in the text. List these andprovide an example for each.
3. Peter Berger identifies four general characteristicsof modern societies. What are these characteristics?
4. Differentiate between Toennies', Durkheim's, Weber's,and Marx's perspectives of modernization.
5. What factors of modernization do theorists operatingfrom the mass-society theory focus upon?
6. What factors of modernization  do theorists operating from the theory of class society focus upon?
7. What are the two types of social character identifiedby David Reisman?
8. What are the arguments being made by postmodernistsconcerning social change in modern society? What do critics of this viewhave to say?
9. Referring to Table 24-1, select a nonindustrializedsociety and compare it to the U.S. on four of the elements of society identifiedin the table. Provide a specific illustration representing a relative comparison for each element.
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