Chapter 01 Approaches to the Study of Social Problems

Copyright ©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.1 Chapter 01 – Approaches to the Study of Social Problems

Multiple-Choice Questions

• A group is said to be an influential group if it has ________.
• a large number of members
• a significant impact on public debate and social policy
• existed for more than 5 years
• advocated for issues that affect a large number of people

Answer: b

Question Title: TB_01_01 What Is a Social Problem?, Understand, LO 1.1

Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is.

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty: 2–Moderate

• Personal troubles become public issues only when ________.
• an influential group so defines them
• it has been affecting a family for a long time
• a social condition has caused it
• they require economic support to be resolved

Answer: a

Question Title: TB_01_02 What Is a Social Problem?, Understand, LO 1.1

Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is.

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty: 1–Easy

• ________ are people’s ideas about what is good or bad, right or wrong.
• Norms
• Rules
• Hypotheses
• Values

Answer: d

Question Title: TB_01_03 What Is a Social Problem?, Remember, LO 1.1

(Introduction to Social Problems 10e Thomas Sullivan) (Test Bank all Chapters) 1 / 4

Copyright ©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.2 Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is.

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty: 1–Easy

• A social condition is considered to be a social problem if it ________.
• threatens a group’s values
• cannot be remedied by social action
• poses a threat to an individual’s values and beliefs
• affects a small number of people

Answer: a

Question Title: TB_01_04 What Is a Social Problem?, Understand, LO 1.1

Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is.

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

Difficulty: 1–Easy

• ________ are rules of conduct that guide people’s behavior.
• Norms
• Values
• Causalities
• Hypotheses

Answer: a

Question Title: TB_01_05 What Is a Social Problem?, Remember, LO 1.1

Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is.

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty: 1–Easy

• What is the difference between the way in which laypeople and sociologists view deviant behaviors?
• Sociologists view behaviors or characteristics as being deviant, while laypeople consider a behavior to

be deviant only when some group so defines it.

• Sociologists view deviance as relative, while laypeople view deviance in an absolute way by

comparing it with some fixed standards.

• Sociologists consider deviance to be a healthy group characteristic, while laypeople dislike and

reproach deviance. 2 / 4

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• Sociologists suggest that deviant behaviors are universal, while laypeople insist that deviance can be

understood only within the context of the norms and values of a particular culture.

Answer: b

Question Title: TB_01_06 What Is a Social Problem?, Analyze, LO 1.1

Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is.

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Analyze It

Difficulty: 3–Difficult

• Some college students have joined together to form a rock band. This band consists of people who have

similar interests and a passion for rock music. This group is an example of a(n) ________.

• subculture
• interest group
• anomie
• ethnic group

Answer: a

Question Title: TB_01_07 What Is a Social Problem?, Apply, LO 1.1

Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is.

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty: 2–Moderate

• A majority of the people in the state of Trecova value hard work and industriousness. They regard

welfare schemes with disdain and oppose their existence. However, these schemes are welcomed by the poor and disadvantaged people who are not capable of doing much labor. This difference in interest creates a clash between the two groups and becomes a social problem. This social problem has developed because of ________.

• deviation from norms
• misuse of power
• influential interest groups
• differences between subcultures

Answer: d

Question Title: TB_01_08 What Is a Social Problem?, Apply, LO 1.1

Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is. 3 / 4

Copyright ©2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.4

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Difficulty: 2–Moderate

• ________ refers to the tendency to view one’s own culture or subculture as the best and to judge other

cultures or subcultures in comparison to it.

• Recidivism
• Elitism
• Ethnocentrism
• Ageism

Answer: c

Question Title: TB_01_09 What Is a Social Problem?, Remember, LO 1.1

Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is.

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty: 1–Easy

• ________ is the ability of one group to realize its will, even in the face of resistance from other

groups.

• Fecundity
• Power
• Androgyny
• Pluralism

Answer: b

Question Title: TB_01_10 What Is a Social Problem?, Remember, LO 1.1

Learning Objective: 1.1 Define when a condition is and is not a social problem, identify the social context of social problems, and explain what sociological imagination is.

Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

Difficulty: 1–Easy

• ________ refers to legitimate power that is obeyed because people believe it is right and proper that

they obey.

• Causality
• Autocracy
• Confederacy
• Authority
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