Sociology Midterm - How would you describe Sociology

Sociology Short Response Questions

Introduction to Sociology Midterm

***You only need to answer 10 questions. I will not give any extra credit for answering more than 10. Half credit will be given for incomplete answers. There is no minimum length for responses, try to answer as fully as you think is necessary (1-2 paragraphs per response should be plenty)***

1. How would you describe Sociology in your own words? What is a specific topic that a sociologist might study?

2. Do you think functionalism or conflict theory better explains the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic?

3. Do you think students’ gender has an effect on success with distance learning? What specific research methods would you use to test your hypothesis?

4. If you were to undertake a content analysis project to investigate how the Summer 2020 Black Lives Matter protests were covered, do you think you would see more coverage of peaceful protests or of property destruction? Why do you think the media would push one narrative over another in their coverage?

5. How would you explain social structure in your own words? How is your life directly affected by the structure of capitalism?

6. What would a symbolic interactionist be most interested in about life after the outbreak of COVID-19? What is a specific question a symbolic interactionist would ask about our current lives?

7. Do you think it is ever justified to study a group without their informed consent? What if the study can benefit the group and there is no way to study them except secretly (such as in cases of ‘deviance’)? What if you do not personally agree with the actions and beliefs of the group, such as studying white supremacists?

8. Why are some elements of material culture considered “high culture” while others are considered “low culture?” In terms of conflict theory, how do you think this division is created and enforced?

9. Use your “sociological imagination” to analyze how an individual problem in your life could be a social concern faced by many. How could collective action work towards finding a solution to this problem?

10. Give an example of a crime that is not generally considered deviant behavior. Explain why you think there are formal negative sanctions for behavior that society finds acceptable.

11. Do you think that any social norms are universally held, meaning shared by all people regardless of location and background? Why do you think there are/aren’t universal norms?

12. Do you think quantitative or qualitative research methods are better for studying human behavior?

13. Give an example of a time when you have experienced double-consciousness. How did this experience affect your understanding of our society?

14. What does intersectionality mean? Give an example of a social issue you think should be analyzed from an intersectional approach?

15. What is one thing you learned in this class? This can be from the readings, outlines, film, or class discussion thread.