SOCIOLOGY 205 COHN EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
Herbert Hyman and Paul Sheatsley are authors of which reading? - ANS "Some Reasons Why
Information Campaigns Fail."
What are the main ideas of "Some Reasons Why Information Campaigns Fail." - ANS -"Know-
Nothings"
-Interested People Acquire the most Info
-People seek info that supports their prior attitudes
-People interpret the same info differently
-Information does not technically change attitudes
-Many psychological barriers when attempting to spread info
-Public surveys may be the only way to which the problems are addressed
David O. Sears and Jonathan L. Freedman are authors to which reading? - ANS "Selective
Exposure to Information: a Critical Review."
What are the main points in "Selective Exposure to Information: a Critical Review." - ANS -"de
facto selectivity": preference for supportive rather than non-supportive info
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -there is no concrete proof that de facto selectivity exists, as many studies fall short of all the
variables
What reading is Stanley Milgram the author of? - ANS "Obedience to Authority."
What are the main points of "Obedience to Authority." - ANS -naive subject in the context of
a "learning experiment" ostensibly set up to study the effects of punishment on memory
-naive subject is commanded to administer increasingly more intense shocks to the victim, even
to the point reaching the level marked Danger: Severe Shock.
-Behavior prior to the rupture is considered "obedience," in that the subject complies with the
commands of the experimenter. The point of rupture is the act of disobedience.
- 26 subjects administered the most severe shock
-Lowest breaking point shock administered was 300
Which reading is Mark Granovetter the author of? - ANS "Strength of Weak Ties"
Main points of "Strength of Weak Ties" - ANS -social theory lacks insight to how micro-level
interactions relate to macro-level interactions
-study the impact of (micro-level) social ties, the strength of personal ties, on community
organization
-strength of personal ties is measured by the degree of emotional intensity, intimacy and
reciprocal services
-uses the example of Boston's West End working class, extremely fragmented community of
cohesive cliques.
-Two common sources of weak ties are work and formal organizations
Hypodermic Needle Model of Info - ANS People accept new information critically and
automatically accept it no matter what. This info typically does not have supporting facts.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
Herbert Hyman and Paul Sheatsley are authors of which reading? - ANS "Some Reasons Why
Information Campaigns Fail."
What are the main ideas of "Some Reasons Why Information Campaigns Fail." - ANS -"Know-
Nothings"
-Interested People Acquire the most Info
-People seek info that supports their prior attitudes
-People interpret the same info differently
-Information does not technically change attitudes
-Many psychological barriers when attempting to spread info
-Public surveys may be the only way to which the problems are addressed
David O. Sears and Jonathan L. Freedman are authors to which reading? - ANS "Selective
Exposure to Information: a Critical Review."
What are the main points in "Selective Exposure to Information: a Critical Review." - ANS -"de
facto selectivity": preference for supportive rather than non-supportive info
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -there is no concrete proof that de facto selectivity exists, as many studies fall short of all the
variables
What reading is Stanley Milgram the author of? - ANS "Obedience to Authority."
What are the main points of "Obedience to Authority." - ANS -naive subject in the context of
a "learning experiment" ostensibly set up to study the effects of punishment on memory
-naive subject is commanded to administer increasingly more intense shocks to the victim, even
to the point reaching the level marked Danger: Severe Shock.
-Behavior prior to the rupture is considered "obedience," in that the subject complies with the
commands of the experimenter. The point of rupture is the act of disobedience.
- 26 subjects administered the most severe shock
-Lowest breaking point shock administered was 300
Which reading is Mark Granovetter the author of? - ANS "Strength of Weak Ties"
Main points of "Strength of Weak Ties" - ANS -social theory lacks insight to how micro-level
interactions relate to macro-level interactions
-study the impact of (micro-level) social ties, the strength of personal ties, on community
organization
-strength of personal ties is measured by the degree of emotional intensity, intimacy and
reciprocal services
-uses the example of Boston's West End working class, extremely fragmented community of
cohesive cliques.
-Two common sources of weak ties are work and formal organizations
Hypodermic Needle Model of Info - ANS People accept new information critically and
automatically accept it no matter what. This info typically does not have supporting facts.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
