CLEP INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS (LATEST 2025/2026)
What are the most important sources of knowledge? -
ANSWER - >empiricism and reason
Positivism - ANSWER - >philosophical system under
which knowledge of the world and human behav is
derive from scientific observation in search of universal
laws
AKA applying scientific method to the social world as
proposed by comte
,Sociological Theory - ANSWER - >a set of ideas that
explains a range of human behavior and a variety of
social and societal events
Functionalist Perspective - ANSWER - >A sociological
approach that emphasizes the way in which the parts of
a society are structured to maintain its stability.
"society of a system of interrelated parts"
=family, edu, relig, polit, and econ
-durkenheim = founder (all of these work together to
create balance and order)
"we need clear cut norms to govern our behav"
without? ANOMIE
-Merton
1 Manifest functions
2 Latent functions
3 dysfunctions
Manifest functions - ANSWER - >the recognized and
intended consequences of any social pattern
Example of manifest function - ANSWER - >the intended
beneficial consequences of the new deal
,Latent functions - ANSWER - >the unrecognized and
unintended consequences of any social pattern
-unexpected detrimental effect on social institutions or
society
Example of latent function of desegregation - ANSWER -
>the increase in prejudice that sometimes results from
court-ordered desegregation in public schools
Dysfunctions - ANSWER - >social patterns that have
undesirable consequences for the operation of society
-negative consequences
Conflict Persepctive - ANSWER - >approach emphasizing
the role of conflict, competition, and constraint within a
society
-society is an arena of conflict and power struggles
Theme: the fight for scarce resources (money, power,
fame)
founder= Marx
, -believed in two social classes
"changes occure because of inequality and battles over
scarce resources"
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective - ANSWER - >the
sociological approach that views society as the sum of
the interactions of individuals and groups
-concerned with things we attach meaning to
=key to understanding how humans view the social world
Cooley 1902
"Theory of the Looking Glass Self"
-indiv develop an image of themselves from the
persepctive of others
Mead
-stressed importance of symbols, gestures, and language
in development of one's self image
"sense of self is a purley socialized concept"
-SO vs generalzed others
Quantitative Sociology - ANSWER - >statistical methods
such as surveys with large numbers of participants
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS (LATEST 2025/2026)
What are the most important sources of knowledge? -
ANSWER - >empiricism and reason
Positivism - ANSWER - >philosophical system under
which knowledge of the world and human behav is
derive from scientific observation in search of universal
laws
AKA applying scientific method to the social world as
proposed by comte
,Sociological Theory - ANSWER - >a set of ideas that
explains a range of human behavior and a variety of
social and societal events
Functionalist Perspective - ANSWER - >A sociological
approach that emphasizes the way in which the parts of
a society are structured to maintain its stability.
"society of a system of interrelated parts"
=family, edu, relig, polit, and econ
-durkenheim = founder (all of these work together to
create balance and order)
"we need clear cut norms to govern our behav"
without? ANOMIE
-Merton
1 Manifest functions
2 Latent functions
3 dysfunctions
Manifest functions - ANSWER - >the recognized and
intended consequences of any social pattern
Example of manifest function - ANSWER - >the intended
beneficial consequences of the new deal
,Latent functions - ANSWER - >the unrecognized and
unintended consequences of any social pattern
-unexpected detrimental effect on social institutions or
society
Example of latent function of desegregation - ANSWER -
>the increase in prejudice that sometimes results from
court-ordered desegregation in public schools
Dysfunctions - ANSWER - >social patterns that have
undesirable consequences for the operation of society
-negative consequences
Conflict Persepctive - ANSWER - >approach emphasizing
the role of conflict, competition, and constraint within a
society
-society is an arena of conflict and power struggles
Theme: the fight for scarce resources (money, power,
fame)
founder= Marx
, -believed in two social classes
"changes occure because of inequality and battles over
scarce resources"
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective - ANSWER - >the
sociological approach that views society as the sum of
the interactions of individuals and groups
-concerned with things we attach meaning to
=key to understanding how humans view the social world
Cooley 1902
"Theory of the Looking Glass Self"
-indiv develop an image of themselves from the
persepctive of others
Mead
-stressed importance of symbols, gestures, and language
in development of one's self image
"sense of self is a purley socialized concept"
-SO vs generalzed others
Quantitative Sociology - ANSWER - >statistical methods
such as surveys with large numbers of participants
