SOC 1305 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE
●● What is the "Functionalist" sociological perspective?
Answer: (Émile Durkheim) Society is a complex system whose parts
work together to promote dynamic equilibrium (stability and order in
society).
Fundamental Question: "How do large societal structures fit together?
What are the Manifest and Latent Functions of the relationships between
structures?"
Main Issue: If society is functional and stable, it struggles to deal with or
explain why changes in society happen.
●● What is the "Conflict Theory" sociological perspective?
Answer: (Karl Marx) Society is composed of various groups that
compete for scarce resources. "The perpetuation of power results in the
perpetuation of oppression."
Fundamental Question: "How do groups gain an advantage or
disadvantage over other groups? Whose 'history' are we referring to?"
,Main Issue: "Black & White" view of tensions between two different
groups. There is not enough emphasis on the intricacies of social
interactions.
●● What is the "Symbolic Interactionist" sociological perspective?
Answer: (George Herbert Mead) Society is constructed by the
accumulation of individual's everyday interactions. "People are
improvised actors who are performing based on their cultural scripts."
Fundamental Question: "What does this interaction say about society?
How does this construct our understanding of social realities
(constructivism)?"
Main Issue: Qualitative Analysis tends to lean more Subjective than
Objective.
●● What is the key difference between Manifest and Latent Functions?
Answer: Manifest Functions - Explicit and intentional effects of societal
functions.
Latent Functions - Implicit and unintentional effects of societal
functions.
●● What is the Sociological Imagination?
, Answer: (C. Wright Mills) An awareness of the relationship between
behavior, experience, and wider culture that shapes our perception of
society and personal choices.
●● Who was Auguste Comte? (1798 - 1857) (European) ("Major
Players")
(What was he known for? What did he focus on? What view did he have
of sociology?)
Answer: Coined the term "Sociology" and developed the idea of
Positivism.
He wanted to use sociology to work toward the betterment of society by
addressing issues.
Positivism (Belief in the positive impact one has on society);
Functionalism.
●● Who was Harriet Martineau? (1802 - 1876) (European) ("Major
Players")
(What was she known for? What did she focus on? What view did she
have of sociology?)
Answer: Translated Comte's French to English.
CORRECT ANSWERS COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE
●● What is the "Functionalist" sociological perspective?
Answer: (Émile Durkheim) Society is a complex system whose parts
work together to promote dynamic equilibrium (stability and order in
society).
Fundamental Question: "How do large societal structures fit together?
What are the Manifest and Latent Functions of the relationships between
structures?"
Main Issue: If society is functional and stable, it struggles to deal with or
explain why changes in society happen.
●● What is the "Conflict Theory" sociological perspective?
Answer: (Karl Marx) Society is composed of various groups that
compete for scarce resources. "The perpetuation of power results in the
perpetuation of oppression."
Fundamental Question: "How do groups gain an advantage or
disadvantage over other groups? Whose 'history' are we referring to?"
,Main Issue: "Black & White" view of tensions between two different
groups. There is not enough emphasis on the intricacies of social
interactions.
●● What is the "Symbolic Interactionist" sociological perspective?
Answer: (George Herbert Mead) Society is constructed by the
accumulation of individual's everyday interactions. "People are
improvised actors who are performing based on their cultural scripts."
Fundamental Question: "What does this interaction say about society?
How does this construct our understanding of social realities
(constructivism)?"
Main Issue: Qualitative Analysis tends to lean more Subjective than
Objective.
●● What is the key difference between Manifest and Latent Functions?
Answer: Manifest Functions - Explicit and intentional effects of societal
functions.
Latent Functions - Implicit and unintentional effects of societal
functions.
●● What is the Sociological Imagination?
, Answer: (C. Wright Mills) An awareness of the relationship between
behavior, experience, and wider culture that shapes our perception of
society and personal choices.
●● Who was Auguste Comte? (1798 - 1857) (European) ("Major
Players")
(What was he known for? What did he focus on? What view did he have
of sociology?)
Answer: Coined the term "Sociology" and developed the idea of
Positivism.
He wanted to use sociology to work toward the betterment of society by
addressing issues.
Positivism (Belief in the positive impact one has on society);
Functionalism.
●● Who was Harriet Martineau? (1802 - 1876) (European) ("Major
Players")
(What was she known for? What did she focus on? What view did she
have of sociology?)
Answer: Translated Comte's French to English.
