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OPENSTAX: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY 3E (CONERLY, HOLMES, &
TAMANG). EXAM QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION 2026 - 2027
OpenStax: Introduction to Sociology 3e (Conerly, Holmes, & Tamang).
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Based on the OpenStax Introduction to Sociology 3e table of contents, this exam covers
the following ten core domains:
1. Foundations of Sociology: The sociological imagination, history of the
discipline, and theoretical perspectives.
2. Sociological Research: The scientific method, research ethics, and research
designs.
3. Culture: Material and symbolic culture, cultural universals, and cultural change.
4. Society and Social Interaction: Types of societies, theoretical perspectives on
society, and social construction of reality.
5. Socialization: Theories of self-development, agents of socialization, and
socialization across the life course.
6. Groups and Organizations: Types of groups, formal organizations, and
bureaucracy.
7. Deviance, Crime, and Social Control: Theories of deviance, crime statistics,
and the criminal justice system.
, Page 2 of 111
8. Media and Technology: The evolution of media, technological inequality, and
the digital divide.
9. Social Stratification and Inequality: Social class in the U.S., global inequality,
and poverty.
10. Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality: Prejudice, discrimination, gender
inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights.
11. Aging, Marriage, Family, Religion, Education, Government, Work, Health, and
Population: Core social institutions and contemporary issues.
12. Social Movements and Social Change: Collective behavior, social movements,
and theories of social change.
Section 1: An Introduction to Sociology (Questions 1–14)
1. A sociologist is studying how the high cost of childcare in the United States forces
many parents, particularly mothers, to reduce their work hours or leave the workforce
entirely. According to C. Wright Mills, which of the following best describes the
application of the sociological imagination to this issue?
A. Focusing solely on the individual mother's personal choice to prioritize family over
career
B. Identifying the link between a parent's personal trouble (leaving a job) and a broader
public issue (inadequate social infrastructure)
C. Analyzing the psychological traits that make some parents more career-oriented than
others
D. Concluding that the situation is an unavoidable and natural part of family life
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: C. Wright Mills defined the sociological imagination as the ability to see the
relationship between individual experiences and larger social forces. A parent's
decision to leave work is a "personal trouble," but when it occurs widely due to
structural factors like childcare costs, it becomes a "public issue" related to the
economy and social policy.
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2. Which of the following theoretical perspectives in sociology is most likely to focus on
how societal institutions, such as the family, education, and government, function
together to maintain social stability and order?
A. Conflict theory
B. Symbolic interactionism
C. Structural functionalism
D. Feminist theory
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Structural functionalism views society as a complex system whose parts
work together to promote solidarity and stability. It examines how social structures—
like the family, education, and economy—function to meet the needs of society and
maintain equilibrium.
3. A researcher studying the pay gap between men and women in corporate America
concludes that the gap exists primarily because men have historically held positions of
power and have used that power to maintain their advantage in the workplace. This
conclusion aligns most closely with which sociological perspective?
A. Structural functionalism
B. Conflict theory
C. Symbolic interactionism
D. Postmodernism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Conflict theory, rooted in the work of Karl Marx, emphasizes the role of
power, domination, and inequality in society. It focuses on how social groups compete
for scarce resources, such as power and wealth, and how dominant groups maintain
their advantages over subordinate groups.
4. A sociologist observes that students in a classroom raise their hands before
speaking, which is a pattern of behavior reinforced by the teacher who calls on students
only when they follow this rule. This analysis reflects which theoretical approach?
A. Structural functionalism
B. Conflict theory
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C. Symbolic interactionism
D. Rational choice theory
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Symbolic interactionism focuses on micro-level social interactions and the
meanings that individuals attach to symbols, such as the act of raising a hand. It
examines how these meanings are created and maintained through social interaction.
5. Which of the following founders of sociology is credited with coining the term
"sociology" and advocating for a positivist approach to studying society?
A. Karl Marx
B. Émile Durkheim
C. Max Weber
D. Auguste Comte
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Auguste Comte, a French philosopher, coined the term "sociology" in 1838.
He is considered the "father of sociology" and advocated for positivism, the idea that
social phenomena can be studied using the same scientific methods used in the
natural sciences.
6. According to Émile Durkheim, what is the primary social force that holds modern
industrial societies together, given the complex division of labor?
A. Mechanical solidarity, based on shared beliefs and similarities
B. Organic solidarity, based on interdependence and specialized roles
C. Charismatic authority, based on the personality of a leader
D. Rational-legal authority, based on formal rules and laws
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Durkheim distinguished between mechanical solidarity, typical of traditional
societies with a simple division of labor, and organic solidarity, typical of modern
industrial societies where people are interdependent due to their specialized roles.
Organic solidarity holds modern societies together.
OPENSTAX: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY 3E (CONERLY, HOLMES, &
TAMANG). EXAM QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION 2026 - 2027
OpenStax: Introduction to Sociology 3e (Conerly, Holmes, & Tamang).
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Based on the OpenStax Introduction to Sociology 3e table of contents, this exam covers
the following ten core domains:
1. Foundations of Sociology: The sociological imagination, history of the
discipline, and theoretical perspectives.
2. Sociological Research: The scientific method, research ethics, and research
designs.
3. Culture: Material and symbolic culture, cultural universals, and cultural change.
4. Society and Social Interaction: Types of societies, theoretical perspectives on
society, and social construction of reality.
5. Socialization: Theories of self-development, agents of socialization, and
socialization across the life course.
6. Groups and Organizations: Types of groups, formal organizations, and
bureaucracy.
7. Deviance, Crime, and Social Control: Theories of deviance, crime statistics,
and the criminal justice system.
, Page 2 of 111
8. Media and Technology: The evolution of media, technological inequality, and
the digital divide.
9. Social Stratification and Inequality: Social class in the U.S., global inequality,
and poverty.
10. Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality: Prejudice, discrimination, gender
inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights.
11. Aging, Marriage, Family, Religion, Education, Government, Work, Health, and
Population: Core social institutions and contemporary issues.
12. Social Movements and Social Change: Collective behavior, social movements,
and theories of social change.
Section 1: An Introduction to Sociology (Questions 1–14)
1. A sociologist is studying how the high cost of childcare in the United States forces
many parents, particularly mothers, to reduce their work hours or leave the workforce
entirely. According to C. Wright Mills, which of the following best describes the
application of the sociological imagination to this issue?
A. Focusing solely on the individual mother's personal choice to prioritize family over
career
B. Identifying the link between a parent's personal trouble (leaving a job) and a broader
public issue (inadequate social infrastructure)
C. Analyzing the psychological traits that make some parents more career-oriented than
others
D. Concluding that the situation is an unavoidable and natural part of family life
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: C. Wright Mills defined the sociological imagination as the ability to see the
relationship between individual experiences and larger social forces. A parent's
decision to leave work is a "personal trouble," but when it occurs widely due to
structural factors like childcare costs, it becomes a "public issue" related to the
economy and social policy.
, Page 3 of 111
2. Which of the following theoretical perspectives in sociology is most likely to focus on
how societal institutions, such as the family, education, and government, function
together to maintain social stability and order?
A. Conflict theory
B. Symbolic interactionism
C. Structural functionalism
D. Feminist theory
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Structural functionalism views society as a complex system whose parts
work together to promote solidarity and stability. It examines how social structures—
like the family, education, and economy—function to meet the needs of society and
maintain equilibrium.
3. A researcher studying the pay gap between men and women in corporate America
concludes that the gap exists primarily because men have historically held positions of
power and have used that power to maintain their advantage in the workplace. This
conclusion aligns most closely with which sociological perspective?
A. Structural functionalism
B. Conflict theory
C. Symbolic interactionism
D. Postmodernism
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Conflict theory, rooted in the work of Karl Marx, emphasizes the role of
power, domination, and inequality in society. It focuses on how social groups compete
for scarce resources, such as power and wealth, and how dominant groups maintain
their advantages over subordinate groups.
4. A sociologist observes that students in a classroom raise their hands before
speaking, which is a pattern of behavior reinforced by the teacher who calls on students
only when they follow this rule. This analysis reflects which theoretical approach?
A. Structural functionalism
B. Conflict theory
, Page 4 of 111
C. Symbolic interactionism
D. Rational choice theory
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Symbolic interactionism focuses on micro-level social interactions and the
meanings that individuals attach to symbols, such as the act of raising a hand. It
examines how these meanings are created and maintained through social interaction.
5. Which of the following founders of sociology is credited with coining the term
"sociology" and advocating for a positivist approach to studying society?
A. Karl Marx
B. Émile Durkheim
C. Max Weber
D. Auguste Comte
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Auguste Comte, a French philosopher, coined the term "sociology" in 1838.
He is considered the "father of sociology" and advocated for positivism, the idea that
social phenomena can be studied using the same scientific methods used in the
natural sciences.
6. According to Émile Durkheim, what is the primary social force that holds modern
industrial societies together, given the complex division of labor?
A. Mechanical solidarity, based on shared beliefs and similarities
B. Organic solidarity, based on interdependence and specialized roles
C. Charismatic authority, based on the personality of a leader
D. Rational-legal authority, based on formal rules and laws
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Durkheim distinguished between mechanical solidarity, typical of traditional
societies with a simple division of labor, and organic solidarity, typical of modern
industrial societies where people are interdependent due to their specialized roles.
Organic solidarity holds modern societies together.
