This is the study guide for the first test. It covers Chapters 1-2 and pages 127-139 in Macionis. It does not cover our class discussions and assigned readings.

Define sociology. What does seeing the general in the particular mean? What does seeing the strange in the familiar mean? According to Durkheim which group s had and have the highest rates of suicide and why? Why is it difficult for white people to realize that race profoundly influences their lives? What is a global perspective and how does sociology promote it? Define most, less and least developed countries. What are three reasons why global thinking is a significant component of the sociological perspective? What is positivism? What social forces influenced the birth of sociology as a science? What are a theory and a theoretical paradigm? Thoroughly understand the structural-functional paradigm. Define social structure and social function. What does Merton mean when he uses the terms manifest and latent functions and social dysfucntions? Critically evaluate the structural-functional paradigm. Thoroughly understand the social-conflict paradigm. Use the issue of tracking to show the difference between functional and social-conflict theories. Critically evaluate the social-conflict paradigm. Thoroughly understand the symbolic-interaction paradigm. What are the differences between macro and micro level explanations. Give an example of interactions using the social-exchange analysis. Understand Table 1-1. What are science and empirical evidence? Define and understand concept, a variable, measurement, operationalize, descriptive statistics, (mean, median, and mode), reliability, validity, correlation, and independent and dependent variables. Does correlation mean causation? What is a spurious relationship? What three things are necessary to prove causation? W hat does it mean w hen someone says all research is political? What are the four gender related problems that confront sociologists doing research? How do feminist challenge conventional "value-free" research? What is a research method? What are an experiment and a hypothesis? Which is the most widely used of all research methods and why? What is the difference between a population and sample? What should a sociologist expect if they are conducting research on Hispanics? What are some of the problems associated with doing participant observation as a method of collecting data? Study Table1-2. Outline the different steps involved in sociological research.

Did you experience any culture shock when you first came to RU? Define culture and society. Humans depend on culture not instincts--explain. Describe the different components of culture. Which language is most often spoken in the world? Define cultural transmission. Describe the importance of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. According to Robin Williams, what are the ten values that stand at the core of our society? Define norms. Do most people behave according to their ideal or real culture? Is there anything wrong with popular culture? Describe the Lenski's argument that a society's level of technological development determines what cultural ideas and artifacts emerge or are even possible. Give some examples of a subculture. W hat is the debate over multiculturalism? What are Eurocentrism and Afrocentrism? Define and give some examples of countercultures. What are the three ways that cultural change is set into motion? What is the practical importance of knowing the terms ethnocentrism and culture relativism?  What are the differences between a functional and conflict theory analysis of the role that culture plays in creating the normative order? What approach argues that specific social patterns arise under particular physical conditions? Which theory argues that we as a society would be better off genetically if men were able to have multiple sex partners? Critically evaluate sociobiology.

Is all deviant behavior criminal? How do societies socially control people? Does criminality result from some genetic flaw? Are the vast majority of people who are deviant or criminal psychologically normal? In detail, out line the structural-functional analysis of crime? Merton's theory argues that "strain" causes higher rates of crime among the poor. How does he operationalize his concept of "strain?" How do conflict subcultures create higher rates of violent crime among the poor? According to Hirschi, why do some people engage in behaviors that conform to the normative order more so than others? Critically evaluate theories of crime that are consistent with structural-functionalism. Why do people become deviant according to labeling theory (include in your answer the difference between primary and secondary deviance). Is addiction deviant behavior and should it be criminalized or medicalzied? Critically evaluate all of the symbolic interaction theories on crime. How doe s capitalism create our perceptions of what is criminal and who are criminals? What is white collar crime and why are white-collar criminals not treated as harshly by the criminal justice system as street criminals? Critically evaluate social-conflict theories of crime.