About this Study Set
This study set covers Sociology through
20 practice questions.
A challenging quiz on sociological theories, structures, and terminology for advanced students. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.
Questions & Answers
Browse all 20 questions from the
Sociology Foundations and Concepts study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
Which sociologist is credited with coining the term 'the sociological imagination' in his 1959 book?
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A
Émile Durkheim
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B
C. Wright Mills
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C
Max Weber
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D
Auguste Comte
2
In sociology, what is the term for the process through which people learn the values, norms, and behaviors of their society?
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A
Socialization
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B
Stratification
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C
Enculturation
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D
Assimilation
3
According to Émile Durkheim, what is the term for a state of normlessness that occurs when social standards break down?
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A
Alienation
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B
Anomie
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C
Ascription
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D
Acculturation
4
What is the term for the movement of individuals or groups between different social positions in a stratified society?
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A
Social mobility
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B
Social cohesion
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C
Social capital
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D
Social stratification
5
Which concept refers to the cultural values that each generation passes on to the next?
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A
Cultural diffusion
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B
Cultural transmission
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C
Cultural relativism
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D
Cultural lag
6
What did Karl Marx call the social class that owns the means of production in a capitalist society?
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A
Proletariat
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B
Bourgeoisie
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C
Lumpenproletariat
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D
Intelligentsia
7
What is 'ethnocentrism' in a sociological context?
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A
Judging another culture by its own standards
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B
Believing one's own culture is superior to others
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C
The study of ethnic diversity
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D
The blending of multiple cultures
8
In the context of social status, what is an 'achieved status'?
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A
A position earned through individual effort
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B
A position assigned at birth
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C
A position inherited from parents
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D
A position based on physical appearance
9
Which term describes the informal norms that govern everyday behavior, such as etiquette or dress codes?
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A
Mores
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B
Taboos
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C
Folkways
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D
Laws
10
Who developed the concept of 'the looking-glass self', suggesting our self-image is shaped by how others perceive us?
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A
George Herbert Mead
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B
Charles Horton Cooley
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C
Erving Goffman
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D
Herbert Blumer
11
What is the sociological definition of a 'secondary group'?
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A
A small, intimate group based on personal ties
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B
A large, impersonal group focused on a specific goal
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C
A group that rejects societal norms
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D
A group defined by geographic location
12
Which term describes a situation where an individual is forced to balance conflicting expectations from two or more social statuses?
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A
Role strain
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B
Role conflict
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C
Status inconsistency
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D
Status set
13
What is 'cultural lag' as defined by William F. Ogburn?
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A
The delay between technological change and cultural adjustment
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B
The difference in growth between urban and rural cultures
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C
The loss of traditional values in modern society
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D
The time it takes for immigrants to integrate
14
Which type of society is primarily characterized by the production of information and services rather than manufactured goods?
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A
Agrarian society
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B
Industrial society
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C
Post-industrial society
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D
Hunting and gathering society
15
What is 'social capital' in the framework proposed by Robert Putnam?
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A
The total wealth of a nation
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B
The economic resources of an individual
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C
The value of social networks and the inclinations that arise from them
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D
The political power held by elite groups
16
In sociology, what is the term for the systematic inequality between groups of people based on social categories?
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A
Social stratification
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B
Social differentiation
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C
Social integration
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D
Social mobility
17
Erving Goffman's 'dramaturgical analysis' compares social interaction to what?
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A
A mathematical equation
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B
A theatrical performance
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C
A biological ecosystem
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D
A mechanical process
18
What defines a 'counterculture'?
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A
A culture that is exactly the same as the dominant culture
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B
A culture whose values and norms are at odds with the dominant culture
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C
A culture that only exists in rural areas
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D
A subculture that has gained mainstream acceptance
19
What does the 'Thomas Theorem' state regarding the social construction of reality?
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A
If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences
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B
Society is an organism that evolves over time
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C
Conflict is the primary driver of social change
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D
Individual actions have no impact on social structure
20
Which sociological perspective focuses on the power dynamics and competition for scarce resources?
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A
Functionalism
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B
Symbolic Interactionism
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C
Conflict Theory
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D
Evolutionary Theory
