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Quizzes > Society & Culture

Intro to Sociology Practice Test: 15 Quick Questions

Quick, free sociology quiz to check your understanding. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Yannis PannierUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 15
Study OutcomesAdditional Reading
3D voxel art representing Introduction to Sociology course material

This Introduction to Sociology quiz helps you check your understanding of key concepts, from sociological imagination to social change, in 15 quick questions. Use it to spot gaps before a test and build confidence with instant feedback. Want to keep learning? Try our social science quiz, explore research tools with a psychology research methods quiz, or practice applied topics with a social work quiz.

Which concept involves linking personal experiences to larger social forces and historical context?
Collective effervescence
Social capital
Sociological imagination
Groupthink
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Which perspective sees society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to promote stability and social order?
Phenomenology
Post-structuralism
Structural functionalism
Symbolic interactionism
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Which major theoretical perspective focuses on power, inequality, and the struggle over scarce resources?
Conflict theory
Ethnomethodology
Rational choice theory
Human ecology
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An ascribed status is best defined as which of the following?
A personal identity chosen freely
A position attributed at birth or involuntarily later in life
A position earned by individual effort
A temporary social role in organizations
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Which is a defining feature of a primary group compared to a secondary group?
Intimate, enduring, face-to-face relationships
Large size and impersonal ties
Formal goals and task orientation
Transient membership based on contracts
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In Durkheim's framework, which term describes phenomena like laws, customs, and institutions that exist outside the individual and exert constraint?
Social solidarity
Social facts
Mechanical consciousness
Role strain
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Which approach emphasizes the meanings people attach to symbols and interactions in everyday life?
Systems theory
Symbolic interactionism
World-systems theory
Exchange theory
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Which term refers to a breakdown of social norms and a sense of normlessness often associated with rapid change?
Anomie
Alienation
Stigmatization
Secularization
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Which is the primary agent of socialization for most individuals in early childhood?
Family
Workplace
Peers
Media
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Which of the following is commonly considered an agent of socialization in adolescence and adulthood?
Astrophysics
Peer groups
Meteorology
Geology
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What did Max Weber mean by verstehen in sociological research?
Causal inference through randomization
Measuring social facts statistically
Interpretive understanding of social action
Mathematical modeling of social systems
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Which is a defining feature of Weberian bureaucracy?
Informal decision-making
Rigid hierarchy of offices
Personalized authority
Charismatic legitimacy
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Which concept distinguishes tension among roles attached to a single status from tension between roles of different statuses?
Role strain vs. role conflict
Mechanical vs. organic solidarity
Achieved vs. ascribed status
Role exit vs. role entry
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What is cultural relativism?
A policy of cultural assimilation
Evaluating practices by understanding them within their cultural context
Judging another culture by the standards of one's own
Belief that all cultures are superior to others
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Labeling theory suggests that deviance is largely the result of which process?
Societal reactions that define and stigmatize certain behaviors or individuals
Biological determinism
Primary socialization only
Random chance
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According to Granovetter, what is the key insight about weak ties?
They are irrelevant to job finding and information flow
They often serve as crucial bridges for new information and opportunities
They foster conformity within close-knit groups
They eliminate social inequality
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According to Merton's strain theory, deviance is most likely when there is a disjunction between which two elements?
Power and authority
Cultural goals and institutionalized means
Nature and nurture
Culture and personality
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Intersectionality primarily examines which of the following?
The crossing of urban and rural communities
The intersection of geography and climate in cultural development
How multiple social categories like race, gender, and class create overlapping systems of advantage and disadvantage
The overlap of family and workplace roles
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Institutional racism can occur only through deliberate, overt actions by identifiable individuals.
False
True
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Modernization theory claims that all societies inevitably follow a single linear path from traditional to modern stages.
False
True
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the concept of sociological imagination and its significance in analyzing social contexts.
  2. Analyze the role of social forces in shaping individual experiences and societal trends.
  3. Evaluate theories and research methods used by sociologists to study social inequalities.
  4. Apply sociological perspectives to explore the interplay between social structure and individual agency.

Introduction To Sociology Additional Reading

Embarking on your sociological journey? Here are some top-notch resources to guide you:

  1. This comprehensive textbook offers a concise introduction to sociology, covering essential topics like sociological paradigms, culture, socialization, and social inequality. It's a fantastic starting point for grasping the foundational concepts of the field.
  2. This resource provides a curated list of open educational resources tailored for an introductory sociology course. It includes links to textbooks, course materials, and other valuable content to enhance your understanding of sociological concepts.
  3. This initiative offers a collection of open educational resources for various sociology courses, including materials on social problems, research methods, gender studies, and race and ethnicity. It's a treasure trove for students seeking diverse perspectives.
  4. This platform provides access to a variety of open books and resources on sociology topics, such as classical sociological theory, cultural anthropology, and the social construction of everyday life. It's a great place to explore different facets of sociology.
  5. This guide offers a selection of open educational resources, including course materials and journals, to support your studies in sociology. It's a valuable resource for finding quality content to supplement your learning.
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