CLEP Introductory Sociology Sample Test Questions
What is the "Peter Principle" in organizational sociology?
️️ The Peter Principle is the idea that people in a hierarchy tend to be promoted to their level of
incompetence, where they no longer perform effectively.
Define "social capital...
What is the "Peter Principle" in organizational sociology?
✔️✔️ The Peter Principle is the idea that people in a hierarchy tend to be promoted to their level of
incompetence, where they no longer perform effectively.
Define "social capital" and explain its significance in community building.
✔️✔️ Social capital refers to the resources gained through social networks, relationships, and trust,
which facilitate cooperation and support within communities.
What is "conspicuous consumption," and who introduced this concept?
✔️✔️ Conspicuous consumption, introduced by Thorstein Veblen, is the act of purchasing goods or
services to publicly display wealth or social status rather than for practical use.
Explain the concept of "alienation" according to Karl Marx.
✔️✔️ Alienation, according to Karl Marx, is the feeling of disconnection from one’s work, self, and
others that arises when workers are exploited in a capitalist system, where they lack control over
production.
What is "social constructivism"?
✔️✔️ Social constructivism is the theory that knowledge and meaning are created through
interactions with others, emphasizing that concepts like gender and race are shaped by social processes
rather than inherent qualities.
Define "relative deprivation" and its impact on social movements.
✔️✔️ Relative deprivation is the feeling of dissatisfaction people experience when they compare their
situation to others and feel deprived, which can lead to increased demands for social change and fuel
social movements.
What is "cultural lag," and who introduced this term?
,✔️✔️ Cultural lag, introduced by William Ogburn, is the idea that non-material culture (like values and
norms) often takes longer to adapt to changes in material culture, leading to societal strain.
Describe "primary group" and "secondary group" in social interactions.
✔️✔️ A primary group is a small, close-knit, and intimate social group, such as family or close friends.
A secondary group is larger, more impersonal, and goal-oriented, such as coworkers or a school class.
Explain "impression management" as introduced by Erving Goffman.
✔️✔️ Impression management is the process of controlling the image one presents in social
interactions to influence how others perceive them, often by adjusting behavior to fit the social setting.
What is "institutionalization," and how does it relate to social norms?
✔️✔️ Institutionalization is the process by which a behavior or practice becomes established as a
norm or rule within an institution, solidifying it as an expected part of social structure.
Define "false consciousness" and its role in Marxist theory.
✔️✔️ False consciousness is a term used by Marxists to describe how the working class may accept
ideas and beliefs that actually work against their interests, hindering class consciousness and social
change.
What is "gender socialization," and why is it significant?
✔️✔️ Gender socialization is the process by which individuals learn societal expectations associated
with their gender, shaping their behaviors, roles, and perceptions of identity.
Describe "social control" and list two main forms.
✔️✔️ Social control refers to mechanisms a society uses to maintain order and conformity. Two main
forms are formal control (laws, regulations) and informal control (norms, peer pressure).
Explain the concept of "meritocracy" in relation to social stratification.
✔️✔️ Meritocracy is a system where social standing is based on individual ability and effort rather
than inherited status, theoretically allowing for equal opportunity and mobility.
, What is "relative poverty," and how does it differ from "absolute poverty"?
✔️✔️ Relative poverty refers to an individual's economic status in comparison to the broader society,
often lacking resources for an average standard of living, while absolute poverty is a state of severe
deprivation where basic needs cannot be met.
All of the following are examples of voluntary associations EXCEPT the
A) Republican Party
B) League of Women Voters
C) Federal Bureau of Investigation
D) First Baptist Church of Atlanta
E) Little League Baseball Association ✔️✔️C.
A sex ratio of 120 means that in a population there are
A) 120 more males than females
B) 120 more females than males
C) 120 males for every 100 females
D) 120 females for every 100 males
E) 12% more males than females ✔️✔️C.
Industrialization is most likely to reduce the importance of which of the following functions of the
family?
A) Economic production
B) Care of young children
C) Regulation of sexual behavior
D) Socialization of the individual
E) Social control ✔️✔️A
The process by which an individual learns how to live in his or her social surroundings is known as
A) amalgamation
B) association
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