Chapter 1: Most sociologists interpret social life from one of three major theoretical frameworks or theories (conflict theory, functionalism, and symbolic interactionism). Choose a social issue or current event (e.g., poverty, politics, gas prices, etc.) and describe how you could analyze or explain the issue or event from each of the three theoretical frameworks. If you were to design a study to analyze the issue or event according to each perspective, which research method would you use and why?
Chapter 2: Identify six of the twelve core values in U.S. society identified by sociologist Robin Williams. Define a value cluster and value contradiction. Develop at least one value cluster and one combination of values that is a value contradiction.
Chapter 3: Define the concept agents of socialization. Identify what you feel are the three most significant agents of socialization in U.S. society today and briefly describe the role of each in the socialization process.
Chapter 4: Define a social institution. Name at least four of the ten discussed in the textbook and discuss the basic needs they fulfill for society.
Chapter 5: What is the "electronic community"? How has it changed group interaction since becoming popular?
Chapter 6: Define deviance from a sociological perspective. How is the position conflict theorists take regarding deviance similar to and different from the position taken by functionalists such as Durkheim?