Multiculturalism - Quiz 3 Outlines and Essay Questions

Outline for Class: Part 1

- What is the basic conservative belief about class?

- What are Marx’s basic arguments about class?

- What are the 3 basic determinants of a person's class position today?

- What happens to class-based economic inequalities from:

a) 1947-1973

b) 1973-2007

- Which income group has seen its share of national income increase the most over the last 30-35 years?

- According to liberals, what are the implications of the increase in class based economic inequalities?

- According to Domhoff, what percent of the population constitutes the upper class?

- According to Domhoff, what are the three distinguishing characteristics of the upper class?

- What are the main institutions that help produce a cohesive upper class?

- What are the key functions of these upper class institutions?

- What were the main criticisms of the upper middle-class in the 1920s?

- What was the general consensus about class in the 1950s?

- Why is there “ambivalence about affluence” amongst the upper middle-class in the 1950s?

- What are the upper middle-class values explicitly rejected by many 1960s upper middle-class youth?

- According to Ehrenreich, what are the distinguishing characteristics of yuppies?

- According to Ehrenreich, what are the key elements of the “Yuppie Strategy” in the 1980s?

- How does Brooks characterize “bobos”?

- In Ehrenreich’s view (writing in 1987), what are the key problems with the upper middle-class?

Quiz 3: Essay Questions

1. According to Domhoff, what are the defining characteristics of the upper class? Describe the central institutions that contribute to the social cohesiveness of the upper class. In particular, what are the functions of places like the Bohemian Grove and Ivy Club? Given the readings, class discussions, as well as the video Born Rich, do you think that you would feel comfortable living in the American upper class culture? Why or why not?

2. Explain the reasons for upper middle class’ “ambivalence about affluence” in the 1950s. Compare Ehrenreich’s characterization of 1980s yuppies with Brooks’ description of upper middle-class “bobos”. Be sure to talk about what Ehrenreich describes as the “yuppie strategy” for success. In your opinion, who best describes upper middle-class culture in the year 2008: Brooks or Ehrenreich? Lastly, do you believe that the upper middle class defines itself primarily on the basis of what they consume (including services and goods)? Are they significantly different from other classes in this respect? Feel free to include your own experiences in your answer.

3. Briefly describe the three key determinants of a person’s class position. Compare the conservative beliefs about class with those of Marx. According to liberals, what are the consequences due to the increase in class based economic inequalities over the last 30 years? Do you agree with the arguments of liberals? In particular, do you think that there is a lot more class-based segregation in high schools than there was 30 years ago? Again, feel free to incorporate your own experiences into your answer.

Responsible for: Domhoff (pps. 156-164); Yazigi (pps. 1-4); Brooks (pages 13-18, 97-102)

Mukhopadhyay (pps. 1-3); Lewin’s “Up from the Holler” (pps. 1-5)

Methods - Quiz 2 Outline

Outline

- What is the purpose of a literature review?

- Conceptualization and Measurement

- What is meant by the term conceptualization?

- What is meant by the term operationalization?

- What are indexes and scales? What are the main reasons why indexes and scales are frequently used?

- What is the key difference between a scale and an index?

- What does a Bogardus Social Distance Scale look like?

- What does a Likert scale look like?

- What is meant by the term triangulation?

- What are the four levels of measurement? What are the differences between 1) Nominal

Measures; 2) Ordinal Measures; 3) Interval Measures; and 4) Ratio Measures

- What is the difference between reliability and validity?

- What is meant by “face validity”?

- What is meant by “content validity”?

- What is meant by criterion validity?

- What is meant by test-retest reliability?

Causation and Experimental Design

- What is meant by the term causality?

- What are the criteria needed to establish causality? What is meant by the terms: association, time order, and nonspuriousness?

- What are the required features of a “true experiment”?

- What is the significance of a:

a) Post-Test

b) Pre-Test

- What is the difference between “internal invalidity” and “external invalidity”?

- What is a double blind experiment and what is its purpose?

- What is a Solomon Four Group Design and what is its purpose?

Readings Responsible For:

Chambliss and Schutt: Chapter 3, Chapter 5 (pps 106-128), Chapter 10 (pages 260-266)

Multiculturalism - Quiz 2 Outlines and Essay Questions

Outline: Race and Ethnicity – Part 2

- What are the key differences between the current generation of immigration and immigrants from 100 years ago?

- How do the 1) average income and educational levels, 2) political views and 3) rates of religious participation of Muslim-Americans compare to non-Muslim Americans?

- What is currently the largest Asian-American group in the United States today?

- How do Asian educational and income levels compare with those of non Asian-Americans?

- What are the cultural explanations for the educational and economic successes of Asian-Americans?

- What are the class-based explanations for the educational and economic successes of

Asian-Americans?

- What are the central elements of the “model minority myth” about Asian-Americans”?

- What are Wu’s criticisms of the “model minority myth”?

- What percent of the American population is Latino?

- Which Latino group in the United States has the highest education and income levels?

- What are the cultural explanations for the lower overall level of economic and educational attainment

of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans?

- What are the class-based explanations for the lower overall level of economic and educational

attainment of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans?

- What are typically cited as the reasons for the problems of Latinos in the American educational

system?

- How do 1) African-American, 2) Latin-American and 3) Asian American household median income compare to White (non-Latino) household median income in 2005?

- What was the median wealth of Blacks in 2002? Of Latinos? Of Whites?

- According to liberals, what are the main explanations for Black-White wealth inequalities?

- What are the problems faced by Blacks on the housing market since World War II?

- What is a subprime loan?

- How do the problems faced by Blacks on the housing market contribute to Black-White wealth inequalities?

QUIZ 2: ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. What are the 1) cultural and 2) class-based explanations for educational and economic achievements of Asian-Americans? Explain what is meant by the “Asian-American” model minority myth” and also summarize Wu’s criticisms of the myth. In general, how do you think that majority of Asian-Americans feel about the model minority myth? Elaborate.

2. Briefly discuss the extent of Black-White economic (wealth and income) inequalities. What are the liberal explanations for Black-White wealth inequalities? What are the specific problems encountered by Blacks on the housing market that contribute to Black-White wealth inequalities? Do you agree with Conley’s assertion that reparations to African-Americans would significantly reduce racial inequalities in education and other Black-White disparities within one generation? Defend your answer.

3. Compare the cultural explanations and class-based explanations for the lower levels of income and educational attainment among Latinos. Summarize the reasons for the problems of Latinos in the educational system. In your opinion, what should be done in order to help Latino students in the American educational system? Explain.

Responsible for: Kromkowski: Readings 3, 31, 33, 34

Wu: (pps. 404-412); Shapiro: (pps. 127-133); Fussell (24-35)

Intro - Paper Assignment 1

Introduction to Sociology - Paper Option 1

Cooper: Introduction to Sociology:

Due: Tuesday, February 24

Approximate Length: 4 - 5 pages

This assignment requires you to violate a norm and write a paper documenting your experiences. As norms govern our lives in both subtle and not so subtle ways, it is important to consider your own actions as well as (and just as importantly) the reactions of those around you when you violate the norm.

For the paper you must do the following:

1) Describe the norm will you violate and how this norm affects the social behaviors of individuals. Then, explain what you will do to violate the norm. (Approx. ¾ - 1 page)

2) BEFORE you actually violate the norm, hypothesize about the reactions you expect others will have and explain why you think you will get those reactions. (Approx. ½ page)

3) Describe the incident, including the physical and social settings (i.e. where did it take place, how many and what types of people were there) for the violation of the norm. Be sure to discuss the verbal and non-verbal reactions you received. (Approx. 1 ½ pages)

4) How did you feel when you violated the norm? (Try to go into some detail) Did you expect to feel that way? Did people react the way you expected? Do you think the reaction might have been different in another type of social setting? Did you experience any difficulties? (Approx. 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 pages)

GUIDELINES:

1) Select a norm common in our society. Make sure to choose a FOLKWAY, rather than a more.

Also, remember that it can involve a random act of kindness (for instance, buying a couple of gallons of gas for a complete stranger.)

2) DO NOT BREAK ANY LAWS OR CAUSE ANYONE ELSE TO BREAK A LAW. Do not do anything that you even suspect might be morally or legally questionable or that could bring sanctions against you, your instructor, or the university. Also, make sure not to cause harm to yourself or anyone else and don’t do anything that might negatively affect your job performance (or cost you your job).

3) Make sure to write up parts 1 and 2 BEFORE you violate the norm. This ensures that you will have a firm hypothesis about observer reactions in advance. (Your paper grade will not be affected at all if you do not get the reactions you hypothesized.)

4) Make sure to break the norm in a SOCIAL SETTING. For instance, it doesn’t count if you wear your underwear around your neck for your dog or cat.

Remember: If you handwrite the paper, you must use every other line and print neatly.

Intro Test 1 - Outlines and Essay Questions

OUTLINE: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY/SOCIOLOGICAL METHODS

- Introduction to Sociology

- What are the major changes that lead to the creation of sociology?

- How do sociologists and psychologists differ in their explanations of human behavior?

- What is the key argument of the structural-functionalists?

- What is the key argument of conflict theorists?

- What is the key argument of symbolic interactionists?

- What does Mills mean by the "Sociological Imagination"?

- What are Karp’s two main arguments about depression?

- Methods of Sociological Research

- What is an independent variable? What is a dependent variable?

- What does it mean when variables are correlated? What is the difference between causation and correlation?

- What are the two basic types of research methods?

- What did Milgram do in his famous experiment and what were his key findings?

- What does the Hawthorne effect refer to?

- What is the difference between a population and a sample?

- Which is typically the most desirable type of sample (especially for research like voter polls)?

OUTLINE: Culture, Socialization, and the Interaction Process

- Culture and Norms

- What are the two key elements of a society’s culture? What is the significance of

“culture”?

- What is a symbol?

- What is the definition of a norm? What is the difference between a folkway and a more?

- What is meant by the term “cultural relativism”? According to Natadecha-Sponsel, what

are the key differences between Thai and American culture?

- What is a subculture? What is a counterculture? What is the difference between the two?

- Socialization Process and Interaction

- What do sociologists mean by the term socialization?

- What are children like when they are subjected to near total isolation?

- According to symbolic interactionists like Mead, what are the key stages in an individual’s “acquisition of self”?

- What are the three major stages of role-taking?

- What is meant by the term “the generalized other”?

- What does Cooley mean by the term “looking-glass self”?

- What do symbolic interactionists mean by the term “impression management”?

- What is the difference between the “front stage” and the “back stage”?

- What is meant by the term “spoiled identity”?

- What is a stigma?

- What are the different ways that people respond to being stigmatized?

- According to Nussbaum, how does the existence of online culture affect the way young

people are socialized in modern society?

ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR 1ST TEST

1. Summarize the fundamental arguments of structural functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists. Describe what Mills meant when he talked about the “sociological imagination”. Then, provide your own example of the sociological imagination at work (but not one cited in the Schaefer chapter).

2. Describe the different stages in the acquisition of the self. Be sure to talk about the three stages in role taking as well as the significance of the “generalized other”. What does the term “looking-glass self” refer to? Given your own experiences (and those of people you know very well), how much do you think the “looking glass self” shapes our individual identities? Explain.

3. How do sociologists characterize the process of socialization? Explain what sociologists mean when they talk about impression management. In your answer be sure to discuss the concepts of “front stage” and “back stage”. According to Nussbaum’s article, how has the creation of the internet, particularly social networking sites like myspace, facebook, etc., affected the socialization of American youth? Do you agree with Nussbaum’s main arguments? In particular, do you think that your attitudes towards online culture and public exposure are significantly different than your parents’? Elaborate.

Responsible for following readings on test:

Schaefer: Chapter 1 (pages 1-11, 14-30); Chapter 2 (pages 35-59, 63-67);

Syllabus, Natadecha-Sponsel (pages 77-83), Nussbaum (pages 1-11)

Methods - Quiz 1 Outline

- Introduction to Research Methods

- What are the different types of observational studies?

- What are the different types of quantitative data analysis?

- What is a central difference between the natural and social sciences when doing research?

- According to Chambliss and Schutt, what are the 4 flaws in our everyday scientific reasoning?

- Ethics

- What are ethics?

- What happens in the Tuskegee study? How did the authorities involved in the Tuskegee study defend their actions?

- How does Hornblum characterize the 1950s and 1960s with respect to research?

- What was controversial about Milgram’s study? How did Milgram defend his research?

- What are the five key rules for conducting research today?

- What is the purpose of Institutional Review Boards?

- What are the problems involved in giving informed consent to the subjects of a study?

- Research Design

- What is the difference between deductive and inductive research?

- What is an independent variable? What is a dependent variable?

- What are the three different types of research design? What are the differences between them?

- What is meant by the term ecological fallacy?

Responsible for:

Chambliss and Schutt: Chapter 1: Chapter 2 (pages 21-46), Chapter 5 (pps. 128-130) Hornblum: (pps 1437 – 1441); Syllabus

Multiculturalism: Quiz 1 - Outline and Essay Questions

Outline for Race and Ethnicity – Part I

- What does it mean to call race a “social construction”?

- What are they key defining characteristics of ethnic groups?

- What is meant by the term ethnocentrism?

- What is meant by the terms 1) Assimilation and 2) Pluralism?

- According to Marger, what are the key factors that increase the likelihood of a racial or ethnic group assimilating into the larger society?

- What did Freud mean by the term “the narcissism of minor differences”?

- What was the “Termination” policy proposal in the 1950s?

- What are the reasons for the significant increase in the number of Native Americans since 1960?

- What are the general trends with respect to the third generation of Italian Americans?

According to Marger, what is the relationship between class and assimilation for Italian-Americans (and most ethnic groups)?

- What does Gans mean by the term “symbolic ethnicity”?

- What are the key differences and similarities between Jewish and Italian immigrants between 1880 and 1920?

- When do you see the resurgence of “ethnic identity” among White ethnics?

- What are the key factors that lead to a revived sense of Jewish identity in the 1960s?

- What has happened to the Jewish intermarriage rate over the last 40 years?

- According to historians, why are Blacks the only group to become slaves after the mid 1600s?

- When does racism first develop into a powerful ideology in the United States? Why does it become the dominant ideology?

- What is meant by the one-drop rule? According to Davis, which is the only group that it applies to in

the United States? What other countries also adhere to the one-drop rule?

ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the reasons why Blacks became the only group to become slaves in the U.S.? Explain why racism developed into such a commonly accepted view in the U.S. What does it mean to call race a “social construction”. In your answer, be sure to use at least one example from the videos we watched in class. Lastly, do you think that the one-drop rule will still persist 50 years from now? Elaborate.

2. What are the differences and similarities with respect to Italian and Jewish immigration between 1880 and 1920. Explain Gans’ concept of “symbolic ethnicity”. What are the reasons for the revival of a Jewish identity in the 1960s? In your opinion, what is the future of ethnicity among Italians, Jews and other White ethnics, especially on Long Island? In particular, will being Italian or Jewish still be a significant part of people’s identity in 25-30 years? Explain.

3. Summarize the key characteristics of ethnic groups. Briefly describe what is meant by the terms assimilation and pluralism. According to Marger, what are the main factors which increase the probability of assimilation for ethnic groups? In your opinion, are there still a lot of people in the United States that suffer from what Freud called “the narcissism of minor differences”? Defend your answer.

Responsible for: Kromkowski: Readings 4, 7, 8, 21, 44

Garroutte (pps. 49-57); Gambino (pps. 208-221); Davis (pps. 37-44); Orenstein (pps. 9-10), Syllabus