Sociology Chapter 14 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

For which groups has sociological research found that getting an education facilitates movement into the upper classes?

All groups (correct)

No group

Working class

Middle class Whites

Which of the following options is considered the stratification function of schools?

Drawing on existing stratification

Sorting people into different categories

Sorting people into existing social categories

All of the above (correct)

How are occupation, class, and education related?

Occupation is influenced by social class background and formal education. (correct)

Education provides upward social mobility for all, regardless of class.

Social class is heavily influenced by level of formal education.

Elite boarding schools are attended by members of all social classes in equal proportions.

What is the relationship between educational test scores (e.g., SAT and ACT) and social class?

As average family income goes up, so do SAT scores. Signup and view all the answers

What has been the overall impact of compulsory education in the U.S. since the 19th century?

Reduced many inequalities in society. Signup and view all the answers

What is a standardized ability test?

A test intended to measure a person's potential. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major criticism of standardized ability tests?

They predict future school performance for White males better than for others. Signup and view all the answers

The extent to which standardized tests accurately predict future college grades is called what?

Predictive validity Signup and view all the answers

What was the original purpose of the SAT and IQ tests?

Designed by middle-class White males. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is most true about college students entering college today?

They come from more segregated high schools than in the 1980s. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a criticism of using standardized testing to measure cognitive ability?

The tests measure ability in too many areas. Signup and view all the answers

Natural differences in ability between people are generally found to exist where?

Among any group, not linked to group membership. Signup and view all the answers

In 'The Bell Curve', how much do Herrnstein and Murray estimate intelligence to be genetically heritable?

70% Signup and view all the answers

Separating students according to cognitive ability is most commonly called what?

Tracking Signup and view all the answers

Critics of tracking argue that students in lower tracks learn less because they are taught less.

Tracking does not benefit learners. Signup and view all the answers

According to the NAEP, what has been the impact of the No Child Left Behind legislation?

The achievement gap between students of color and White students has grown. Signup and view all the answers

If a student wants to reform the U.S. approach to healthcare, they might focus on which issue?

Lack of preventive health care. Signup and view all the answers

The increased prestige of medicine and status of physicians coincided with what event?

The establishment of medicine as a science. Signup and view all the answers

When the American Medical Association was established in 1847, which was true?

It worked to delegitimize alternative therapies. Signup and view all the answers

As the practice of medicine became an upper-class profession, it became more associated with which traits?

Becoming predominantly white and male. Signup and view all the answers

As medicine became a profession, how was it stratified in terms of race and class?

Folk medicine became associated with lower classes. Signup and view all the answers

When was obesity first included in the Medicare Program as a disease?

2004 Signup and view all the answers

Most women who acquire AIDS do so through which means?

Heterosexual contact. Signup and view all the answers

What do sociologists believe is the most important factor in reducing the incidence of AIDS?

Understanding social networks and norms. Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective views the positive functions of the health care system as prevention and treatment of disease?

Functionalist Signup and view all the answers

From which perspective is inequality viewed as a barrier to equitable access to medical care?

Conflict Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective is most likely to assert that health care reflects societal inequalities?

Conflict theory Signup and view all the answers

According to which perspective is the fundamental problem of the health care system that it produces sociopolitical problems?

Functionalist Signup and view all the answers

From which perspective is excessive bureaucratization of the health care system viewed as a source of high costs?

Conflict Signup and view all the answers

According to which perspective is structural inequality a primary source of problems within the health care system?

Conflict Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective highlights socially constructed problems in the health care system?

Symbolic interactionist Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective is most likely to believe that illness is partly socially constructed?

Symbolic interaction theory Signup and view all the answers

The relationship between health care providers and patients can be characterized by what interaction?

All of the above. Signup and view all the answers

Symbolic interactionists studying healthcare provider-patient interactions have found that:

The poor are seen as needing to be satisfied with any care. Signup and view all the answers

Immunization against childhood diseases reveals what distribution issue in the U.S.?

Distrust and lack of understanding among inner-city residents. Signup and view all the answers

How is access to health care distributed in the U.S.?

More available in urban areas. Signup and view all the answers

The study of all factors associated with disease in society is called what?

Epidemiology Signup and view all the answers

Which group is least likely to utilize health services?

Hispanics Signup and view all the answers

The types of education in the U.S. include all of the following except:

Vocational education Signup and view all the answers

Schooling refers to:

Formal, institutionalized education Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding graduation rates?

Since 1940, White students have had the highest graduation rates Signup and view all the answers

Bob is going to a private school. He is most likely attending a:

A religious or parochial school Signup and view all the answers

The United States is no longer the world leader in student math and science achievement scores. According to the text, what explains this decline in the nation's standing?

Inequality within the education system Signup and view all the answers

According to functionalists, education accomplishes all of the following, except:

Teacher expectancy Signup and view all the answers

According to conflict theorists, education supports the needs of a capitalist economy.

Conflict theorists Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conclusions is accurate regarding social mobility and education?

Education is related to some social mobility Signup and view all the answers

Since education became mandatory,

Education has reduced many inequalities in society Signup and view all the answers

Achievement tests are intended to measure what has actually been learned.

Achievement tests Signup and view all the answers

Group differences in IQ tests and SAT scores are related to all of the following, except:

Peer groups Signup and view all the answers

According to Herrnstein and Murray's The Bell Curve:

The distribution of intelligence closely approximates a normal distribution Signup and view all the answers

Research on tracking has found all of the following, except:

Detracking penalizes high achieving students Signup and view all the answers

In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Brown vs. the Board of Education that:

Separate but equal was unconstitutional Signup and view all the answers

One of the major goals of No Child Left Behind was:

To narrow the racial achievement gap Signup and view all the answers

Health care is:

A matter of science and an elaborate social structure Signup and view all the answers

What has been the outcome of No Child Left Behind?

The racial achievement gap has widened Signup and view all the answers

Recently, obesity has become:

Defined as a public health problem Signup and view all the answers

Which geographic region of the United States has the highest obesity rates?

Mid-South Signup and view all the answers

The impact on an individual's social identity when they are devalued due to an identifiable characteristic is termed:

Stigma Signup and view all the answers

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers and schools to provide:

"Reasonable accommodations" Signup and view all the answers

Medicare provides all of the following, except:

Dental care Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following countries spends the highest proportion of their gross national product on health care?

United States Signup and view all the answers

The health care crisis in the United States is largely a question of:

Cost Signup and view all the answers

The Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2010 does all of the following, except:

Provide free health coverage for all children under the age of 18 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be considered a latent function of education?

Social control Signup and view all the answers

In the U.S., one's SAT score may be used as a "proxy" measure of one's social class. What does this mean?

Family income is strongly correlated with scores on the SAT exam Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a consistent outcome of SAT scores?

Historically, racial minorities have scored higher than Whites Signup and view all the answers

What do England's Eleven Plus test, the German test called Abitur, and the U.S. SAT standardized test have in common?

The results of all three exams have a similar impact on directing the futures of the young people who take them Signup and view all the answers

Standardized ability tests are intended to measure:

Potential Signup and view all the answers

When the SAT was first introduced in the late 1940s, it was supposed to be an objective predictor of academic ability. How well does the SAT predict future achievement?

Results of the SAT are a better reflection of class and social environment than academic ability Signup and view all the answers

When a student takes a standardized ability test, administrators learn:

About their aptitude ability Signup and view all the answers

The research that The Bell Curve by Herrnstein and Murray was based on is considered flawed by many because:

Twins raised in similar social environments were more similar than those raised in very different social environments Signup and view all the answers

When germ theory first became established as the foundation of medicine:

The practice of medicine was transformed into a science Signup and view all the answers

John has diabetes. The cost of treating it is:

More expensive than preventing it Signup and view all the answers

Breast cancer is most likely to afflict:

White women Signup and view all the answers

If the Joneses need palliative care such as hospice, the current health care system:

Does not cover it because of an emphasis on treatment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about the Affordable Care Act?

It extends coverage to the uninsured Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is not a problem within the U.S. health care system, as discussed by the text?

Inadequate health care for the elderly Signup and view all the answers

Increasing diversity in society creates new challenges for the health care system. The text notes that immigrants to the U.S. are generally treated better than native-born Americans.

False Signup and view all the answers

Research on the relationship of social class to health care finds that:

People with lower incomes do not generally rate their health as excellent Signup and view all the answers

Comparing the health status of high-income people and lower-income people is used by the text to demonstrate that:

Social circumstances have an effect on health Signup and view all the answers

The U.S. currently spends about what percentage of its gross domestic product on health care?

15 percent Signup and view all the answers

Education in the U.S. was made compulsory in:

1900 Signup and view all the answers

In the past, state laws in the South and West prohibited education for:

Minority children Signup and view all the answers

High school and college graduation rates are not the same for all racial-ethnic groups. In fact:

Hispanics have the lowest graduation rates compared with Whites and Blacks Signup and view all the answers

Jeff wants to home school his children. Statistically, he:

Is average in income and a minority Signup and view all the answers

The four types of education in the U.S. are parochial, public, private, and home schooling. How does home schooling compare with other forms of education?

Ninety-five percent of the elementary-aged children who were home schooled in 2000 were White Signup and view all the answers

A poor community in the U.S. wants to increase the life chances of its best students. It must contend most with school:

Funding Signup and view all the answers

Functionalist theory emphasizes that education unifies and stabilizes society.

Functionalist theory Signup and view all the answers

According to functionalists, schools provide along with learning skills:

Social control Signup and view all the answers

From a conflict perspective, unequal education is used to separate different groups and benefit those in the middle and upper classes.

Conflict Signup and view all the answers

The perspective that focuses on the process of how expectations are created as students and teachers interact is:

Symbolic interactionist Signup and view all the answers

Which theoretical perspective is the concept of the teacher expectancy effect associated with?

Symbolic interactionism Signup and view all the answers

A teacher believes that Latinos are poor at math. The interaction between a Latino student and the teacher has the effect of encouraging the Latino student to fail. This phenomenon is called:

The expectancy effect Signup and view all the answers

The teacher expectancy effect occurs independently of a student's actual ability. What explains this effect?

The concept of self-fulfilling prophecy Signup and view all the answers

When expectations are converted into reality or actual performance, this is called:

A self-fulfilling prophecy Signup and view all the answers

The process of labeling a student a 'good student,' the attention the teacher pays to that student, and the adjustment of a student's behavior to meet expectations is explained by theory:

Symbolic interactionist Signup and view all the answers

Level of formal education achieved is strongly correlated with:

Occupational prestige Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between formal education and occupational status?

The higher one's occupational status, the greater the likelihood that person has a great deal of formal education Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between income, gender, and education?

At every level of education the average income of men is higher than the average income of women Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Education in the U.S.

Types of education include charter schools, homeschooling, and private schooling, but not vocational education.
Schooling is defined as formal, institutionalized education.
Private schools, often religious or parochial, attend to students like Bob, who might be enrolled there.
Since 1940, White students have maintained the highest graduation rates among racial groups.
Education has become mandatory since 1900, which has reduced many inequalities in society.

Educational System and Achievement

The U.S. no longer leads in math and science achievement scores due to systemic inequality.
Functionalists view education as a means of socialization, occupational training, and social control, but not as a source of teacher expectancy.
Conflict theorists argue that education supports capitalist interests, reinforcing existing social inequalities.

Education is an important predictor of social mobility, although it benefits primarily the middle and upper classes.
Group differences in IQ and standardized test scores stem from factors like parental education, social class, and childhood socialization.

Standardized Testing Insights

Achievement tests aim to measure learned material.
The SAT and similar tests serve as proxies for social class, correlated with family income.
Historical discrepancies in SAT scores reveal racial inequalities, with minorities scoring lower than Whites.

Health Care in the U.S.

The U.S. spends approximately 15% of its GDP on healthcare, more than any other country.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act requires individuals to purchase health insurance but does not provide free coverage for all children.
Medicare covers medical insurance and hospital care, but not dental care.
Recent trends show obesity increasingly recognized as a public health issue, particularly in the Mid-South region.

Stigma and Disability

Stigma refers to the devaluation of an individual's identity due to identifiable characteristics.
The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

Teacher Expectations and Student Performance

Teacher expectancy can significantly impact student performance through self-fulfilling prophecies.
Interactionist theory explains how student behavior is shaped by teachers' expectations and labeling.
The "teacher expectancy effect" occurs independently of the student's actual ability.

Socioeconomic Factors in Education

There is a direct correlation between formal education, occupational prestige, and income, with higher educational attainment often leading to better job prospects.
Educational opportunities and outcomes vary significantly by race, with minorities historically facing greater challenges.

Societal Challenges in Education

Challenges arise from the current educational system, including unequal funding and responsiveness of teachers.
Diverse societal demographics increase complexity in addressing health care and educational needs, particularly for immigrant populations.

Summary of Key Theories

Functionalist theory highlights education's role in unifying society while conflict theory emphasizes its use in perpetuating existing class stratifications.
Stratification in education is matched with social class outcomes, implementing sorting mechanisms that evolve from existing societal structures.

General Observations

Compulsory education has both advanced opportunities and reinforced existing inequalities across demographic groups in the U.S.
Understanding the relationship between education, health, and socioeconomic status is crucial for developing equitable interventions and policies.### Standardized Testing
Standardized ability tests measure a person's potential rather than what they have learned over time.
Major criticism is their inability to equally predict future school performance, particularly favoring White males.
Predictive validity refers to how well standardized tests can forecast future college grades.
SAT and IQ tests were designed by middle-class White males and have not equalized educational opportunities for minorities and women.

Segregation in Education

College students today generally come from more segregated high schools compared to the 1980s.
Critics argue tracking leads to less learning for students in lower tracks due to diminished teacher attention.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress indicates achievement gaps between White students and students of color have widened since the implementation of No Child Left Behind.

SOCIETY & HEALTH CARE

Prevention and treatment are seen as positive functions of the health care system from a functionalist perspective.
From a conflict perspective, social inequality results in unequal access to medical care.
Structural inequality is viewed as a major contributor to problems within the health care system.

Historical Context of Medicine

The American Medical Association was established in 1847 and sought to marginalize alternative therapies.
Medicine evolved into a predominantly upper-class, white male profession.

Obesity and AIDS

Obesity was designated as a disease by Medicare in 2004.
Most women infected with AIDS acquire it through heterosexual contact.
Understanding social networks is crucial for reducing AIDS incidence, according to sociologists.

Health Care System and Inequality

Symbolic interactionists examine how healthcare providers' attitudes affect patient experiences, particularly for the poor.
Immunization distribution is unequal, with many urban and rural residents lacking access or understanding of its importance.
Access to healthcare is notably better in urban/suburban than rural areas, with minority groups experiencing greater disparities.

Disease Factors and Utilization of Services

Epidemiology studies all societal factors associated with disease.
Hispanics are identified as the group least likely to utilize available health services.

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Test your knowledge on key topics from Sociology Chapter 14 with these flashcards. This quiz covers various forms of education, graduation rates, and definitions related to schooling in the U.S. Ideal for students looking to reinforce their learning.