SOCIOLOGY 4035 STUDY QUESTIONS

Required Reading: Kerbo, Chs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (up to and including Davis and Moore's Theory).

The study questions reflect your readings and lectures.

1. Define social differentiation.
2. Define social inequality
3. Define social stratification
4. What is the connection between social differentiation and social inequality?
5. Define ascription.
6. Define achievement.
7. Define social class.
8. Define socio-economic status (SES)
9. Social class and socio-economic status (SES) are important determinants of people's life chances. Explain.
10. According to Kerbo, class divisions are based upon individuals' location in the occupational and authority structures, and in their ownership of capital or income producing property. Explain. How many social classes can be identified using such criteria? Give examples.
11. Stratification systems can be described on the basis of five basic characteristics: normatively closed vs. open divisions, the actual method of status or class placement, the major method of legitimation, the predominant form of social inequality, and the comparative level of inequality. On the basis of your knowledge of American society, class lectures and information provided in your text, describe the U.S. stratification system.
12. Compare and contrast the characteristics of income and wealth inequality in the U.S., and their effects upon the stratification system of the country.
13. Income and wealth inequalities affect people's access to basic necessities, health, and ability to influence the political system in their interest. Explain, giving examples.
14. There is a relationship between the amount of surplus a given system produces and the degree of inequality. Explain.
15. Modern industrial societies are characterized by a high degree of inequality though, if compared to preindustrial societies, they are less unequal. Why? Your text gives several reasons; discuss at least five of them, giving examples from current U.S. patterns.
16. What are the main critical and uncritical value assumptions in social stratification paradigms?
17. What are the main conflict and order model assumptions in social stratification paradigms?
18. Is Marx is usually considered a conflict theorist. Is that an accurate characterization? Why?
19. Discuss the Marxian view of social class; how does it differ from Weber's views? Are Marx's and Weber's views incompatible? Why?
20. Discuss the Weberian views of social class and status inequality. Are class and status related? How?
21. Define status inconsistency. Give examples from current U.S. patterns.
22. Discuss Davis and Moore's Functional Theory of Stratification. Present its major points and Tumin's major criticisms. What is the usefulness of this theory to understand current patterns of Stratification in the U.S. ? What are its limitations? Why?