Part 2 — Answer key

Compare your answers after you have finished Part 1.

1. In social psychology, conformity refers to changing one's behavior or beliefs due to real or imagined pressure from a group.
   True
2. Which imaginary line circles the Earth at its widest point and divides it into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
   Equator
3. In a city, several families, schools, and religious groups work together to meet basic social needs such as education, safety, and belief systems. In sociology, these organized patterns are best described as which of the following?
   Social institutions
4. A government sets a legal maximum on the rent that landlords can charge in order to keep housing affordable in an expensive city. In economic terms, this rule is an example of which policy tool?
   Price ceiling
5. A country exports large quantities of raw minerals and timber, then imports finished manufactured products made from those materials. This pattern of production is primarily part of which economic sector?
   Tertiary sector
6. A social scientist wants to estimate how common daily smartphone use is among teenagers in one city. They randomly select 400 teens, send each a one-time questionnaire, and analyze the responses. Which research design best describes this study?
   Cross-sectional survey
7. In a market economy, the government directly sets the price of every good and service that consumers can buy.
   False
8. A civic education group is creating materials about democratic systems. Select all that apply. Which features are typically part of a democratic constitution?
   Independent judiciary; Regular competitive elections; Protection of civil liberties
9. A policy analyst is teaching students about how a public policy typically moves from an initial concern to later review. Arrange these stages of the policy process in the most common sequence from first to last.
   Correct order: Agenda building → Policy formulation → Policy implementation → Policy evaluation
10. In social science research, a representative sample is one that reflects key characteristics of the larger population being studied.
    True
11. After receiving a promotion at work, Dana says it happened because she is talented and hardworking. When she is later passed over for another promotion, she insists it is due to office politics and favoritism. Which social psychological bias is Dana demonstrating?
    Self-serving bias
12. A planner is comparing why some regions have many people per square kilometer while others remain sparsely settled. Select all that apply. Which factors commonly influence population density in a region?
    Availability of fresh water; Terrain; Climate
13. Maria is a college student who also works evening shifts and provides daily care for an elderly grandparent. She feels overwhelmed because the demands of being a student, employee, and caregiver keep conflicting with each other. Which sociological concept best captures her experience?
    Role conflict
14. A health psychologist designs a program to increase regular exercise by using operant conditioning. Select all that apply. Which strategies are clear examples of operant conditioning techniques in this program?
    Charging a small fee when participants skip a session; Removing a weekly chore for those who exercise consistently; Giving small rewards after each workout
15. A country is experiencing high unemployment and slow growth. Its leaders decide to use fiscal policy to increase aggregate demand. Select all that apply. Which government actions are examples of expansionary fiscal policy in this situation?
    Increasing cash welfare payments to low-income families; Launching new public works construction projects; Cutting income tax rates for most households
16. Country X directly elects a president, but that president shares executive authority with a prime minister who must maintain support from a majority in the legislature. Both can play important roles in policy-making. Which type of political system best describes Country X?
    Semi-presidential system
17. In a large city, public schools are funded mostly by local property taxes. Schools in wealthy neighborhoods have advanced facilities, while schools in poorer areas struggle with overcrowded classrooms and fewer resources. From a conflict theory perspective, what is the primary social effect of this funding arrangement?
    Providing equal opportunity through local control
18. A researcher studies whether a diversity training video reduces prejudice. Employees who are already interested in diversity sign up to watch the video, while others choose not to. Later, the researcher finds lower prejudice scores in the video group and claims the video caused the difference. What is the most serious threat to internal validity in this design?
    Selection bias