Introductory Sociology
Description of the Examination
The Introductory Sociology examination is designed to assess an individual's knowledge of the material typically presented in a one-semester introductory sociology course at most colleges and universities. The examination emphasizes basic facts and concepts as well as general theoretical approaches used by sociologists. Highly specialized knowledge of the subject and the methodology of the discipline is not required or measured by the test content.
The examination contains 100 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored. Any time candidates spend on tutorials and providing personal information is in addition to the actual testing time.
Knowledge and Skills Required
Questions on the test require candidates to demonstrate the following abilities; some questions may require more than one of these abilities.
- Identification of specific names, facts, and concepts from sociological literature
- Understanding of relationships between concepts, empirical generalizations, and theoretical propositions of sociology
- Understanding of the methods by which sociological relationships are established
- Application of concepts, propositions, and methods to hypothetical situations
- Interpretation of tables and charts
The subject matter of the Introductory Sociology examination is drawn from the following topics. The percentages next to the main topics indicate the approximate percentages of exam questions on those topics.
| 20% | Institutions Economic Educational Family Medical Political Religious |
| 15% | Social patterns Community Demography Human ecology Rural/urban patterns |
| 20% | Social processes Collective behavior and social movements Culture Deviance and social control Groups and organizations Social change Social interaction Socialization |
| 30% | Social stratification (process and structure) Aging Power and social inequality Professions and occupations Race and ethnic relations Sex and gender roles Social class Social mobility |
| 15% | The sociological perspective History of sociology Methods Sociological theory |
Study resources
Most textbooks used in college-level introductory sociology courses cover the topics in the outline given earlier, but the approaches to certain topics and the emphasis given to them may differ. To prepare for the Introductory Sociology exam, it is advisable to study one or more college textbooks, which can be found in most college bookstores. When selecting a textbook, check the table of contents against the "Knowledge and Skills Required" for this test.
As you read, take notes that address the following issues, which are fundamental to most questions that appear on the test:
- What is society? What is culture? What is common to all societies, and what is characteristic of American society?
- What are other basic concepts in sociology that help to describe human nature, human interaction, and the collective behavior of groups, organizations, institutions, and societies?
- What methods do sociologists use to study, describe, analyze, and observe human behavior?
