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CHAPTER 1 The Sociological Analysis of Sport in North American Society
Main Themes
1. Sport is a pervasive cultural practice in the United States and Canada and increasingly
a worldwide endeavor.
2. The discipline of sociology uses a specialized perspective, concepts, and procedures to
describe and explain the institution of sport in society.
3. Several social theoretical perspectives provide vantage points for understanding the
social world of sport.
4. Sociology of sport as an organized field of study is less than sixty years old.
5. Sport involves different types of social organization.
6. Sport’s social practices and values have similarities to the wider society and are often
said to be a microcosm of society.
7. Various levels of sport are identified and illustrations are given for each.
Lecture Topical Headings
A. An Overview of Sociology of Sport as a Field of Study
B. The Pervasiveness of Sport
C. The Discipline of Sociology
1. Assumptions of the sociological perspective
TESnature,
a. Individuals are, by their TBANsocial
KSELbeings
LER.COM
b. Individuals are, for the most part, socially determined
c. Individuals create, sustain, and change the social forms within which they
conduct their lives
2. Thinking as a sociologist: sociological imagination
3. Units of sociological analysis
a. The micro level
b. The macro level
D. Sociological Theories: Contrasting Ways to See and Understand Social Life
1. Functionalism
2. Conflict theory
3. Conflict/cultural theories
a. Hegemony theory
b. Feminist theory
c. Race theory
4. Interactionist theory
5. Sociological theories and sociology of sport: our position
E. Sport as a Microcosm of Society
1. Common characteristics of sport and society
a. The high degree of competitiveness
b. The emphasis on materialism
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c. The pervasiveness of racism
d. The pervasiveness of male dominance
e. The domination of individuals by bureaucracies
f. The unequal distribution of power in organizations
g. The use of conflict to change unequal power relationships
h. Sport is not a sanctuary; deviance is found throughout sport
F. Levels of Sport
1. Informal sport
2. Organized sport
3. Corporate sport
Test Items
True/False
1. A sociological assumption that individuals are shaped by their society implies a total
social determination. (False)
2. Although psychology and sociology are similar fields, there is very little difference in
the way they study and account for human behavior. (False)
TESTof
3. As a field of study, the sociology BAsport
NKStreats
ELLsport
ER.C OMphysical activities as cultural
and
practices. (True)
4. From a sociological perspective, behaviors are considered to emanate primarily from
internal individual motivations. (False)
5. Fundamental to the sociological perspective is the notion that structural forces beyond
the conscious control of an individual have profound effects on human behavior.
(True)
6. Sports teams are not particularly useful research settings for sociologists to test
theories about social organization because they are composed of exceptional rather
than average persons. (False)
7. From the view of the textbook authors, the observer of any social arrangement must
view the subject from a critical stance. (True)
8. The conflict social theory has political implications but the functionalist perspective
does not. (False)
9. Hegemony theory adds ideology and culture to the importance of the economy,
politics, and the cultural patterns of dominance in society. (True)
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10. According to the feminist social theory, organized sport has been a major contributor
to the perpetuation of male dominance. (True)
11. The presence of rudimentary organization distinguishes informal sport from corporate
sport. (True)
Multiple Choice (* indicates correct answer)
1. Which of the following statements is not true of sociology?
A. Sociology stresses those factors external to the individual.
B. Sociology is the only scientific discipline concerned with the description and
explanation of human behavior.*
C. Sociology describes and explains social organization.
D. Sociologists study social behavior of all kinds, from interpersonal social relations
to group formations to formal social organizations.
2. The sociological perspective can be uncomfortable because
A. it requires acceptance of "official" explanations of the way society is organized.
B. it liberates one from social constraints and thus undermines the comfort that
tradition provides.*
C. it makes possible the accurate prediction of human behavior that could be used in
undesirable ways.
D. All of the above
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3. Functionalist theory focuses on
A. the social bond that holds groups together.*
B. the social forces that pit group against group.
C. patterns of dominance and influence in society.
D. how people give meaning to their lives.
4. The four levels of sport described in the textbook
A. suggest that the levels can be placed on a continuum from play to work.*
B. classify pseudosports as a form of informal sport.
C. place Little League programs at the informal level of sport.
D. classify international sport as a separate level of sport.
5. Conflict theorists tend to argue that
A. sport is inspirational.
B. sport provides an excellent opportunity for minorities to move up the social class
ladder.
C. sport builds character in potentially deviant youth.
D. None of the above*
6. Which theoretical perspective places the greatest emphasis on human agency?
A. Functionalism
B. Conflict theory
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CHAPTER 1 The Sociological Analysis of Sport in North American Society
Main Themes
1. Sport is a pervasive cultural practice in the United States and Canada and increasingly
a worldwide endeavor.
2. The discipline of sociology uses a specialized perspective, concepts, and procedures to
describe and explain the institution of sport in society.
3. Several social theoretical perspectives provide vantage points for understanding the
social world of sport.
4. Sociology of sport as an organized field of study is less than sixty years old.
5. Sport involves different types of social organization.
6. Sport’s social practices and values have similarities to the wider society and are often
said to be a microcosm of society.
7. Various levels of sport are identified and illustrations are given for each.
Lecture Topical Headings
A. An Overview of Sociology of Sport as a Field of Study
B. The Pervasiveness of Sport
C. The Discipline of Sociology
1. Assumptions of the sociological perspective
TESnature,
a. Individuals are, by their TBANsocial
KSELbeings
LER.COM
b. Individuals are, for the most part, socially determined
c. Individuals create, sustain, and change the social forms within which they
conduct their lives
2. Thinking as a sociologist: sociological imagination
3. Units of sociological analysis
a. The micro level
b. The macro level
D. Sociological Theories: Contrasting Ways to See and Understand Social Life
1. Functionalism
2. Conflict theory
3. Conflict/cultural theories
a. Hegemony theory
b. Feminist theory
c. Race theory
4. Interactionist theory
5. Sociological theories and sociology of sport: our position
E. Sport as a Microcosm of Society
1. Common characteristics of sport and society
a. The high degree of competitiveness
b. The emphasis on materialism
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c. The pervasiveness of racism
d. The pervasiveness of male dominance
e. The domination of individuals by bureaucracies
f. The unequal distribution of power in organizations
g. The use of conflict to change unequal power relationships
h. Sport is not a sanctuary; deviance is found throughout sport
F. Levels of Sport
1. Informal sport
2. Organized sport
3. Corporate sport
Test Items
True/False
1. A sociological assumption that individuals are shaped by their society implies a total
social determination. (False)
2. Although psychology and sociology are similar fields, there is very little difference in
the way they study and account for human behavior. (False)
TESTof
3. As a field of study, the sociology BAsport
NKStreats
ELLsport
ER.C OMphysical activities as cultural
and
practices. (True)
4. From a sociological perspective, behaviors are considered to emanate primarily from
internal individual motivations. (False)
5. Fundamental to the sociological perspective is the notion that structural forces beyond
the conscious control of an individual have profound effects on human behavior.
(True)
6. Sports teams are not particularly useful research settings for sociologists to test
theories about social organization because they are composed of exceptional rather
than average persons. (False)
7. From the view of the textbook authors, the observer of any social arrangement must
view the subject from a critical stance. (True)
8. The conflict social theory has political implications but the functionalist perspective
does not. (False)
9. Hegemony theory adds ideology and culture to the importance of the economy,
politics, and the cultural patterns of dominance in society. (True)
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10. According to the feminist social theory, organized sport has been a major contributor
to the perpetuation of male dominance. (True)
11. The presence of rudimentary organization distinguishes informal sport from corporate
sport. (True)
Multiple Choice (* indicates correct answer)
1. Which of the following statements is not true of sociology?
A. Sociology stresses those factors external to the individual.
B. Sociology is the only scientific discipline concerned with the description and
explanation of human behavior.*
C. Sociology describes and explains social organization.
D. Sociologists study social behavior of all kinds, from interpersonal social relations
to group formations to formal social organizations.
2. The sociological perspective can be uncomfortable because
A. it requires acceptance of "official" explanations of the way society is organized.
B. it liberates one from social constraints and thus undermines the comfort that
tradition provides.*
C. it makes possible the accurate prediction of human behavior that could be used in
undesirable ways.
D. All of the above
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3. Functionalist theory focuses on
A. the social bond that holds groups together.*
B. the social forces that pit group against group.
C. patterns of dominance and influence in society.
D. how people give meaning to their lives.
4. The four levels of sport described in the textbook
A. suggest that the levels can be placed on a continuum from play to work.*
B. classify pseudosports as a form of informal sport.
C. place Little League programs at the informal level of sport.
D. classify international sport as a separate level of sport.
5. Conflict theorists tend to argue that
A. sport is inspirational.
B. sport provides an excellent opportunity for minorities to move up the social class
ladder.
C. sport builds character in potentially deviant youth.
D. None of the above*
6. Which theoretical perspective places the greatest emphasis on human agency?
A. Functionalism
B. Conflict theory
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