Week 13: Social Problems & the Future

Question 1

What is the key to being prepared for the future?

Answer 1

Making better, more accurate predictions

Question 2

What is Cyberspace?

Answer 2

The notional environment in which communication over computer networks occurs

Question 3

What are the two particular forms of diffusion?

Answer 3

• Rumours

- Contagion

Question 4

Who was the first systematic futurist?

Answer 4

Thomas Malthus

Question 5

What makes social problems so hard to fix?

Answer 5

They’re all interconnected, and many have a historical basis

Question 6

In 1888, what did David Goodman Croly predict would be different by the year 2000?

Answer 6

That women throughout the world will enjoy
increased opportunities and privileges.

Along with this new freedom will come social tolerance
of sexual conduct formerly condoned only in
men.

In addition, because of the availability of
jobs, more women will choose not to have children

Question 7

Digital Divide

Answer 7

The gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not

Question 8

What is Cyberterrorism?

Answer 8

The politically motivated use of computers and information technology to cause severe disruption or widespread fear in society

Question 9

What is Genetic Manipulation?

Answer 9

The direct manipulation of an organism’s genes using biotechnology

Question 10

What are some future problems that society’s family structures could face?

Answer 10

• Genetic Manipulation
• The balancing of male/female workers/equity could affect the amount fo children being born/ child care
• Aging population

Question 11

What are the main problems regarding internet communication?

Answer 11

• People are having less face-to-face interactions
• People can create multiple identities, sometimes to the plight of others
• Not everyone has equal access to it. There is inequality in availability of information
• Information is losing credibility

Question 12

In an information society, all social, economic,

and political life depends on the ________

Answer 12

Quality of the information available

Question 13

How do sociologists view “rumours”?

Answer 13

As improvised news

Question 14

What are some characteristics of Contagious behavior?

Answer 14

• Impulsive
• Possibly destructive
• Ambiguous (unpredictable)
• Group-driven

Question 15

What is the main example of Contagious behavior described in the Futures Studies article?

Answer 15

Khaki Fever emerging during WWI

Question 16

____ ______ arise when people come to believe
in the existence of a threat from new forms of
deviance.

Answer 16

Moral Panics

Question 17

Why is contagion especially important to sociologists?

Answer 17

Because it addresses the question of how individuals link
together and eventually form large groups capable
of collective action

Question 18

What are some things that Sociologists will be forced or expected to measure?

Answer 18

How long does it take for a fad or fashion to die out?

What is the half-life of a household?

What is the optimal length of time for a person to find a mate?

Question 19

What is CLA?

Answer 19

Casual Layered Analysis

It integrates empiricist, interpretive, critical and action learning modes of knowing

Question 20

An area of research concerned with forecasting possible scenarios in order to prepare and shape what will happen

Answer 20

Future Studies

Question 21

This view claims that futures studies looks into alternative futures and identifies the most probable social trends

Answer 21

Functionalist

Question 22

Argues that different forecasting and simulation methods produce different insights into the nature and probability of occurrence of certain events that may favour one population subgroup over another

Answer 22

Conflict Theory

Question 23

This view worries that gossip and rumour may spread misinformation and create moral panic or fear

Answer 23

Symbolic Interactionism

Question 24

Claims that the future is a social construct. Media portrayals of social problems and trends exert a large influence on people’s perspectives of society, may spark social movements, and contribute to policy-making

Answer 24

Social Constructionism

Question 25

List some pressing 21st century global challenges…

Answer 25

1. Sustainable development and climate change
2. Clean water
3. Population and resources
4. Democratization
5. The digital divide
6. Rich–poor gap/income inequality
7. Indigenous sovereignty and rights
8. Communicable diseases & pandemics
9. Peace and conflict
10. Gender, race & class inequalities
11. Transnational organized crime
12. Energy

Question 26

What is technology?

Answer 26

The manifestation of human knowledge and ingenuity applied to the solution of a problem or need; applied science

Question 27

What does C.U.D.O.S. stand for?

Answer 27

Communalism : Scientific results are free for anyone to use

Universalism: Scientific claims are based on universal criteria and not specific to the researchers themselves

Disinterest: Knowledge is pursued and presented without hopes of personal reward or advancement

Organized Skepticism: No critical evaluation/judgment will be made for or against without reason or proof

summed up; it describes Technology and the Institutionalization of Science.

Question 28

What is an information economy?

Answer 28

An economy in which information is treated like any other commodity and can be bought, sold, traded, etc.