1. How does the sociological imagination help us understand social problems?

2. Select two of the sociological perspectives introduced in this chapter. Compare and contrast how each defines a social problem. What solutions does each perspective offer?

3. Identify the objective and subjective realities of the increasing cost of college.

4. Apply your sociological imagination to the problem of the increasing cost of college. Is this a personal problem only for students who can’t afford tuition? Or is the increasing cost of tuition a public issue?

5. Using the social constructionist perspective, analyze how the primary messages in the 2012 presidential campaign (and leading up to the 2016 campaign) were defined by the candidates, political leaders, the media, and public interest groups. In your opinion, what was defined as a social problem?

6. Explain how science and the scientific method help us understand social problems.  How is this different from a commonsense understanding of social problems?

7. Select two research methods and explain how each could be used to examine the impact of the rising cost of college on students, their families, and the institution of higher education.

8. What is the relationship among social advocacy, innovation, and policy?