Sociology Quiz - Major Sociologists

Karl Marx (1818–1883)

Sociologist who focused on inequality, class struggle, and power, arguing that economic conflict drives social change; associated with Conflict Theory.

Conflict Theory

A sociological framework centered on power dynamics and inequality, with modern applications in wage gaps, labor unions, and minimum wage debates.

Max Weber (1864–1920)

Sociologist who studied how culture, beliefs, and bureaucracy shape individual behavior and daily life; associated with Symbolic Interactionism.

Émile Durkheim (1858–1917)

Sociologist who emphasized social order and stability through shared values created by institutions like family and religion; associated with Functionalism.

Functionalism

A sociological perspective focused on how social institutions maintain stability, order, and shared traditions across society.

Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1901–1972)

Theorist who developed Systems Theory, proposing that parts of an interconnected system cannot be understood alone because changes in one part affect all others.

Systems Theory

A theoretical approach analyzing how interconnected components work together, such as family, peers, and school resources collectively shaping student success.