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Welcome to Introduction to Sociology 2e , an OpenStax resource created with several goals in mind: accessibility, affordability, customization, and student engagement—all while encouraging learners toward high levels of learning. Instructors and students alike will find that this textbook offers a strong foundation in sociology. It is available for free online and in low-cost print and e-book editions.
To broaden access and encourage community curation, Introduction to Sociology 2e is “open source” licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license. Everyone is invited to submit examples, emerging research, and other feedback to enhance and strengthen the material and keep it current and relevant for today’s students. You can make suggestions by contacting us at info@openstaxcollege.org.
This book is written for you and is based on the teaching and research experience of numerous sociologists. In today’s global socially networked world, the topic of sociology is more relevant than ever before. We hope that through this book, you will learn how simple, everyday human actions and interactions can change the world. In this book, you will find applications of sociology concepts that are relevant, current, and balanced.
This text is intended for a one-semester introductory course. Since current events influence our social perspectives and the field of sociology in general, OpenStax encourages instructors to keep this book fresh by sending in your up-to-date examples to info@openstaxcollege.org so that students and instructors around the country can relate and engage in fruitful discussions.
Introduction to Sociology 2e adheres to the scope and sequence of a typical introductory sociology course. In addition to comprehensive coverage of core concepts, foundational scholars, and emerging theories we have incorporated section reviews with engaging questions, discussions that help students apply the sociological imagination, and features that draw learners into the discipline in meaningful ways. Although this text can be modified and reorganized to suit your needs, the standard version is organized so that topics are introduced conceptually, with relevant, everyday experiences.
Part of the mission of the second edition update was to ensure the research, examples and concepts used in this textbook are current and relevant to today’s student. To this end, we have rewritten the introduction of each chapter to reflect the latest developments in sociology, history and global culture. In addition to new graphs and images, the reader of the second edition will find new feature boxes on a diverse array of topics, which has been one of the goals of the update—bringing the world into greater focus through case studies on global culture.
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Start Quiz | Download PDF | |
Start Quiz | Download PDF |
This course will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to spreadsheets. The course is designed for first-time users with very little or no exposure to the subject. For this course, you will use Microsoft Excel as the software. The course will explore the following fundamental topics: an introduction to spreadsheets, terminology in Excel, components of a spreadsheet, what a cell consists of, and the creation of a spreadsheet for practical use. You will examine sample files, videos, and books that will enable you to gain practical knowledge about spreadsheets that can be used in daily life, either at work, school, or home.
Question: How could a spreadsheet best help a store manager keep a balanced budget?
Choices:
The store manager could use a spreadsheet to track expenses and sales by using columns to compare the totals for these two categories.
A spreadsheet could enable the store manager to communicate with his superiors.
By using electronic tracking, a spreadsheet could allow the store manager to compare the store's performance with that of other competing stores.
A spreadsheet could enable the cashier to determine the number of customers the store receives.
Question: How could you best derive a total sum for all the values in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet column?
Choices:
It is not possible to perform this operation in a spreadsheet unless it has been formatted.
You could select the range, then cut and paste it into the calculation window.
You could select the empty cell below the last value in the column and then enter the following formula in the formula toolbar: =SUM(A1:A5), with A1:A5 being an example of the range of all the cells with values in the column.
You could use a calculator and enter the total of the column manually.
Question: Where can formulas be viewed in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet?
Choices:
Formulas are not viewable because this option would violate copyright laws.
Formulas always show up when you hover over the title of a heading.
A formula may be viewed by selecting a cell, then looking at the formula bar at the top of the spreadsheet; if a formula has been inserted, it will now appear in the formula bar.
Viewing formulas is not possible in Microsoft Excel.
Question: Name the four most common tools that are used when building a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for the purpose of organizing and interpreting data.
Choices:
Cells, a battery, an alternator, and rows
Rows, columns, brakes, and formulas
Cut, paste, copy, and margins
Columns, rows, cells, and formulas
Question: What is the difference between a column and a row in a spreadsheet?
Choices:
A column is vertical and a row is horizontal.
These terms are interchangeable; rows and columns are the same thing.
A row is vertical and a column is horizontal.
A row is a column unless a mathematical formula is entered into the spreadsheet.
Question: Name three types of formulas that can be used in Microsoft Excel.
Choices:
Totals, averages, and percentages
Averages, percentages, and recipes
Sums, averages, and decimals
Fractions, metrics, and averages
Question: Which of the following statements best represents how a baseball coach could use a spreadsheet to evaluate his or her players?
Choices:
The coach could use a spreadsheet to motivate the players to practice fair sportsmanship.
The coach could use a spreadsheet to develop the skills of the team.
The coach could use a spreadsheet to track the batting averages of the team.
There is no way in which a spreadsheet could be used to evaluate baseball players.
Question: How could a business best use a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to reflect and/or enhance its brand?
Choices:
A business could use a spreadsheet to set itself apart from other companies that do not use spreadsheets.
A business could use a spreadsheet to vault its image and reputation among peer companies.
Because spreadsheets are so expensive, a business could advertise its desire to use spreadsheets in order to attract wealthy donors to endorse the business.
A business could incorporate specific colors and designs into its spreadsheets in order to reflect and promote its brand.
Question: How would you calculate the number of rows and columns you would need in order to start building a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for a specific purpose?
Choices:
You wouldn't need to calculate this figure, because the parameter required for any spreadsheet is always 100 rows by 100 columns.
You would decide how many rows and columns you would need for a specific purpose, and then you would add one row and one column to this figure so that your rows and columns would have headings.
You would pick numbers at random, since the numbers of rows and columns in a spreadsheet doesn't really matter.
You would always start with 50 rows and 50 columns, since any other number won't allow for an input.