sociology MCQ questions answers

1191. Which of the following is not a factor affecting social mobility?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (C) Satisfaction.

Exam Relevance: Sociology exams, Political Science exams, Social Work exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Social mobility is influenced by factors such as industrialization, modernization, and legislation. Satisfaction, however, is a subjective state and does not directly affect social mobility.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse satisfaction with factors like education or economic status, which can indirectly influence social mobility.

Explanations: Industrialization and modernization are key drivers of social mobility as they create new opportunities and change societal structures. Legislation can also impact social mobility by creating policies that either facilitate or hinder movement between social classes. Satisfaction, on the other hand, is a personal feeling and does not directly influence the structural and economic factors that determine social mobility.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Industrialization is a significant factor affecting social mobility by creating new economic opportunities and altering social structures.
Option B: Modernization, like industrialization, can lead to changes in societal norms and economic conditions that affect social mobility.
Option C: Satisfaction is a personal state and does not directly influence the structural factors that determine social mobility.
Option D: Legislation can directly impact social mobility through policies that affect access to education, employment, and other resources.

1192. What is a Law?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (D) These are norms that are formally defined and enforced by officials.

Exam Relevance: Jurisprudence, Political Science, Sociology

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Laws are formal rules that are established and enforced by governmental or other official bodies.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse laws with social norms or customs, which are not formally defined or enforced by officials.

Explanations: Laws are distinct from other social norms because they are formally defined and have official mechanisms for enforcement. This means that laws are codified in legal documents and are backed by the authority of the state or other governing bodies. Violations of laws can result in legal penalties, such as fines or imprisonment. Therefore, the correct answer is that laws are norms that are formally defined and enforced by officials.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This describes social norms or customs, not laws.
Option B: This describes social conformity, which is not specific to laws.
Option C: This describes social norms or customs, which lack the formal definition and enforcement by officials that laws have.
Option D: This correctly defines laws as norms that are formally defined and enforced by officials.

1193. Society is seen as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability and social order, focusing on how large structures fit together.+Mostly macro-level paradigm

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) Structural Functionalism.

Exam Relevance: Sociology exams, Social Science exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Structural Functionalism is a sociological paradigm that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability and social order.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse Structural Functionalism with Conflict Theory, which focuses on the struggle between different social groups rather than the stability and order of society.

Explanations: Structural Functionalism emphasizes the interdependence of social institutions and how they contribute to the overall stability of society. It focuses on how large structures fit together to maintain social order, which aligns with the description provided in the question.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Structural Functionalism views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability and social order.
Option B: Incorrect. Conflict theory focuses on the struggle between different social groups and does not emphasize stability and order.
Option C: Incorrect. Symbolic interactionism focuses on the day-to-day interactions of individuals and does not address large-scale social structures.
Option D: Incorrect. Positivism is a research methodology and does not describe a sociological paradigm focused on social order.

Mnemonic: SFS: Society Functions Smoothly

1194. Slums in urban areas denote

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (B) Overpopulation and migration.

Exam Relevance: UPSC, GRE, GMAT

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Slums in urban areas are typically characterized by overpopulation and migration from rural areas to cities in search of better opportunities.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse slums with other urban issues like illiteracy or education, which are not the primary causes of slum formation.

Explanations: Slums often arise due to the influx of people from rural areas to urban centers, driven by the hope of better economic opportunities. This migration leads to overpopulation in urban areas, as the infrastructure and housing cannot keep up with the rapid increase in population. As a result, slums develop as a consequence of this overpopulation and migration.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Division of labour is not directly related to the formation of slums.
Option B: Overpopulation and migration are the primary factors leading to the development of slums in urban areas.
Option C: Education and development are not the main causes of slum formation.
Option D: Illiteracy is a consequence of slums, not the cause.

1195. Which of the following statements is the best definition of sociology?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (C) This deals with the scientific study of human interactions, social groups and institutions, and the whole societies.

Exam Relevance: AP Sociology, GRE, MCAT

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Sociology is the scientific study of human social behavior, including patterns of social relationships, social interactions, and the structures that organize society.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse sociology with anthropology, which focuses more on the study of human cultures and societies across time and space.

Explanations: Sociology focuses on the systematic study of human interactions, social groups, and institutions, as well as the broader societal structures. This definition aligns with the scientific approach to understanding social phenomena, making it the best definition among the options provided.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This option describes the study of ancient societies and cultural traditions, which is more aligned with archaeology or cultural history rather than sociology.
Option B: This option describes the etymology of the word "anthropology," not sociology. Anthropology is the study of human cultures and societies, which is different from sociology.
Option C: This option correctly defines sociology as the scientific study of human interactions, social groups, and institutions, and the whole societies.
Option D: This option describes the study of cultural traditions and their changes over time, which is more aligned with cultural anthropology or historical studies.

1196. Anything that has a shared meaning attached to it.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (D) Symbol.

Exam Relevance: Sociology exams, Anthropology exams, Communication studies exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: A symbol is anything that has a shared meaning attached to it. Symbols are used to convey information and ideas in a way that is understood by a group of people.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse symbols with functions, which are specific types of relationships between sets, or with verstehen, which refers to understanding the subjective meanings of social actions.

Explanations: A symbol is defined as anything that has a shared meaning attached to it. This shared meaning is understood by a group of people, making symbols a fundamental concept in communication and social interaction. Functions, verstehen, and perspective do not inherently carry this shared meaning attribute.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Functions are mathematical or logical relationships between sets, not inherently tied to shared meaning.
Option B: Verstehen is a concept in sociology that refers to understanding the subjective meanings of social actions, not a shared meaning attached to an object or idea.
Option C: Perspective refers to a particular attitude or way of regarding something, not a shared meaning attached to an object or idea.
Option D: Symbol is the correct answer as it refers to anything that has a shared meaning attached to it, which is understood by a group of people.

Mnemonic: S - Shared, Y - Your, M - Meaning, B - Belongs

1197. Coined the term "positivism"

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) Auguste Comte.

Exam Relevance: Sociology exams, Philosophy exams, Social Science exams

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Auguste Comte is credited with coining the term "positivism" in the context of his philosophical and sociological work.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse Auguste Comte with other sociologists or philosophers who contributed to positivism, such as Emile Durkheim or Karl Marx.

Explanations: Auguste Comte introduced the term "positivism" in the early 19th century as part of his philosophy of science. Positivism emphasizes the use of empirical evidence and scientific methods to understand the world. Comte's work laid the foundation for the development of sociology as a scientific discipline.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Auguste Comte is the originator of the term "positivism."
Option B: Incorrect. Karl Marx is known for his contributions to political and economic theory, not for coining the term "positivism."
Option C: Incorrect. Emile Durkheim contributed to the development of positivism but did not coin the term.
Option D: Incorrect. Harriet Martineau was a sociologist and translator but is not associated with coining the term "positivism."

1198. Which is NOT a criticism or danger of sociogiology?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (C) Could lead to a cure for cancer or Alzheimer's disease.

Exam Relevance: AP Biology, MCAT, GRE Psychology

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Sociobiology is a field that applies principles of evolutionary biology to social behavior. It can be criticized for potentially reducing human behavior to biological determinism, which may lead to harmful social policies or beliefs.

Common Mistakes: Students may mistakenly believe that sociobiology inherently leads to negative outcomes, overlooking the potential for positive scientific advancements.

Explanations: Sociobiology is a field that studies the biological basis of social behavior. While it can be criticized for potentially reducing human behavior to biological determinism, which may lead to harmful social policies or beliefs, it does not inherently lead to negative outcomes. The potential to cure diseases like cancer or Alzheimer's disease is not a criticism or danger of sociobiology, but rather a potential positive outcome of scientific research.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Little distinction between humans and animals is a valid criticism of sociobiology, as it can lead to the reduction of human behavior to purely biological factors.
Option B: Supporting the belief in superior/inferior races is a valid criticism of sociobiology, as it can be used to justify harmful social policies based on biological determinism.
Option C: Leading to a cure for cancer or Alzheimer's disease is not a criticism or danger of sociobiology, but rather a potential positive outcome of scientific research.
Option D: Leading to violence against minorities is a valid criticism of sociobiology, as it can be used to justify harmful social policies based on biological determinism.

1199. Personality traits determine

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (C) Both a and b.

Exam Relevance: PSYCH, GRE, MCAT

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Personality traits are enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that characterize an individual. They influence how a person interacts with others and their environment.

Common Mistakes: Students may mistakenly believe that personality traits only affect how an individual interacts with others, overlooking the broader impact on environmental adjustment and situational reactions.

Explanations: Personality traits determine each individual's unique way of interacting with others and their social environment (Option A). They also influence how individuals adjust to their environment and react in specific situations (Option B). Therefore, both statements are correct, making the answer (C) Both a and b.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This option is correct as personality traits shape how an individual interacts with others and their social environment.
Option B: This option is also correct as personality traits affect how individuals adjust to their environment and react in specific situations.
Option C: This option is correct as it encompasses both A and B, making it the most comprehensive answer.
Option D: This option is incorrect as both A and B are valid statements about personality traits.

1200. What word means to need someone; to rely on someone else?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) Depend.

Exam Relevance: SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The word "depend" means to need someone or rely on someone else for support or assistance.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse "depend" with other words like "norms" or "sociologists," which are unrelated to the concept of reliance or need.

Explanations: The word "depend" accurately captures the idea of needing someone or relying on someone else. It is the only option that fits the definition provided in the question.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. "Depend" means to rely on or need someone else.
Option B: Incorrect. "Norms" refers to standards or typical behaviors, not reliance.
Option C: Incorrect. "Sociologists" are social scientists who study society, not a word for reliance.
Option D: Incorrect. "Observation" means the act of watching or noting something, not reliance.

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3 thoughts on “sociology MCQ questions answers - Set 120”

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3 thoughts on “sociology MCQ questions answers - Set 120”

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