sociology MCQ questions answers – Change your future

211. He compared society to a living organism.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (B) HERBERT SPENCER.

Exam Relevance: Sociology exams, Social Theory exams, Undergraduate Sociology exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Herbert Spencer was a prominent sociologist who compared society to a living organism, emphasizing the interdependence of its parts.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse Herbert Spencer with other sociologists who contributed to social theory, such as Emile Durkheim or Auguste Comte.

Explanations: Herbert Spencer, a 19th-century sociologist, is known for his theory that society functions like a living organism. He argued that just as a living organism has interdependent parts that work together to maintain the whole, society also has interdependent parts (such as institutions and social structures) that work together to maintain social order and stability. This analogy was a key part of Spencer's social theory and is a defining feature of his work.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Emile Durkheim did not compare society to a living organism. He focused on social facts and the division of labor.
Option B: Herbert Spencer is correct as he compared society to a living organism, emphasizing the interdependence of its parts.
Option C: Auguste Comte is known for positivism and the law of three stages, not the living organism analogy.
Option D: Franz Boas is known for cultural relativism and the study of culture, not the living organism analogy.

Mnemonic: Society as a living organism: S = Spencer

212. Cultural relativity ideally implies.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (D) Tolerance and respect for the cultural values of others.

Exam Relevance: Anthropology exams, Sociology exams, Cultural Studies exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Cultural relativity is the idea that cultural values and practices should be understood and evaluated within their own cultural context rather than from an external perspective.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse cultural relativity with cultural relativism, which can lead to the belief that all cultural values are equally valid, without considering the context.

Explanations: Cultural relativity emphasizes understanding and respecting cultural differences rather than judging them based on one's own cultural standards. This means that while one may not agree with certain cultural practices, they should still be tolerant and respectful of them. The correct answer, D, aligns with this principle by promoting tolerance and respect for the cultural values of others.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This option suggests a narrow and intolerant view, which contradicts the principles of cultural relativity.
Option B: This option is nonsensical and does not relate to cultural relativity.
Option C: This option implies a lack of critical thinking and blind acceptance, which is not what cultural relativity advocates for.
Option D: This option correctly reflects the principle of cultural relativity by promoting tolerance and respect for cultural differences.

213. The phrase "survival of the fittest," or the belief that the best aspects of society would survive over time, was coined by

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (C) Herbert Spencer.

Exam Relevance: Sociology exams, History of Social Thought exams, Philosophy exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Herbert Spencer was a 19th-century philosopher and social theorist who popularized the phrase "survival of the fittest" in his work on social Darwinism.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse Herbert Spencer with other social theorists of the same era, such as Karl Marx or Emile Durkheim.

Explanations: Herbert Spencer coined the phrase "survival of the fittest" in his book "Principles of Biology" in 1864. He applied the concept of natural selection to social and economic contexts, suggesting that the most adaptable and efficient aspects of society would prevail over time. This idea was distinct from Charles Darwin's biological theory of evolution, but Spencer's work helped popularize the concept of natural selection in broader social contexts.

Option Analysis:

Option A: August Comte was a French philosopher who is considered the founder of sociology, but he did not coin the phrase "survival of the fittest."
Option B: Karl Marx was a political economist and philosopher who developed the theory of communism, not the phrase "survival of the fittest."
Option C: Herbert Spencer is the correct answer as he coined the phrase "survival of the fittest" in his work on social Darwinism.
Option D: Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist who focused on the study of social facts and the structure of society, but he did not coin the phrase "survival of the fittest."

Mnemonic: S-P-F: Spencer, Phrase, Fittest

214. What word means expected actions or behaviors of people in a cultural group? Unwritten Rules.....

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

Exam Relevance: AP Psychology, IB Psychology, Sociology Exams

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Norms are the expected actions or behaviors of people in a cultural group. They are unwritten rules that guide social behavior.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse norms with manners, which are more specific and often related to etiquette rather than broader cultural expectations.

Explanations: Norms are the unwritten rules that define how people should behave in a given cultural context. They are not explicitly stated but are understood and followed by members of the group. This makes them the correct answer as they encompass the expected behaviors within a cultural group.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Depend is not related to expected behaviors or cultural expectations.
Option B: Manners are specific rules of etiquette and do not encompass the broader cultural expectations that norms do.
Option C: Cooperation is a behavior that may be influenced by norms but is not the term for expected behaviors in a cultural group.
Option D: Norms are the correct term for expected actions or behaviors within a cultural group.

215. Which term describes the ability of one party to get other parties to do its will?

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

Exam Relevance: Sociology exams, Political Science exams, Psychology exams

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Power is the ability of one party to influence or control the actions of another party.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse power with other concepts like culture or dominance, which do not specifically refer to the ability to influence others.

Explanations: Power is defined as the ability of one party to get other parties to do its will. This aligns directly with the given definition, making it the correct answer.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Power is the ability to influence or control the actions of others.
Option B: Incorrect. Sociological Imagination refers to the ability to understand the relationship between individual experiences and larger social forces.
Option C: Incorrect. Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group of people.
Option D: Incorrect. Dominant refers to being the most powerful or influential, but does not specifically describe the ability to influence others.

216. Fill the missing word..... is dividing an entire year-group into different groups for all subjects based on ability.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (B) Streaming.

Exam Relevance: GCSE, A-Level, IB

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Streaming is the practice of dividing an entire year-group into different groups for all subjects based on ability.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse streaming with setting, where students are grouped by ability for specific subjects rather than all subjects.

Explanations: Streaming involves dividing an entire year-group into different groups for all subjects based on ability. This means that students are placed in the same group for all their subjects, and this group is determined by their overall ability level. This is different from setting, where students may be placed in different groups for different subjects based on their ability in those specific subjects.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Setting involves grouping students by ability for specific subjects, not all subjects.
Option B: Streaming involves dividing an entire year-group into different groups for all subjects based on ability.
Option C: Mixed ability classes involve grouping students of different abilities together in the same class.
Option D: Differentiation involves tailoring teaching methods to meet the needs of individual students within a class.

Mnemonic: S-T-R-E-A-M: Stream, Total Range, Every Ability, Mixed Year-Group.

217. The process of looking glass self consists of..... steps.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (B) Three.

Exam Relevance: Sociology exams, Psychology exams, Social Work exams

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The process of looking glass self involves three steps: imagining how we appear to others, imagining their judgment of that appearance, and developing self-feelings based on that imagined judgment.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse the steps of the looking glass self with other psychological processes or theories that involve self-perception.

Explanations: The looking glass self is a sociological concept developed by Charles Horton Cooley. It consists of three steps: 1. Imagining how we appear to others. 2. Imagining their judgment of that appearance. 3. Developing self-feelings based on that imagined judgment. These steps are essential to understanding how individuals form their self-concept based on the perceived reactions of others.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect, as the process involves more than two steps.
Option B: Correct, as the process involves three distinct steps.
Option C: Incorrect, as the process involves fewer than four steps.
Option D: Incorrect, as the process is well-defined and involves three steps.

218. The case of the former Soviet Union supports Kerr et al's (1960) claims that.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) Totalitarian regimes are incompatible with the requirements of advanced industrial technology.

Exam Relevance: Political Science, International Relations, Comparative Politics

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The case of the former Soviet Union supports the claim that totalitarian regimes struggle to maintain advanced industrial technology due to their rigid control and lack of flexibility.

Common Mistakes: Students may mistakenly believe that totalitarian regimes can efficiently manage advanced technology due to centralized control, overlooking the inefficiencies and lack of innovation that often result from such systems.

Explanations: Kerr et al. (1960) argued that advanced industrial technology requires a high degree of flexibility, innovation, and decentralized decision-making, which are at odds with the rigid control and centralized decision-making typical of totalitarian regimes. The Soviet Union's experience with industrial technology supports this claim, as it struggled with inefficiencies, lack of innovation, and technological stagnation due to its centralized and inflexible system.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This option correctly reflects the argument that totalitarian regimes are incompatible with the requirements of advanced industrial technology, as seen in the Soviet Union's experience.
Option B: This option is incorrect as it pertains to democratic governments, which is not the focus of the question.
Option C: This option is incorrect because advanced industrial technology does not strengthen the power of totalitarian regimes; rather, it often exposes their weaknesses.
Option D: This option is incorrect as it pertains to the dispersion of power, which is not characteristic of totalitarian regimes.

219. Key concepts: social facts, social structure, social solidarity, collective conscience, society is larger than the sum of its parts, social patterns external to individuals, stressed social basis for human behavior

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) Emile Durkheim.

Exam Relevance: AP Sociology, GRE Sociology, Sociology PhD Qualifying Exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Emile Durkheim is known for his foundational work in sociology, particularly his concepts of social facts, social structure, and social solidarity. He emphasized that society is larger than the sum of its parts and that social patterns are external to individuals, influencing their behavior.

Common Mistakes: Students may confuse Durkheim's ideas with those of other sociologists, such as Karl Marx, who focused more on economic structures and class conflict.

Explanations: Emile Durkheim introduced the concept of social facts, which are patterns of behavior that are external to individuals and exert a coercive influence on them. He also emphasized the importance of social solidarity and the collective conscience in maintaining social order. These ideas align with the key concepts mentioned in the question, making Durkheim the correct answer.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Emile Durkheim is correct as he is the sociologist who introduced the concepts of social facts, social structure, and social solidarity.
Option B: Karl Marx focused on economic structures and class conflict, which do not align with the concepts mentioned in the question.
Option C: Wright Mills is known for his work on the power elite and the sociological imagination, which are not directly related to the concepts in the question.
Option D: Robert Merton is known for his work on social functions and anomie, which do not directly align with the concepts of social facts and collective conscience.

220. Consider the following Statements: A person's role performance will always match societies expectations. Emile Durkheim stated that social solidarity is a result of a society's division of labor. Nearly all the human social behavior we consider natural and normal is learned Which of the following statement(s) is/are true?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (D) Only 2, 3.

Exam Relevance: Sociology exams, Social Psychology exams, Anthropology exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The correct answer is based on the understanding of sociological theories and concepts related to role performance, social solidarity, and social behavior.

Common Mistakes: Students may incorrectly assume that a person's role performance always matches societal expectations, which is not necessarily true.

Explanations: Emile Durkheim's theory of social solidarity posits that social cohesion arises from the division of labor, making statement 2 true. Statement 3 is also true as most human social behavior is learned through socialization. Statement 1 is false because a person's role performance does not always align with societal expectations due to individual differences and societal complexities.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because statement 1 is false.
Option B: Incorrect because statement 1 is false.
Option C: Incorrect because statement 1 is false.
Option D: Correct because statements 2 and 3 are true.

⬅ Previous SetSet 22Next Set ➡

3 thoughts on “sociology MCQ questions answers - Set 22”

Anonymous January 28, 2020

It is the best app in the world …..but sir hindi medium walo ke liye problem hai…..gyan ke mamle me ye ganga ki tarh hai
ghodwadikar anand April 19, 2020

send me sociology mcq pdf
SHANKARAPPA D A September 12, 2020

Please send sociology mcq e book,,,, thank you,,,

3 thoughts on “sociology MCQ questions answers - Set 22”

Leave a Reply