Chapter 2 : Terms, concepts and their use in sociology - Important Questions and Answers

List of Questions and Answers

1.Define Social Group.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: A social group thus refers to a collection of continuously interacting persons who share common interest, culture, values and norms within a given society.

2.Discuss the characteristics of social group.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: A social group can be said to have at least the following characteristics :
(i) persistent interaction to provide continuity;
(ii) a stable pattern of these interactions;
(iii) a sense of belonging to identify with other members, i.e. each individual is conscious of the group itself and its own set of rules, rituals and symbols;
(iv) shared interest;
(v) acceptance of common norms and values;
(vi) a definable structure.

3.Explain quasi group.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: A quasi group is an aggregate or combination, which lacks structure or organisation, and whose members may be unaware, or less aware, of the existence of groupings. Social classes, status groups, age and gender groups, crowds can be seen as examples of quasi groups.

4.Difference between Primary and Secondary group.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:

Primary Group Secondary Group
Primary group is used to refer to a small group of people connected by intimate and face-to-face association and co-operation. Secondary groups are relatively large in size, maintain formal and impersonal relationships.
The primary groups are person-oriented The secondary groups are goal oriented
Family, village and groups of friends are examples of primary groups. Schools, government offices, hospitals, students associations etc. are examples of secondary groups.

5.Explain the characteristics of the Primary Group.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:

  • Primary group is used to refer to a small group of people.
  • They maintain intimate and face-to-face association and co-operation.
  • The members of primary groups have a sense of belonging.
  • The primary groups are person-oriented.
  • Family, village and groups of friends are examples of primary groups.

6.Explain the characteristics of the Secondary group.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:

  • Secondary groups are relatively large in size.
  • They maintain formal and impersonal relationships.
  • Secondary groups are goal oriented.
  • Schools, government offices, hospitals, student's associations etc. are examples of secondary groups.

7.Explain the term community.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: The term "community" refers to human relationships that are highly personal, intimate and enduring, those where a person’s involvement is considerable if not total, as in the family, with real friends or a close-knit group.

8.Explain the term society or association
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: "Society" or "association" refers to in particular the apparently impersonal, superficial and transitory relationships of modern urban life.

9.Difference between Community and Society.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:

Community Society
Refers to human relationships that are highly personal, intimate and enduring, those where a person’s involvement is considerable if not total, as in the family, with real friends or a close-knit group. Refers to human relationships that impersonal, superficial and transitory relationships of modern urban life.
Community goes well with primary group Society goes well with secondary group

10.Difference between in-groups and out-groups.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:

In-groups Out-groups
A sense of belonging marks an ingroup. An out-group is one to which the members of an ingroup do not belong.
There is a feeling of us or we in in-group There is a feeling of they or them in out-group
Children belonging to a particular school may form an "in-group" as against those who do not belong to the school. Migrants are often considered as an out-group

11.Define Reference Groups.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: Any group of people there are always other groups whom they look up to and aspire to be like. The groups whose life styles are emulated are known as reference groups.

12.Explain what you understand by Peer groups.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: Peer group is a kind of primary group, usually formed between individuals who are either of similar age or who are in a common professional group.

13.What is peer pressure?
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: Peer pressure refers to the social pressure exerted by one's peers on what one ought to do or not.

14.Distinguish between social group and semi-group.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: Social group: A group of two or more people who interact and interact with each other, having some similarities with each other and having a sense of unity.
Semi group : An exhaustive set may contain one or more data such that it is not correct.

15.What is stratification?
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:
Stratification can simply be defined as structural inequalities between different groupings of people.

16.What do you understand by stratification on the basis of class?
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:

  • Stratification on the basis of class is not based on birth but work,ability.
  • Skill based on education , science etc.
  • The doors of the class are open to all.
  • A person can change his class and on making efforts , social
  • Can achieve a high position in stratification

17.Difference between status and role.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:

Status Role
Status refers to a social position in society or a group. Role is the dynamic or behavioral aspect of a status.
It is a position with defined rights, duties, responsibilities, and prerogatives. Roles are the actions and behaviors associated with a particular status.
Status can be either ascribed (involuntary and based on factors like age, caste, race, or kinship) or achieved (voluntarily obtained through personal ability, achievements, virtues, and choices). Status is occupied, while roles are played.

18.Difference between status and prestige.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:

Status Prestige
Status is a social position. Prestige is the kind of value attached to a status or office.
It is associated with rights and values. It is the measure of how highly a status is regarded or ranked in society.

19.Explain role stereotyping.
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans:
Role stereotyping is a process of reinforcing some specific role for some member of the society. For example men and women are often socialised in stereotypical roles, as breadwinner and homemaker respectively.

20. Human life is based on the __________.
a) Material benefits
b) Spiritual thoughts
c) Conflict among members
d) Interaction and communication among members
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: d) Interaction and communication among members

21. Social position in a society is known as __________.
a) Class
b) Caste
c) Role
d) Status
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: d) Status

22. Migrants are often considered as __________.
a) Out-Group
b) In-Group
c) Peer Group
d) Reference Group
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: a) Out-Group

23. Migrants are often considered as __________.
a) Out-Group
b) In-Group
c) Peer Group
d) Reference Group
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: a) Out-Group

24. The basis of a caste system is __________.
a) Ascribed status
b) Achieved status
c) Power
d) Wealth
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: a) Ascribed status

25. Social classes, status groups, age and gender groups, and crowds are the examples of __________.
a) Reference groups
b) Peer groups
c) In groups
d) Quasigroups
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: d) Quasigroups

26. The perspective which stresses that deviance promotes social unity and social change is __________.
a) Conflict
b) Functionalist
c) Interactionism
d) Post-modernist
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: b) Functionalist

27. Panchamas in the caste system were considered as __________.
a) Untouchables
b) Vaishyas
c) Shudras
d) Kshatriyas
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: a) Untouchables

28. The behaviours, obligations, and privileges attached to social status is known as __________.
a) Status set
b) Role set
c) Social role
d) Status symbol
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: c) Social role

29. A Peer group is a kind of __________.
a) Primary group
b) Secondary group
c) Association
d) aggregate
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: a) Primary group

30.Which one of the following refers to the place or time of one's birth?
a) Identity
b) Natal
c) Values
d) Aggregates
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: b) Natal

31. The system in which society was divided into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras was known as ___________.
a) Varna System
b) Class System
c) Status
d) Caste System
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: a) Varna System

32._____________ a mode of reward or punishment that reinforce socially expected forms of behaviour.
a) Identity
b) Conflict
c) Sanctions
d) Khasi
(Chapter 2: Terms, concepts and their use in sociology)

Ans: c) Sanctions

More Questions and Answers Coming Soon.