Soc101 Short Question For Mid
Soc101 Short Question For Mid
Lesson No.2
Lesson No.3
Lesson No.4
1. What distinguishes scientific observation from ordinary observation?
Scientific observation is accurate, precise, systematic, and objective. It
ensures that observations are exact, detailed, organized, and free from
personal bias or influence.
2. What are the three goals of science?
The goals of science are to explain why something happens,
generalize findings beyond individual cases, and predict future
outcomes based on current knowledge.
3. Explain the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning in
scientific research.
Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to general
theories or conclusions, while deductive reasoning moves from
general theories to specific hypotheses for testing.
4. What are concepts in scientific theory?
Concepts are theoretical ideas expressed symbolically or in words that
represent specific phenomena or relationships in scientific research.
5. How does sociology use scientific methods to study social phenomena?
Sociology uses empirical observation, data analysis, and theory
building to understand and explain social phenomena. It aims to
develop testable explanations and relies on peer review and
replication to validate findings.
6. Define correlation and causation in sociological research.
Correlation refers to a relationship between variables where a change
in one is associated with a change in the other. Causation occurs when
a change in one variable directly causes a change in another variable.
7. Is sociology considered a science? Explain.
Sociology can be considered a science when it adheres to scientific
methods such as empirical observation, theory development, and
testable hypothesis formulation. It aims to understand and explain
social phenomena through systematic research and analysis.
Lesson No.5
1. Why do we need sociological research? Why can’t we rely solely on
common sense?
Sociological research moves beyond guesswork and common sense to
provide accurate, systematic, and evidence-based insights into social
phenomena. It helps us understand what is really happening by
conducting rigorous investigations and examining various aspects of
social life.
2. What are the eight basic steps of scientific research in sociology?
The eight basic steps include:
1. Selecting a topic
2. Defining the research problem
3. Reviewing the literature
4. Formulating a hypothesis
5. Choosing a research method
6. Collecting data
7. Analyzing the results
8. Disseminating the findings
3. Describe the process of selecting a research topic.
Sociologists choose research topics based on curiosity, funding
availability, or social problems in the news. They select topics that
interest them and align with their research goals.
4. What is the importance of reviewing the literature in sociological
research?
Reviewing the literature helps narrow down the research problem,
identify gaps in existing knowledge, and avoid duplicating previous
studies. It provides a foundation for formulating hypotheses and
research questions.
5. What is a hypothesis in sociological research?
A hypothesis is a statement predicting the relationship between
variables based on a theory. It specifies what the researcher expects to
find and requires operational definitions for precise measurement.
6. Explain the importance of selecting a representative sample in survey
research.
A representative sample ensures that research findings can be
generalized to the larger population. Random sampling gives every
individual an equal chance of inclusion, reducing bias and improving
the validity of results.
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using questionnaires in
sociological research?
Questionnaires allow data collection from a large number of
respondents at a lower cost but can lead to biased responses due to
lack of researcher control. Interviews provide more detailed data but
are time-consuming and subject to interviewer bias.
8. Describe the purpose of case studies in sociological research.
Case studies focus on understanding specific events, situations, or
individuals in depth to gain insights into complex social dynamics.
However, generalizability of findings from case studies can be
limited.
9. What are the ethical considerations in sociological research?
Ethical guidelines require honesty, openness, and protection of
research subjects from harm. Researchers must maintain
confidentiality and avoid misrepresentation or plagiarism.
Lesson No.6
1. What is social interaction?
Social interaction refers to the process by which people act and react
in relation to others, encompassing various behaviors and
engagements when individuals come together.
2. What is the focus of micro sociology?
Micro sociology focuses on analyzing social interaction, including
men's codes for getting along, survival strategies, resource division,
relationships with others, and everyday activities.
3. How do sociologists using a micro sociology approach analyze social
interaction?
They analyze how individuals interact, divide resources, maintain
relationships, and navigate societal norms and expectations in various
contexts.
4. What is non-verbal communication?
Non-verbal communication involves conveying meaning and
emotions through gestures, facial expressions, and body language.
5. How can non-verbal communication impact social interaction?
Non-verbal communication can significantly influence social
interaction and relationships, often varying across cultures and
sometimes leading to misunderstandings.
6. What is an example of non-verbal communication in Pakistani culture?
Studying the use of non-verbal cues like gestures and facial
expressions in Pakistani society and their role in social interactions.
7. What are exchange and cooperation in social interaction?
Exchange involves voluntary or coerced interactions to maximize
rewards and minimize costs, guided by the norm of reciprocity.
Cooperation is working together to achieve shared goals.
8. How do social exchange theorists view interactions with others?
They view interactions as driven by seeking the best cost-benefit
ratios, where relationships are maintained based on mutual benefits.
9. What is role conflict?
Role conflict occurs when individuals experience conflict among the
roles connected to different statuses they hold.
10.How does assimilation differ from accommodation?
Assimilation is when minority groups conform to dominant cultural
patterns, whereas accommodation is the adjustment to coexist with
cultural differences.
Lesson No.7
1. What defines a social group according to sociology?
A social group consists of two or more people who identify with and
interact with one another, sharing common experiences, loyalties, and
interests. They think of themselves as a special "we" while
maintaining their individuality.
2. What distinguishes a group from a category?
A group involves individuals who interact and identify with each
other, forming shared experiences and relationships. In contrast, a
category consists of people who share a common status (e.g., women,
homeowners) but are mostly strangers to one another.
3. Describe primary and secondary groups in sociology.
Primary groups are characterized by close, enduring relationships
where individuals interact informally. Relationships in primary groups
are valued for themselves and have deep emotional significance.
Examples include families and close friends.
Secondary groups involve formal, impersonal interactions aimed at
achieving specific objectives. Relationships are instrumental, limited,
and often brief. Examples include classmates during a semester or
colleagues at work.
4. What are examples of primary groups?
Examples of primary groups include families, close friends, and peer
groups where members interact regularly and have enduring
relationships.
5. Provide examples of secondary groups.
Examples of secondary groups include classmates, colleagues, or
participants in organized activities like clubs or associations, where
interactions are formal and focused on specific objectives.
6. How do primary groups contribute to emotional well-being according to
Charles Horton Cooley?
Primary groups fulfill the basic human need for face-to-face
interaction, providing a sense of belonging, appreciation, and
emotional support. Cooley emphasized that primary groups shape
individuals' social nature and ideas.
7. Explain the difference between in-groups and out-groups.
An in-group is a social group toward which a person feels respect and
loyalty. Conversely, an out-group is a group toward which a person
feels a sense of competition or opposition. In-groups often hold overly
positive views of themselves and negative views of out-groups, which
can lead to conflict and boundary reinforcement.
Lesson No.8
1. Why were formal organizations rare in traditional societies?
Formal organizations were rare in traditional societies because life
was organized around personal relationships rather than explicit
objectives or structures.
2. What were the three exceptions to formal organizations in traditional
societies?
The three exceptions were guilds in twelfth-century Europe, the army,
and the Roman Catholic Church, each with hierarchical structures and
specific objectives.
3. What are some key characteristics of bureaucracies according to Weber?
Weber identified clear levels with downward assignments and upward
accountability, division of labor, emphasis on written rules and
communications, and impersonality and replaceability of individuals.
4. What are some dysfunctions associated with bureaucracies?
Dysfunctions include inefficient decision-making, red tape and delays,
lack of responsiveness, bureaucratic alienation, incompetence, and
lack of communication between units.
5. What did sociologists like Warren Bennis predict about the future of large
bureaucratic organizations?
They predicted that future technological changes would lead to
smaller, more flexible organizations replacing giant bureaucratic
structures.
Lesson No.9
Question: What is culture?
Answer: Culture refers to the learned set of beliefs, values, norms, and material
goods shared by group members. It encompasses everything individuals learn in
groups from infancy to old age, shaping their understanding of reality, behavior,
and social interactions.
Question: What is the difference between material culture and nonmaterial
culture?
Answer: Material culture includes tangible artifacts like technology, art, and
architecture, whereas nonmaterial culture encompasses mental blueprints such as
beliefs, values, norms, and attitudes that guide group behavior.
Question: What is the distinction between high culture and popular culture?
Answer: High culture refers to cultural patterns distinguishing a society's elite,
while popular culture denotes widespread cultural patterns among a society's
general population. Sociologists caution against judgments of superiority based on
these distinctions.
Question: How do symbols contribute to culture?
Answer: Symbols are anything carrying a particular meaning recognized by
people sharing a culture. They are essential for communication and cultural
transmission, allowing societies to convey complex meanings and values.
Question: What is the role of language in culture?
Answer: Language is a system of symbols enabling communication and cultural
transmission. It represents accumulated wisdom across generations and shapes
societal norms, beliefs, and values.
Question: What are values in the context of culture?
Answer: Values are culturally defined standards guiding people's choices about
what is desirable, good, and beautiful. They vary across cultures and influence
societal priorities and behaviors.
Lesson No.10
Question: What is cultural shock?
Answer: Cultural shock is a process of psychological disorientation experienced
when individuals encounter a culture that is different from their own, resulting in
feelings of confusion and disorientation.
Question: What is the difference between ideal culture and real culture?
Answer: Ideal culture refers to the values, norms, and goals that a group considers
worth aiming for, whereas real culture refers to the actual cultural norms, values,
and practices that are practiced within a society.
Question: How can understanding the distinction between ideal culture and real
culture help individuals navigate cultural differences?
Answer: Understanding the distinction between ideal culture and real culture can
help individuals recognize discrepancies between cultural expectations and actual
practices, leading to better adaptation and interaction in diverse cultural settings.
Lesson No.11
Question: What are cultural universals?
Answer: Cultural universals are values, norms, or other cultural traits that are
found in every culture around the world, although the specific customs may vary
from one group to another.
Lesson No.12
1. What is socialization, according to sociologists?
Socialization refers to the lifelong process through which people develop their human
potential and learn culture.
Unlike other species, human behavior is largely shaped by social experiences rather than
solely by biology.
Personality refers to a person's consistent patterns of acting, thinking, and feeling, which
are developed through internalizing social surroundings.
4. What are feral children, and what insights do they provide about socialization?
Feral children are those raised in isolation without human contact, demonstrating the
critical role of socialization in language, emotions, and social skills development.
Darwin's evolutionary theories led some to believe human behavior was solely instinctive
(nature), but this view was later challenged by behaviorism, emphasizing learned
behavior (nurture).
7. What is primary socialization, and how does it differ from secondary socialization?
Lesson No.13
1. What is socialization according to sociologists?
Sociologists use the term socialization to refer to the lifelong social experience by which
people develop their human potential and learn culture. It involves the process of learning
cultural norms, values, and beliefs necessary for survival and personality development.
Feral children, raised without human contact or socialization, demonstrate the importance
of social experience in language development, emotions, and social skills. They highlight
the impact of environmental factors on human development.
The conflict perspective sees socialization as a tool used by those in power to maintain
the status quo and reinforce social inequalities. It perpetuates existing social order by
transmitting values that justify power differentials and suppress dissent.
The looking-glass self is a concept by Charles Horton Cooley where our sense of self
develops from interactions with others. It involves imagining how we appear to others,
interpreting their reactions, and developing our self-concept based on these
interpretations.
George Herbert Mead proposed three stages of role taking in socialization: imitation
(under age 3), play (ages 3-6), and team games (school age). Role taking allows
individuals to understand and anticipate the behavior of others, shaping their sense of
self.
Sigmund Freud's theory of personality includes three components: the id (inborn drives
for self-gratification), the ego (balancing force between id and social constraints), and the
superego (internalized cultural norms and values).
9. How do Lawrence Kohlberg and Carol Gilligan differ in their views on morality?
10. What does Paul Ekman's research on emotions reveal about socialization?
Paul Ekman's research shows that while basic emotions are universal and biologically
wired, expressions of emotions are also culturally influenced and shaped by social norms,
including gender and cultural expectations.
Lesson No.14
What are agents of socialization?
Agents of socialization are individuals and groups that influence our self-concept,
emotions, attitudes, and behavior.
How does social class impact parenting styles according to sociologist Melvin
Kohn?
Social class influences parenting styles, with working-class parents often
emphasizing obedience and discipline through physical punishment, while middle-
class parents focus on curiosity, self-expression, and reasoning with their children.
Lesson No.15
What is the life course according to sociology?
The life course refers to the stages individuals go through from birth to death,
which shape behavior, orientations, and experiences influenced by social factors
like social class, race-ethnicity, and gender.
Lesson No.16
How is normal behavior defined and what influences this definition?
Normal behavior is culturally defined and varies across societies and time periods.
Factors like religion, tradition, and social norms influence moral judgments that
distinguish between normal and deviant behavior.
In what ways does sociologist Howard S. Becker describe deviance?
According to Howard S. Becker, it's not the act itself but reactions to the act that
make something deviant. This highlights the role of societal response in defining
deviance.
Lesson no.17
What does the conflict perspective argue about the criminal justice system?
The conflict perspective views the criminal justice system as a tool of oppression
used by the powerful elite to maintain their privilege and control. It suggests that
the law operates to protect the interests of the capitalist class and suppresses
dissent from lower social classes.
What do biological theories of crime propose?
Biological theories suggest that criminal behavior is rooted in an individual's
physical or genetic makeup, proposing that some individuals are predisposed to
criminal behavior due to their biological traits.
According to psychological theories of crime, how does criminal behavior
develop?
Psychological theories propose that criminal behavior is the result of mental,
emotional, or personality disorders, with factors like poverty and social inequality
potentially increasing the risk of psychological disorders and criminal behavior.
Lesson No.18
The End