Basic Concepts and Institutions MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Basic Concepts and Institutions - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is - The integration of local and global influences in various aspects of life

Key Points

• Glocalization
  • It refers to the simultaneous occurrence of both globalization and localization processes.
  • Global ideas, products, or services are adapted to fit local cultures and contexts.
  • It emphasizes a mutual integration where local traditions influence global flows, and vice versa.
  • Examples include:
    • Fast food chains like McDonald’s offering region-specific menus (e.g., McAloo Tikki in India).
    • Global fashion brands incorporating local motifs or fabrics.

Additional Information

• Globalization
  • Describes the growing interconnectedness of countries through trade, communication, culture, and technology.
  • Often results in the spread of global norms and practices across societies.
• Localization
  • Refers to the preservation and adaptation of local traditions, values, and identities.
  • Helps maintain cultural specificity despite global influences.
• Hybrid Culture
  • Arises when global and local cultures mix, resulting in new cultural forms.
  • This is a direct result of glocalization and is evident in music, cuisine, fashion, and media.

The correct answer is - Option 1: (A) - (iv), (B) - (i), (C) - (ii), (D) - (iii)

Key Points

• Caste, Class and Power by Andre Beteille
  • Focuses on the interrelationships between caste, class, and power in Indian society.
  • Explores how these elements interplay in rural and urban settings.
• The Agrarian Prospect in India by Daniel Thorner
  • Analyzes agrarian issues and challenges in post-independence India.
  • Provides insights into agricultural policies and rural development.
• Peasant Movements in India by D.N. Dhanagare
  • Examines various peasant movements in India from colonial times to modern history.
  • Highlights the role of socio-economic factors in shaping these movements.
• Caste and Economic Frontier by F.G. Bailey
  • Studies the economic dimensions of caste systems in rural India.
  • Explores how caste influences economic opportunities and social mobility.

Additional Information

• Andre Beteille
  • Renowned sociologist known for his work on caste, class, and social structure.
  • His book Caste, Class and Power is a seminal study in Indian sociology.
• Daniel Thorner
  • Prominent historian and economist focused on Indian agrarian studies.
  • His works emphasize the transformation of rural society during colonial and post-colonial periods.
• D.N. Dhanagare
  • Known for his contributions to the study of peasant movements in India.
  • His book Peasant Movements in India is widely referenced in sociology and history.
• F.G. Bailey
  • Anthropologist recognized for his research on caste and economy in India.
  • His book Caste and Economic Frontier provides a detailed analysis of the economic implications of caste systems.

The correct answer is - Ideational, Idealist and Sensate

Key Points

• P.A. Sorokin's cyclical theory
  • Analyzes the progression of social and cultural systems over time.
  • Identifies three broad types of cultures that cyclically succeed one another: Ideational, Idealist, and Sensate.
  • This framework is based on the dominant worldview or cultural orientation in a society.
• Explanation of the cultural types
  • Ideational: Focuses on spiritual and religious values. It emphasizes the pursuit of truth through faith, intuition, and divine revelation.
  • Idealist: Represents a balanced fusion of spiritual (Ideational) and material (Sensate) values. It seeks harmony between the two perspectives.
  • Sensate: Centers on materialism, sensory experience, and empirical knowledge. It prioritizes tangible, physical pleasures and achievements.
• Relevance to social change
  • Sorokin's theory suggests that societies move through cycles of cultural dominance, with shifts driven by changes in values, beliefs, and societal priorities.
  • Understanding these cycles helps explain historical trends and the evolution of civilizations.

Additional Information

• Key concepts related to Sorokin's cyclical theory
  • Cultural dynamics: Sorokin emphasizes that cultures are not static; they evolve and transition over time.
  • Social equilibrium: Idealist cultures represent a state of equilibrium, balancing spiritual and material values.
  • Historical examples:
    • Ideational culture: Medieval Europe, characterized by strong religious faith and spiritual focus.
    • Idealist culture: The Renaissance period, blending humanism with religious ideals.
    • Sensate culture: Modern industrial societies, emphasizing materialism and scientific advancements.
• Criticism of Sorokin's theory
  • The cyclical model has been critiqued for oversimplifying cultural progression and ignoring the complexity of societal changes.
  • It may not account for external factors such as economic forces, political upheavals, or technological innovations.

The correct answer is - Norms

Key Points

• Norms
  • Norms are socially accepted rules or standards of behavior that guide individuals in a society.
  • They provide a framework for what is considered appropriate or inappropriate behavior, ensuring predictability in social interactions.
  • Without norms, individuals would act solely based on personal desires or impulses, leading to unpredictable behavior and social chaos.
  • Norms are essential for maintaining social order and cohesion, as they align individual behaviors with the expectations of the group or society.

Additional Information

• Types of Norms
  • Folkways: Informal norms or customs that govern everyday behavior (e.g., table manners, greetings).
  • Mores: Stronger norms that have moral significance and are often upheld by laws (e.g., prohibition of theft or violence).
  • Taboos: Behaviors that are strongly prohibited by a culture or society (e.g., incest, cannibalism).
  • Laws: Formal norms enforced by legal institutions and authorities.
• Role of Norms in Society
  • Norms help in building social expectations and reducing uncertainty in interactions.
  • They contribute to the development of a shared understanding of acceptable behavior.
  • Deviance from norms can lead to social sanctions, such as criticism, ostracism, or legal punishment.
• Norms vs. Values
  • Norms are specific rules or guidelines for behavior, while values are broader ideals or principles that a society holds dear (e.g., honesty, justice).
  • Norms are derived from values and are the practical manifestations of those values in daily life.

The correct answer is - Realism

Key Points

• Norms in Realism
  • In Realism, norms are considered tools used by states to achieve their interests in an anarchic international system.
  • Realism emphasizes power, national interest, and survival as the central themes in international relations.
  • Norms are often seen as secondary to the pursuit of material interests, such as economic strength or military power.
  • Realists argue that states follow norms only when it aligns with their strategic goals.
• Contrast with Idealism
  • Unlike Realism, Idealism views norms as guiding principles that contribute to the global good and ethical conduct.
  • Idealists emphasize cooperation, shared values, and the role of international organizations in enforcing norms.

Additional Information

• Key Features of Realism
  • State-centric approach: Realism views states as the primary actors in the international system.
  • Anarchy: The international system is anarchic, meaning there is no overarching authority above states.
  • Self-help: States prioritize their own survival and rely on self-help mechanisms to ensure security.
  • Balance of power: States seek to maintain a balance of power to prevent dominance by any single state.
• Realism vs. Liberalism
  • Liberalism: Focuses on interdependence, cooperation, and the role of international institutions in fostering peace.
  • Realism: Emphasizes conflict, competition, and the pursuit of national interests in an anarchic system.
• Role of Norms in Other Theories
  • Constructivism: Norms play a central role in shaping state identities and interests.
  • Liberalism: Norms are seen as essential for building trust and cooperation in international relations.

Coulomb/volt ampere can not be the unit of Inductance.

Inductor: It is a passive electric component that stores energy in the form of magnetic field lines. It is a simple loop of wire.

• The inductance of the inductor could be measured by equation L = Φ / I where ϕ is magnetic flux and I is a current flowing through it.
• Energy stored in Inductor U = ½ (LI2)
• SI unit of inductance is Henry.

• We can write henry as,

  \(L = \frac{V}{{\frac{{di}}{{dt}}}} = \frac{{volt}}{{\frac{{ampere}}{{sec}}}}\)

  \(Henry = \frac{{volt.sec}}{{ampere}} = \frac{{weber}}{{ampere}}\)

• Hence another unit of inductance is Volt-second/Ampere

Capacitor: It is a device consisting of two conducting "plates" separated by an insulating material (dielectric). It stores energy in the form of an electric field with the help of an electric charge.

• The capacitance of a capacitor is measured by equation C = q /Δ v where q is charge and ∆ V is potential difference.
• SI Unit of capacitance is Farad.
• Energy stored in Capacitor U = ½ (CV2)

Resistance: It is a measure of how the device reduces the flow of electric current, basically it opposes the flow of charges.

• Further it states the ratio of applied voltage to electric current flows through it.
• R = V/I [R is resistance, V is the potential difference and I is electric current].
• Also, R = ρ × (L/A) [where ρ is specific resistance of the material, l is the length of conductor and A is the cross-sectional area of the conductor].
• The unit of resistance is volt/ampere or ohm (Ω).
• It does not store energy.

Social stratification means the differentiation of a given population into hierarchically superposed classes. It is manifested in the existence of upper and lower social layers.

Important Points

• Its basis and very essence consist in an unequal distribution of rights and privileges, duties and responsibilities, social values and privations, social power and influences among the members of a society."
• In most societies, stratification is an economic system, based on wealth, the net value of money and assets a person has, and income, a person’s wages or investment dividends
• Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into groups based on socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social status, or derived power (social and political).
• social stratification is the allocation of individuals and groups according to various social hierarchies of differing power, status, or prestige.

From the above information, we can conclude that stratification in society is based on Power, Property and Prestige.

Heredity: Heredity provides a basis or potential for the development of the transmission genes from one generation to another of genetic factors that determine individual characteristics

• A social structure is a patterned set of rules that has continued to exist over a period of time. The function of education is to maintain and renew the social structure from time to time.
• Heredity is what we inherit from our parents. It is a static social structure because once we inherit certain genes they cannot be modified or changed.
• Many aspects of human characteristics such as height and eye color are determined by genetics.
• Heredity also affects learners' character, mental abilities, and intelligence.

Hence, we can conclude that Heredity is considered a social structure Static.

The correct answer is a ladder like formation in which all caste groups are placed form the 'highest' to the 'lowest' castes.

Key Points

• Caste hierarchy means a class structure that is determined by birth.
• Under this caste hieracrchy some castes are placed at the top and some are at the bottom.
• In Hinduism, Brahmins are placed at the top and shudras at the bottom.
• Caste is a form of social stratification characeterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, religious status in hierarchy.

 Thus, we can say that caste hierarchy means a ladder like formation in which all caste groups are placed form the 'highest' to the 'lowest' castes.

Sanskritization is a concept where MN Srinivas has explained caste mobility as a process of Social and Cultural change. Important Points 

• M.N. Srinivas explained the concept of Sanskritization in his book “Religion and society among the coorgs of South India” to describe the cultural mobility in the traditional caste structure of Indian society. 
• In his study of the coorgs of Mysore, he came to know that the lower castes were trying to raise their status in their caste hierarchy by adopting some cultural ideals of the Brahmins.

Additional Information

• Modernization is a process of social change that is based on scientific approach and logic.
• Secularization is the transformation of people or a society from identification with traditional , formal, belief systems or religious values and institutions toward unacknowledged belief systems or seemingly non-religious values and secular based belief systems.
• Westernization is the adoption of the practices and culture of western Europe by societies and countries in other parts of the world, whether through compulsion or influence.

The correct answer is - Robert K. Merton.

Key PointsRobert K. Merton:

• Introduced the concept of "Role Set" to describe the variety of roles and relationships a single individual might have, such as being a parent, employee, friend, etc.
• Merton emphasized that individuals occupy not just a single role but multiple roles simultaneously, contributing to their "role set."
• The concept underscores the dynamic nature of social life, highlighting how individuals navigate and negotiate their multiple roles within various social contexts.

Additional Information

• Robert K. Merton was a seminal figure in sociology, known for his contributions to the understanding of social structure, theory, and the sociology of science.
• Here's a brief extension on his work and impact:
• Anomie Theory: Merton refined the concept of anomie to explain social deviance, proposing that societal pressure to achieve culturally approved goals can lead to deviance when individuals lack legitimate means.
• Middle-Range Theory: He advocated for theories neither too broad nor too narrow, focusing on specific social phenomena, which bridged empirical research and grand theorizing, enhancing the practical applicability of sociological knowledge.
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Merton introduced this concept, explaining how a false definition of the situation can lead to behaviors that make the originally false conception come true, significantly influencing the sociology of knowledge and education.
• Science Sociology: His work on the sociology of science, exploring the social processes in scientific research and the norms that govern scientific communities, has been foundational.
• Recognition and Awards: Merton's influential work earned him numerous awards, including the National Medal of Science in 1994, reflecting his profound impact on sociology and beyond.

The correct answer is Status set.​
Key Points

• A status set encompasses all the statuses a person holds at any given time. These statuses represent positions within society or a social group.

• Variety of Sources: Statuses can originate from various aspects of life, including one’s profession, family roles (parent, child, spouse), education level (student, graduate), and even hobbies (club member, athlete).

• Dynamic Nature: An individual's status set changes over time as they enter or exit different roles. For example, graduating from college, becoming a parent, or retiring from a job all alter one's status set.

• Influence on Identity and Interactions: The combination of statuses influences how individuals see themselves and how they are perceived by others. It also affects their interactions within different social circles.

Thus, Robert K. Merton has defined "the complex of different and distinct statuses occupied by a single individual" is called Status set.

The correct answer is - Changes in social norms due to various global factors. 

Important PointsSocial transformations:

• Social transformations encompass deep and broad changes in society that alter the way individuals, communities, and institutions interact with each other.
• These transformations are not driven by a single factor but rather are the result of a confluence of influences.
• This include technological advancements, globalization, economic development or crises, environmental changes, and shifts in cultural values.
• They can lead to changes in social norms, the emergence of new social movements, reconfigurations of social institutions, and alterations in the distribution of power and resources within and between societies.

The correct answer is - Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Important Points

• Social stratification refers to the way in which society is organized in layers or strata.
• These layers are ranked on the basis of various criteria which may include wealth, power, race, education, ethnicity, gender, and religion.
• Social differences play a significant role in the formation and perpetuation of social stratification.
• Attributes such as ethnicity, race, religion, or gender often become bases upon which individuals or groups are valued or devalued, leading to unequal access to resources and opportunities.
• Institutional practices like policies or laws that favor certain groups perpetuate social stratification.

Additional InformationSocial Stratification 

• Historical Patterns: Social stratification reflects unique economic, cultural, and political contexts across different times and places.
• Global Variability: The concept and practice of social stratification differ globally due to cultural beliefs, colonial histories, and economic structures.
• Social Mobility: The fluidity of a society's stratification system is indicated by the degree of social mobility, which varies widely across different societies.
• Reforms and Policies: Attempts to counteract social stratification include reforms and policies focused on ending discrimination, enhancing equality, and redistributing resources.
• Educational Impact: Education serves as both a potential pathway for upward mobility and a means through which social inequalities are perpetuated.

The correct answer is - The integration of local and global influences in various aspects of life

Key Points

• Glocalization
  • It refers to the simultaneous occurrence of both globalization and localization processes.
  • Global ideas, products, or services are adapted to fit local cultures and contexts.
  • It emphasizes a mutual integration where local traditions influence global flows, and vice versa.
  • Examples include:
    • Fast food chains like McDonald’s offering region-specific menus (e.g., McAloo Tikki in India).
    • Global fashion brands incorporating local motifs or fabrics.

Additional Information

• Globalization
  • Describes the growing interconnectedness of countries through trade, communication, culture, and technology.
  • Often results in the spread of global norms and practices across societies.
• Localization
  • Refers to the preservation and adaptation of local traditions, values, and identities.
  • Helps maintain cultural specificity despite global influences.
• Hybrid Culture
  • Arises when global and local cultures mix, resulting in new cultural forms.
  • This is a direct result of glocalization and is evident in music, cuisine, fashion, and media.