Question 1

Parsons takes _____________as the building block of the social system
A)Integration
B)Action
C)Value-orientation
D)Latency

Accepted Answer

Parsons takes "Action" as the building block of the social system, emphasizing the role of individual actions influenced by the social system.

Question 2

The groups to which people compare their behaviour and try to act like them are known as
A)Membership group
B)Reference group
C)Mutual groups
D)Non-membership group

Accepted Answer

Reference groups are the groups to which people compare their behaviour and try to act like them.

Question 3

The concept of 'dysfunction' is a major contribution of
A)Durkheim
B)R.K Merton
C)Talcott Parsons
D)Max Weber

Accepted Answer

R.K. Merton introduced the concept of 'dysfunction' as part of his structural-functional approach, highlighting that not all social practices contribute positively to society.

Question 4

What are manifest functions?
A)Unrecognised and intended consequences of a social action
B)Recognised and unintended consequences of a social action
C)Unrecognised and Unintended consequences of a social action
D)Recognised and intended consequences of a social action

Accepted Answer

Manifest functions are the recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern, which contribute to its operation.

Question 5

Latent Functions are always
A)Unrecognised and intended consequences of a social action
B)Recognised and unintended consequences of a social action
C)Unrecognised and Unintended consequences of a social action
D)Recognised and intended consequences of a social action

Accepted Answer

Latent functions are those outcomes that are neither recognized nor intended by the participants in a social action. They are the unintended and unrecognized consequences that differ from manifest functions, which are intended and recognized.

Question 6

R.K. Merton is a
A)Structuralist
B)Structural- Functionalist
C)Conflict theorist
D)Interactionist

Accepted Answer

R.K. Merton is best known for his work in structural-functionalism, a framework that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Question 7

Samuel Stouffer's The American Soldier (1949) inspired Merton to propound his
A)Anomie
B)Functional Analysis
C)Middle-Range Theory
D)Reference Group

Accepted Answer

The answer of Samuel Stouffer's The American Soldier (1949) inspired...

Question 8

Social Theory and Social Structure written by R.K. Merton was published in
A)1946
B)1947
C)1948
D)1949

Accepted Answer

"Social Theory and Social Structure" by R.K. Merton was published in 1949.

Question 9

A rejection of both socially accepted goals and means and replaced by different means and goals is
A)Retreatism
B)Rebellion
C)Ritualism
D)Conformism

Accepted Answer

Rebellion involves rejecting both the socially accepted goals and means and replacing them with alternative goals and means, which distinguishes it from the other responses.

Question 10

R.K Merton's Reference Group has
A)Membership only
B)Non-membership only
C)Membership and non-membership
D)None of the above

Accepted Answer

R.K. Merton's concept of reference groups includes both groups to which an individual belongs (membership groups) and groups to which an individual aspires to belong or compares themselves with (non-membership groups).

Question 11

R.K Merton died in
A)2003
B)2013
C)2005
D)2015

Accepted Answer

R.K. Merton, a prominent sociologist, passed away in 2003.

Question 12

In the Mertonian frame work, what does conformity refer to?
A)Both goals and means are accepted
B)Goals are accepted and means are rejected
C)Both goals and means are rejected
D)Means are accepted and goals are rejected

Accepted Answer

Conformity in the Mertonian framework refers to the acceptance of both the culturally approved goals and the institutionalized means of achieving them. This is the most common adaptation in society, where individuals strive for success through socially accepted methods.

Question 13

In which book does Parsons outlined his AGIL paradigm?
A)The Social System
B)Essays in Sociological Theory
C)Towards a General Theory of Action
D)The Structure of Social Action

Accepted Answer

The AGIL paradigm was outlined by Talcott Parsons in his book "The Social System," where he introduced the framework for analyzing the functional prerequisites of a social system.

Question 14

Which among the followings is not a pattern variable according to Parsons?
A)Ascription and Achievement
B)Affectivity and Effectivity
C)Expressive and Instrumental
D)Diffuseness and Specificity

Accepted Answer

Parsons' pattern variables are a framework to understand the choices individuals make in social interactions. The options A, B, and D (Ascription vs. Achievement, Affectivity vs. Effectivity, and Diffuseness vs. Specificity) are part of Parsons' pattern variables. Option C (Expressive vs. Instrumental) is not a pattern variable according to Parsons; it's a distinction used in other sociological theories to differentiate between types of roles or actions, but not specifically categorized as a pattern variable by Talcott Parsons.

Question 15

With whose name can you associate 'cathectic action'?
A)Max Weber
B)R.K. Merton
C)Talcott Parsons
D)Emile Durkheim

Accepted Answer

Cathectic action is associated with Talcott Parsons, who was a sociologist known for his work on social systems and the theory of action.

Question 16

Which of the following is not the functional pre-requisites of Talcott Parsons' social system?
A)Adaptation
B)Goal Attainment
C)Integration
D)Particularism

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons' theory of social systems outlines four functional prerequisites: Adaptation, Goal Attainment, Integration, and Latency (pattern maintenance). Particularism is not one of these prerequisites; it refers to a principle of prioritizing specific contexts or individuals over universal standards, which is not part of Parsons' functional prerequisites for a social system.

Question 17

Talcott Parsons died on
A)8th May, 1979
B)9th May, 1979
C)8th May, 1980
D)9th May, 1980

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons, a prominent American sociologist, died on May 8, 1979.

Question 18

Talcott Parsons theory is known as
A)Grand theory
B)Conflict theory
C)Middle-Range theory
D)None of the above

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons' theory is known as Grand theory because it is a broad, abstract, overarching framework that attempts to explain large-scale social structures and processes.

Question 19

Anomie means
A)statelessness
B)dysfunction
C)normlessness
D)regulation

Accepted Answer

Anomie refers to a condition or state where norms (social standards and values) are confused, unclear, or not present, leading to a state of normlessness or lack of social or ethical standards in an individual or society.

Question 20

Merton speaks of anticipatory socialisation in the context of
A)membership reference group
B)non-membership reference group
C)relative deprived group
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

Anticipatory socialization refers to the process of adopting the behaviors or standards of a group one aspires to join, which is typically a non-membership reference group.

Quiz 6: Key Concepts in Sociological Theory

Parsons takes _____________as the building block of the social system

The groups to which people compare their behaviour and try to act like them are known as

The concept of 'dysfunction' is a major contribution of

What are manifest functions?

Latent Functions are always

R.K. Merton is a

Samuel Stouffer's The American Soldier (1949) inspired Merton to propound his

Social Theory and Social Structure written by R.K. Merton was published in

A rejection of both socially accepted goals and means and replaced by different means and goals is

R.K Merton's Reference Group has

R.K Merton died in

In the Mertonian frame work, what does conformity refer to?

In which book does Parsons outlined his AGIL paradigm?

Which among the followings is not a pattern variable according to Parsons?

With whose name can you associate 'cathectic action'?

Which of the following is not the functional pre-requisites of Talcott Parsons' social system?

Talcott Parsons died on

Talcott Parsons theory is known as

Anomie means

Merton speaks of anticipatory socialisation in the context of