Free Sociological Theory MCQs with Answers

291 Sociological Theory MCQs from Sociology, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

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291 questions · page 1 of 15

  • A. Theological, Metaphysical, Scientific
  • B. Industrial, Post-industrial, Modern
  • C. Primitive, Feudal, Modern
  • D. Religious, Political, Scientific

Explanation: Comte's law moves from theological explanations based on supernatural powers, through metaphysical abstractions, to the scientific or…

Correct answer: Theological, Metaphysical, Scientific
  • A. Empires
  • B. Civilizations
  • C. Religions
  • D. Economies

Explanation: Ibn Khaldun explained the cyclical rise and fall of empires or dynasties through group solidarity, called asabiyyah.

Correct answer: Empires
  • A. Functionalism
  • B. Social Darwinism
  • C. Conflict theory
  • D. Positivis

Explanation: Herbert Spencer applied evolutionary ideas to society and is strongly associated with Social Darwinism, including the idea of competition…

Correct answer: Social Darwinism
  • A. Herbert Spencer
  • B. Emily Durkheim
  • C. Augustus Comte
  • D. None of thesePeople & Society

Explanation: Auguste Comte is credited with formulating positivism and applying the scientific method to the study of society.

Correct answer: Augustus Comte
  • A. Understanding human behavior in broader context of society
  • B. Understanding human behavior in narrower context of society
  • C. Both 'a & b'
  • D. None of these

Explanation: A sociological perspective interprets individual behaviour by connecting it with wider social structures, institutions, culture, and…

Correct answer: Understanding human behavior in broader context of society
  • A. Tonnies
  • B. Simmel
  • C. Weber
  • D. Wirth

Explanation: Simmel argued that the intensity and abundance of metropolitan stimuli encouraged a blasé attitude, a protective indifference toward…

Correct answer: Simmel
  • A. the way in which people organized collective protests about environmental issues
  • B. the forms of wildlife and natural habitats that could be found on the edges of the city
  • C. how social groups colonized different areas of the city and competed for resources
  • D. how men and women used the city's public spaces differently

Explanation: The ecological approach, associated with the Chicago School, treats the city as an environment in which groups compete for space and…

Correct answer: how social groups colonized different areas of the city and competed for resources
  • A. Park
  • B. Hawley
  • C. Burgess
  • D. Wirth

Explanation: Louis Wirth described urbanism as a way of life, linking it to the large size, high population density, and social heterogeneity of…

Correct answer: Wirth
  • A. Hervey
  • B. Castells
  • C. Molotch
  • D. Saunders

Explanation: Manuel Castells associated collective consumption with publicly provided goods and services such as housing, education, transport, and…

Correct answer: Castells
  • A. Louise Wirth
  • B. Robert Park
  • C. Georg Simmel
  • D. Max Weber

Explanation: Georg Simmel examined how metropolitan life, money, speed and overstimulation shape the modern personality in this influential 1903 essay.

Correct answer: Georg Simmel
  • A. microsociology
  • B. interactionism
  • C. ethnomethodology
  • D. macrosociology

Explanation: The distribution of power concerns macrosociology because it examines large-scale structures such as states, classes and institutions.

Correct answer: macrosociology
  • A. rational -legal authority
  • B. charismatic authority
  • C. traditional authority
  • D. value-rational authority

Explanation: Weber linked the modern state's legitimate monopoly of force with rational-legal authority, where obedience is given to formally…

Correct answer: rational -legal authority
  • A. Gesellschafts
  • B. Gemeinschaft
  • C. Both of them
  • D. None of these

Explanation: Gemeinschaft describes close, intimate, traditional relationships based on kinship and community, whereas Gesellschaft refers to…

Correct answer: Gemeinschaft
  • A. squatting
  • B. linear development
  • C. urbanism
  • D. gentrification

Explanation: Louis Wirth used urbanism to describe the distinctive social relationships and behaviour produced by a large, dense and permanent…

Correct answer: urbanism
  • A. comte
  • B. Marx
  • C. Weber
  • D. Durkheim

Explanation: Émile Durkheim introduced anomie into sociology to describe a condition of normlessness or weakened social regulation, especially during…

Correct answer: Durkheim
  • A. Ralf Dahrendorf
  • B. Talcott Parsons
  • C. Emile Durkheim
  • D. Robert Merton

Explanation: Parsons, Durkheim, and Merton are major functionalist thinkers. Ralf Dahrendorf is associated mainly with conflict theory, especially his…

Correct answer: Ralf Dahrendorf
  • A. alienation
  • B. amorality
  • C. anomie
  • D. ascription

Explanation: Anomie describes normlessness, producing feelings of aimlessness and despair when social rules or expectations become unstable.

Correct answer: anomie
  • A. macro sociological theory
  • B. feminist sociological theory
  • C. middle-range sociological theory
  • D. micro sociological theory

Explanation: Relative deprivation explains how people assess their situation by comparing themselves with others, making it a focused middle-range…

Correct answer: middle-range sociological theory
  • A. strong class-based identities
  • B. multiculturalism
  • C. a strong stateTry Prep Courses
  • D. moral consensus

Explanation: Functionalism sees social order as resting on shared values and norms, which it calls moral consensus.

Correct answer: moral consensus
  • A. class struggle only occurs under capitalism
  • B. class conflict is inevitable in capitalist societies
  • C. industrial workers are the revolutionary class
  • D. capitalist production exploits the working class

Explanation: Marx viewed class struggle as a recurring feature of human history, not something limited only to capitalism.

Correct answer: class struggle only occurs under capitalism

Sociological Theory MCQs: common questions

Are these Sociological Theory MCQs free?

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How many Sociological Theory MCQs are on this page?

There are 291 Sociological Theory MCQs in the Sociology bank, shown 20 to a page with the correct answer and an explanation on each.

Does every Sociological Theory MCQ have an explanation?

Yes. Each Sociological Theory question shows the correct option and a written explanation of why it is correct, so a wrong answer teaches you something rather than just being marked wrong.

Can I take a timed Sociological Theory test?

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