Free Sociological Theory MCQs with Answers

• A. rationalization is bound to progress further in all spheres of life
• B. modem societies are in transition towards a socialist model
• C. the main dynamic of modern development is capitalist economics
• D. all history is the history of class struggles

Explanation: Rationalization, meaning the increasing dominance of calculation, efficiency and formal rules, is a central Weberian idea.

• A. the exploitation of the working class
• B. the continual reinvestment of profits back into businesses
• C. the desire for more material wealth
• D. the belief in free markets

Explanation: For Weber, the spirit of capitalism involved disciplined, systematic accumulation, especially the reinvestment of profits rather than…

• A. functionalist marxist interactionist
• B. ignorance understanding truth
• C. philosophical biological sociological
• D. theological metaphysical positive

Explanation: Comte’s law of three stages describes intellectual development from theological explanations, through metaphysical abstractions, to…

• A. interactionist perspective
• B. conflict perspective
• C. functionalist perspective
• D. None of these

Explanation: The interactionist perspective studies face-to-face, micro-level behavior and how people interpret social norms and expectations in…

• A. that it should show people in the best possible light
• B. that it should apply the same methods as physics or chemistry
• C. that it should attempt to appeal to as many people as possible
• D. that it should progress by positing new concepts and theories

Explanation: Comte’s idea of sociology as a positive science meant that it should study society through systematic observation and methods comparable…

• A. Emile Durkheim
• B. Max Weber
• C. Karl Marx
• D. Ferdinand Tonnies

Explanation: Max Weber made bureaucracy a central subject of sociological analysis, examining its hierarchy, specialised roles, written rules and…

• A. functionalist perspective
• B. psychoanalytic perspective
• C. interactionist perspective
• D. conflict perspective

Explanation: Gouldner’s criticism is conflict-oriented because it argues that Goffman’s focus on everyday interaction may leave wider class…

• A. interactionist perspective
• B. conflict perspective
• C. functionalist perspective
• D. psychological perspective

Explanation: The interactionist perspective studies face-to-face interaction and the meanings people give to their activities at the micro level.

• A. Cohesion theory
• B. Integration theory
• C. Role theory
• D. None of these

Explanation: Ritzer’s integration theory connects different parts or levels of social life rather than explaining behaviour through one isolated…

• A. It overlooks micro-level interaction
• B. It cannot count for culture
• C. It overlooks macro-level interaction
• D. None of these

Explanation: Symbolic interactionism is strong in explaining face-to-face meaning-making, but it is often criticized for giving insufficient attention…

• A. All of the above
• B. Contributing in social equilibrium
• C. Beneficial to the society
• D. Performing their respective functions

Explanation: Structural functionalism treats social institutions as interdependent parts that perform functions, support equilibrium and generally…

• A. Organic solidarity
• B. Mechanical solidarity
• C. both a & b
• D. None of these

Explanation: Durkheim called the similarity-based unity of primitive societies mechanical solidarity because people performed comparable tasks and…

• A. An anarchist society
• B. An industrial society
• C. A perfect man in a perfect society
• D. None of these

Explanation: Evolutionary theory generally presents social development as progressive movement toward a more advanced or ideal form of society and…

• A. conflict between countries
• B. conflict between individuals
• C. None of these
• D. Class conflict

Explanation: Class conflict is a basic conflict in conflict theory because social classes compete over wealth, power and control of resources.

• A. Harmony among classes
• B. Struggle to dominate
• C. Dependence-among classes
• D. None of these

Explanation: Conflict theory views society as marked by unequal power, so dominant groups struggle to control resources and institutions.

• A. Solidarity
• B. Enemy
• C. Chaos
• D. None of theses

Explanation: Durkheim’s anomie refers to normlessness, especially when established rules lose their force during rapid social change; this can produce…

• A. Proletariat
• B. cultural universals
• C. language
• D. popular culture
• E. dominant ideology

Explanation: Conflict theory argues that the dominant class maintains culture through a dominant ideology, which presents its interests and values as…

• A. Karl Marx
• B. Talcott Parsons
• C. Max Weber
• D. Margaret Mead

Explanation: Marx argued that the ruling class controls major institutions and promotes a dominant ideology that makes its interests appear natural or…

• A. Ibn-e-khaldun
• B. Auguste Conte
• C. Emile Durkheim
• D. None of these

Explanation: Durkheim defined social facts as external and constraining realities that exist independently of individual people, so they should be…

• A. None of these
• B. Four Stages
• C. Two stages
• D. Three Stages

Explanation: Comte’s law of three stages describes intellectual development through the theological, metaphysical, and positive stages.