1. Who first coined the term “in-group” and “out-group”?
A) Auguste Comte
B) William Graham Sumner
C) Charles Cooley
D) Herbert Spencer
Answer: B) William Graham Sumner
Explanation: Sumner introduced “in-group” (we-group) and “out-group” (they-group) to describe feelings of loyalty and opposition among social groups.
2. Which sociologist introduced the concept of “Primary Group”?
A) Emile Durkheim
B) Max Weber
C) Charles Horton Cooley
D) Karl Marx
Answer: C) Charles Horton Cooley
Explanation: Cooley defined the “primary group” as one with close, face-to-face relationships, such as family and childhood friends.
3. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a secondary group?
A) Impersonal relations
B) Goal-oriented
C) Permanent and intimate bonds
D) Formal structure
Answer: C) Permanent and intimate bonds
Explanation: Secondary groups are formal, impersonal, and goal-driven, lacking intimate relationships typical of primary groups.
4. What is an example of a voluntary group?
A) Family
B) Trade Union
C) Caste
D) Kinship group
Answer: B) Trade Union
Explanation: Trade Unions are voluntary; people choose to join them. Others like caste or family are involuntary.
5. The term “reference group” was introduced by:
A) George Herbert Mead
B) Robert K. Merton
C) Talcott Parsons
D) Karl Mannheim
Answer: B) Robert K. Merton
Explanation: Merton used the term “reference group” to indicate groups that people refer to when evaluating themselves.
6. Which of the following is a formal group?
A) Friends circle
B) Peer group
C) School staff committee
D) Family
Answer: C) School staff committee
Explanation: Formal groups have official rules and roles, like a committee or an organization.
7. Which type of group is essential in the early socialization of children?
A) Formal group
B) Primary group
C) Reference group
D) Peer group
Answer: B) Primary group
Explanation: The primary group, such as family, plays a vital role in personality development and early socialization.
8. Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft are terms used by:
A) Max Weber
B) Emile Durkheim
C) Ferdinand Tönnies
D) Charles Cooley
Answer: C) Ferdinand Tönnies
Explanation: Tönnies distinguished between Gemeinschaft (community) and Gesellschaft (society), representing close-knit and impersonal groups respectively.
9. The main difference between primary and secondary groups is based on:
A) Size
B) Physical distance
C) Nature of interaction
D) Education level
Answer: C) Nature of interaction
Explanation: Primary groups have intimate, personal interactions, while secondary groups are goal-oriented and impersonal.
10. Who described social groups based on the structure of interaction and the intensity of the relationship?
A) Karl Marx
B) Charles Cooley
C) Ferdinand Tönnies
D) Herbert Mead
Answer: C) Ferdinand Tönnies
Explanation: Tönnies categorized groups as Gemeinschaft (natural will) and Gesellschaft (rational will).
11. Which is NOT a characteristic of a primary group?
A) Face-to-face interaction
B) Emotional depth
C) Specific goal
D) Permanence
Answer: C) Specific goal
Explanation: Primary groups are not formed for achieving specific tasks but are emotionally intimate and lasting.
12. Which theory emphasizes the symbolic meaning and self-concept derived from group interaction?
A) Conflict Theory
B) Symbolic Interactionism
C) Functionalism
D) Rational Choice Theory
Answer: B) Symbolic Interactionism
Explanation: Symbolic interactionism studies how individual identity and social meaning emerge from group interaction.
13. Who emphasized the role of “significant others” in group socialization?
A) Emile Durkheim
B) George Herbert Mead
C) Karl Marx
D) Auguste Comte
Answer: B) George Herbert Mead
Explanation: Mead introduced the idea that individuals internalize the expectations of “significant others” in their social group.
14. Which type of group is generally large, impersonal, and goal-oriented?
A) Reference group
B) Peer group
C) Primary group
D) Secondary group
Answer: D) Secondary group
Explanation: Secondary groups are formal and based on task-specific roles and interactions.
15. Which of the following is an involuntary group?
A) Political party
B) Religious sect
C) Family
D) Book club
Answer: C) Family
Explanation: Individuals are born into a family, making it an involuntary group.
16. A reference group provides:
A) Financial assistance
B) Norms for comparison
C) Emotional support only
D) Institutional power
Answer: B) Norms for comparison
Explanation: Reference groups offer standards against which individuals compare their own behaviors and achievements.
17. Which one of the following groups is best described as “informal”?
A) Court of law
B) Parliament
C) Family
D) School Management Committee
Answer: C) Family
Explanation: Family is an informal group with no formal structure or written rules, based on emotional ties.
18. What type of group is a “peer group”?
A) Formal and temporary
B) Primary and horizontal
C) Voluntary and vertical
D) Secondary and hierarchical
Answer: B) Primary and horizontal
Explanation: Peer groups involve individuals of similar status or age, often forming primary relationships on equal footing.
19. The distinction between “open group” and “closed group” depends on:
A) Purpose
B) Membership criteria
C) Size
D) Physical location
Answer: B) Membership criteria
Explanation: Open groups allow free entry and exit; closed groups have restricted membership based on set criteria.
20. Which group theory views society as made up of interrelated parts working for stability?
A) Conflict theory
B) Functionalist theory
C) Symbolic interactionism
D) Rational choice theory
Answer: B) Functionalist theory
Explanation: Functionalists believe social groups play roles that contribute to overall social stability and cohesion.
21. Who is the author of the book Folkways that introduced the concepts of “in-group” and “out-group”?
A) Charles Cooley
B) George Mead
C) William Graham Sumner
D) Ferdinand Tönnies
Answer: C) William Graham Sumner
Explanation: In Folkways (1906), Sumner introduced the influential ideas of in-group (we-group) and out-group (they-group).
22. The concept of the “primary group” was developed in which book?
A) Human Nature and the Social Order
B) Mind, Self and Society
C) Folkways
D) The Division of Labour in Society
Answer: A) Human Nature and the Social Order
Explanation: Charles Horton Cooley introduced the concept of the primary group in this 1902 work.
23. Who distinguished between “Gemeinschaft” and “Gesellschaft” in group classification?
A) Auguste Comte
B) Ferdinand Tönnies
C) Max Weber
D) Talcott Parsons
Answer: B) Ferdinand Tönnies
Explanation: Tönnies explained Gemeinschaft as community-oriented and Gesellschaft as society-oriented in his book Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft (1887).
24. The book Mind, Self and Society was authored by:
A) Charles Cooley
B) Robert K. Merton
C) George Herbert Mead
D) Emile Durkheim
Answer: C) George Herbert Mead
Explanation: Mead’s work introduced symbolic interactionism and the concept of the generalized other.
25. Who introduced the term “reference group” in their book Social Theory and Social Structure?
A) Max Weber
B) Robert K. Merton
C) Karl Marx
D) Anthony Giddens
Answer: B) Robert K. Merton
Explanation: Merton introduced reference group theory, explaining how individuals compare themselves to certain groups.
26. The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind was written by:
A) Le Bon
B) Parsons
C) Mead
D) Berger
Answer: A) Le Bon
Explanation: Gustave Le Bon explored mass psychology and crowd behavior in this pioneering work (1895).
27. Which book introduced the concept of “Looking Glass Self”?
A) The Self and Society
B) Human Nature and the Social Order
C) Social System
D) The Division of Labour
Answer: B) Human Nature and the Social Order
Explanation: Cooley discussed how the self is shaped through others’ perception in group interactions.
28. Who authored The Division of Labour in Society and emphasized mechanical and organic solidarity?
A) Emile Durkheim
B) Herbert Spencer
C) Ferdinand Tönnies
D) Max Weber
Answer: A) Emile Durkheim
Explanation: Durkheim explained social cohesion through types of solidarity based on group functions.
29. Which theorist and book emphasized the importance of “generalized other”?
A) Giddens in Sociology
B) Mead in Mind, Self and Society
C) Parsons in Social System
D) Durkheim in Rules of Sociological Method
Answer: B) Mead in Mind, Self and Society
Explanation: Mead introduced how individuals internalize the expectations of the broader social group.
30. Which book classified groups into voluntary and involuntary?
A) Sociology – Anthony Giddens
B) Introduction to the Study of Society – Ogburn & Nimkoff
C) Human Nature and the Social Order – Cooley
D) The Presentation of Self – Goffman
Answer: B) Introduction to the Study of Society
Explanation: Ogburn and Nimkoff provided this practical classification based on choice vs. compulsion in group membership.
31. Who wrote The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, applying the idea of role-playing to social groups?
A) Erving Goffman
B) Mead
C) Sumner
D) Berger
Answer: A) Erving Goffman
Explanation: Goffman’s dramaturgical theory viewed social interaction as performance.
32. The book The Rules of Sociological Method was written by:
A) Karl Marx
B) Max Weber
C) Emile Durkheim
D) George H. Mead
Answer: C) Emile Durkheim
Explanation: Durkheim explained the concept of “social facts” that emerge from group norms and practices.
33. Which of the following books describes how reality is constructed through interaction in groups?
A) Social Theory and Social Structure
B) Mind, Self and Society
C) The Social Construction of Reality
D) Folkways
Answer: C) The Social Construction of Reality
Explanation: Berger and Luckmann explained that shared group meanings create a common understanding of reality.
34. Who wrote Sociology and considered social groups as the fundamental units of society?
A) Robert Merton
B) Anthony Giddens
C) Talcott Parsons
D) Emile Durkheim
Answer: B) Anthony Giddens
Explanation: Giddens identified social groups as central to social structure and identity formation.
35. Which book introduced the concept of “role conflict” within group membership?
A) Social System – Parsons
B) Mind, Self and Society – Mead
C) Sociology – Giddens
D) Social Theory and Social Structure – Merton
Answer: D) Social Theory and Social Structure
Explanation: Merton discussed how conflicting roles within groups can lead to tension and dysfunction.
36. The Social System, which discusses group roles and structures, was written by:
A) Emile Durkheim
B) Talcott Parsons
C) Robert Merton
D) George Mead
Answer: B) Talcott Parsons
Explanation: Parsons outlined how individuals occupy statuses and perform roles within systems of social groups.
37. The idea that crowd behavior leads to irrationality was proposed in:
A) Mind, Self and Society
B) The Social Construction of Reality
C) The Crowd
D) Human Nature and the Social Order
Answer: C) The Crowd
Explanation: Le Bon believed individuals in crowds become suggestible and emotionally charged.
38. Which sociologist linked group solidarity to “collective conscience”?
A) Durkheim
B) Marx
C) Weber
D) Mead
Answer: A) Durkheim
Explanation: Durkheim’s theory explained how shared beliefs and morals (collective conscience) hold groups together.
39. The dramaturgical approach to social interaction was explained by:
A) Charles Cooley
B) Emile Durkheim
C) Erving Goffman
D) Ferdinand Tönnies
Answer: C) Erving Goffman
Explanation: Goffman compared social life to a theatrical performance, with people playing roles.
40. Which pair correctly matches the theorist and their related book on group interaction?
A) Goffman – Folkways
B) Sumner – The Crowd
C) Merton – Social Theory and Social Structure
D) Parsons – The Social Construction of Reality
Answer: C) Merton – Social Theory and Social Structure
Explanation: Merton’s classic book laid the foundation for theories on reference groups and role conflict.
41. According to Cooley, the primary group serves as the ______ of human nature.
A) Law
B) Mirror
C) Goal
D) School
Answer: B) Mirror
Explanation: Cooley described the primary group as a “mirror” in which the self is formed through social interaction.
42. Which of the following is most likely to be considered a “secondary group” in a school context?
A) Group of close friends
B) Parent-teacher association
C) Family of the student
D) Classmates during lunch break
Answer: B) Parent-teacher association
Explanation: PTA is formal, goal-oriented, and not emotionally intimate, fitting the characteristics of a secondary group.
43. According to Ferdinand Tönnies, Gemeinschaft is typically found in:
A) Bureaucracies
B) Rural villages
C) Trade unions
D) Online communities
Answer: B) Rural villages
Explanation: Gemeinschaft is common in rural areas where social ties are strong, traditional, and personal.
44. A student idolizing a famous scientist and adopting their lifestyle is an example of:
A) Out-group behavior
B) In-group conformity
C) Reference group influence
D) Peer pressure
Answer: C) Reference group influence
Explanation: The scientist serves as a reference group member, guiding the student’s values and aspirations.
45. The concept of “Looking Glass Self” was proposed by:
A) G.H. Mead
B) W.G. Sumner
C) C.H. Cooley
D) T. Parsons
Answer: C) C.H. Cooley
Explanation: Cooley’s “Looking Glass Self” suggests that individuals develop self-perception based on how others view them in group interactions.
46. Which sociologist emphasized “role-taking” as essential to social development?
A) Charles Cooley
B) George Herbert Mead
C) Auguste Comte
D) Herbert Spencer
Answer: B) George Herbert Mead
Explanation: Mead emphasized how individuals learn to assume the perspective of others through interaction.
47. A caste group is best classified as a:
A) Voluntary group
B) Formal group
C) Involuntary group
D) Temporary group
Answer: C) Involuntary group
Explanation: Caste is assigned by birth and cannot be voluntarily changed or chosen.
48. In-group bias often leads to:
A) Objective assessment of others
B) Enhanced social mobility
C) Favoritism toward one’s own group
D) Suppression of group identity
Answer: C) Favoritism toward one’s own group
Explanation: In-group bias refers to the tendency to favor one’s own group over out-groups.
49. Which theory best explains the way individuals conform to the norms of the group they admire?
A) Conflict Theory
B) Reference Group Theory
C) Functionalist Theory
D) Rational Choice Theory
Answer: B) Reference Group Theory
Explanation: This theory explains how individuals compare themselves to others in groups they aspire to join or identify with.
50. Peer groups are important in the school context because they:
A) Set rigid rules
B) Provide emotional detachment
C) Promote individual isolation
D) Influence behavior and identity
Answer: D) Influence behavior and identity
Explanation: Peer groups impact students’ behavior, values, language, and choices during schooling.
51. What is a distinguishing feature of formal groups?
A) Emotional attachment
B) Informal rules
C) Defined hierarchy and norms
D) Common ancestry
Answer: C) Defined hierarchy and norms
Explanation: Formal groups like offices or committees have set rules, duties, and structures.
52. Who classified groups into voluntary and involuntary categories?
A) Ogburn and Nimkoff
B) Max Weber
C) Durkheim
D) Karl Marx
Answer: A) Ogburn and Nimkoff
Explanation: They categorized groups based on whether membership is by choice (voluntary) or by birth (involuntary).
53. An example of an “out-group” in a school setting would be:
A) Students from your own class
B) Members of your study group
C) Students from a rival school
D) Siblings at home
Answer: C) Students from a rival school
Explanation: They are not part of your own group and may even evoke competitive feelings.
54. Social groups help in the process of:
A) Individualism
B) Disorganization
C) Socialization
D) Alienation
Answer: C) Socialization
Explanation: Groups are the core unit through which social norms, values, and culture are transmitted.
55. Which sociologist’s theory focused on “generalized other” and its role in group-based identity development?
A) Emile Durkheim
B) Talcott Parsons
C) George H. Mead
D) Karl Marx
Answer: C) George H. Mead
Explanation: The “generalized other” refers to the social group as a whole whose expectations are internalized during development.
56. The term “collective behavior” is best associated with which kind of group behavior?
A) Classroom learning
B) Family interaction
C) Mass protest
D) Peer discussion
Answer: C) Mass protest
Explanation: Collective behavior refers to spontaneous, unstructured group activities such as mobs or rallies.
57. A bureaucratic organization is an example of a:
A) Primary group
B) Gemeinschaft
C) Secondary group
D) Informal group
Answer: C) Secondary group
Explanation: Bureaucracies are highly structured, impersonal, and task-oriented, thus secondary in nature.
58. Which theory is most concerned with power imbalance among social groups?
A) Symbolic Interactionism
B) Functionalism
C) Conflict Theory
D) Social Exchange Theory
Answer: C) Conflict Theory
Explanation: Conflict theory, especially from Marx, views group interactions in terms of dominance and competition for resources.
59. An example of tertiary group in modern society is:
A) Neighborhood club
B) Facebook community group
C) Government employment agency
D) Joint family
Answer: B) Facebook community group
Explanation: Tertiary groups are temporary, virtual, or loosely associated networks, like online social platforms.
60. According to Giddens, what is the basic unit of social structure?
A) Organization
B) Individual
C) Institution
D) Social Group
Answer: D) Social Group
Explanation: For sociologist Anthony Giddens, social groups are the foundational components of social structure.
61. Which of the following concepts refers to the degree of unity or “togetherness” in a group?
A) Stratification
B) Group cohesiveness
C) Role conflict
D) Social mobility
Answer: B) Group cohesiveness
Explanation: Group cohesiveness refers to the strength of relationships and solidarity among members of a social group.
62. Which factor does NOT directly influence group cohesiveness?
A) Physical proximity
B) Shared goals
C) Group size
D) Government policy
Answer: D) Government policy
Explanation: Group cohesiveness depends on internal dynamics like size, interaction, and shared values, not on external policy.
63. Conflict between in-groups and out-groups often arises due to:
A) Mutual respect
B) Resource sharing
C) Ethnocentrism
D) Structural functionalism
Answer: C) Ethnocentrism
Explanation: Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one’s group, often leading to conflict with out-groups.
64. The term “social role” refers to:
A) The script given in a drama
B) The expectation attached to social positions
C) Biological differences among people
D) Cultural domination
Answer: B) The expectation attached to social positions
Explanation: Social roles define the behavior expected from individuals occupying particular statuses in a group.
65. Which of the following is a positive effect of peer group influence in education?
A) Bullying and groupism
B) Exam anxiety
C) Motivation and healthy competition
D) School dropout
Answer: C) Motivation and healthy competition
Explanation: Peer groups can inspire learning, participation, and a sense of achievement among students.
66. Which group behavior is typically observed in crowds and mobs?
A) Logical reasoning
B) Controlled emotional response
C) Suggestibility and imitation
D) Role-playing
Answer: C) Suggestibility and imitation
Explanation: In crowds, individuals are highly influenced by group emotions and tend to imitate others blindly.
67. What is the educational significance of cooperative learning groups?
A) Reduces individual performance
B) Enhances rote learning
C) Promotes social skills and teamwork
D) Encourages competition only
Answer: C) Promotes social skills and teamwork
Explanation: Cooperative learning fosters group work, communication, and empathy—essential elements in social development.
68. Role conflict occurs when:
A) Individuals leave their group
B) Two roles held by the same person have contradictory expectations
C) Group rules are clearly defined
D) Individuals fully identify with their role
Answer: B) Two roles held by the same person have contradictory expectations
Explanation: For example, a teacher who is also a parent may face conflict balancing work and home expectations.
69. Which of the following best represents an “informal group” in a school setting?
A) Disciplinary committee
B) PTA
C) Student council
D) Friends meeting after school
Answer: D) Friends meeting after school
Explanation: Informal groups are created spontaneously based on friendship and social needs, not formal structure.
70. One function of social groups in education is to:
A) Impose sanctions
B) Create social stratification
C) Promote conformity and learning
D) Suppress creativity
Answer: C) Promote conformity and learning
Explanation: Groups in educational settings help students adapt to norms and values, encouraging learning and socialization.
71. In terms of group dynamics, a “leader” is one who:
A) Enforces physical punishment
B) Controls group through power
C) Influences group behavior and direction
D) Avoids taking responsibility
Answer: C) Influences group behavior and direction
Explanation: Leaders guide group activities, motivate members, and help achieve group goals.
72. The most effective leadership style in educational group settings is:
A) Autocratic
B) Laissez-faire
C) Democratic
D) Manipulative
Answer: C) Democratic
Explanation: Democratic leadership encourages participation, responsibility, and mutual respect among group members.
73. Which of the following is a latent function of student groups in school?
A) Curriculum planning
B) Sports participation
C) Value transmission
D) Group identity formation
Answer: D) Group identity formation
Explanation: Latent functions are unintended outcomes—group belonging develops naturally within school social groups.
74. Which of the following best explains the behavior of individuals in a crowd according to Le Bon’s theory?
A) Critical thinking dominates
B) Individual responsibility increases
C) Crowd mentality suppresses individuality
D) Members become more rational
Answer: C) Crowd mentality suppresses individuality
Explanation: Gustave Le Bon suggested people lose personal identity and become emotionally driven in crowds.
75. An educational program that encourages collaborative projects is applying the principle of:
A) Individualism
B) Group competition
C) Cooperative learning
D) Competitive learning
Answer: C) Cooperative learning
Explanation: This method encourages group work, shared responsibility, and collective goal achievement.
76. What is meant by group polarization in group behavior studies?
A) Dividing a group by ethnicity
B) Increasing extremity of group opinions
C) Merging small groups into larger groups
D) Formation of friendships
Answer: B) Increasing extremity of group opinions
Explanation: Group polarization refers to the tendency of group members to make more extreme decisions than individuals would.
77. An educational implication of in-group/out-group distinction is:
A) Uniform access to education
B) Development of prejudice or bias
C) Eradication of competition
D) Equal group representation
Answer: B) Development of prejudice or bias
Explanation: Favoring in-groups can lead to stereotypes and unfair treatment of others (out-groups).
78. Which group type is most likely to enforce informal social control?
A) Judiciary
B) Peer group
C) Police department
D) Parliament
Answer: B) Peer group
Explanation: Peer groups influence behavior through norms, approval, and disapproval—forms of informal social control.
79. Which term refers to temporary groupings formed for specific tasks in education, such as a science fair committee?
A) Permanent group
B) Interest group
C) Task group
D) Peer group
Answer: C) Task group
Explanation: Task groups are formed to accomplish a specific objective and are dissolved afterward.
80. Which of the following is the primary agent of socialization in early childhood?
A) School
B) Peer group
C) Family
D) Media
Answer: C) Family
Explanation: Family is the first and most influential social group in shaping values, behavior, and identity.