UGC NET Paper 2 Sociology Mock Test - 7 - UGC NET MCQ

Qualitative methods include interviews, focus groups, participant observation, ethnography, historical analysis, and textual or content analysis.

• The methods are applied to all substantive areas of sociological inquiry.
• Quantitative data refers to information that appears in numerical form, or in the form of statistics. Qualitative data refers to information that appears in written, visual or audio form, such as transcripts of interviews, newspapers and web sites.
• Six common types of qualitative research are phenomenological, ethnographic, grounded theory, historical, case study, and action research. Phenomenological studies examine human experiences through the descrip- tions that are provided by the people involved.
• Qualitative research has a long history in sociology and has been used within it for as long as the field has existed. This type of research has long appealed to social scientists because it allows the researchers to investigate the meanings people attribute to their behavior, actions, and interactions with others.

Correct Answer: Cultural ecology.

Key Points

Cultural ecology:

• Cultural ecology is the study of the adaptation of a culture to a specific environment and how changes in that environment lead to changes in that specific culture.
• Cultural ecology is the study of human adaptations to social and physical environments.
• Human adaptation refers to both biological and cultural processes that enable a population to survive and reproduce within a given or changing environment.
• This may be carried out diachronically, or synchronically.​​

Additional Information

Convergence culture:

• Convergence culture is a theory that recognizes changing relationships and experiences with new media. Henry Jenkins is accepted by media academics to be the father of the term with his book Convergence Culture: Where Old and new media collide.

Cultural diffusion:

• Cultural diffusion is the spreading out and merging of pieces from different cultures.
• These different cultures all have many diverse types of food, clothing, and even languages that people love and enjoy every day. 
• The definition of cultural diffusion is the spread of the beliefs and social activities of one culture to different ethnicities, religions, nationalities, etc.
• An example of cultural diffusion is the tradition of the German Christmas pickle becoming popular in the United States.

Culture Hearths:

• Culture Hearths are the centers of origin of ancient civilizations which continue to inspire and influence modern societies of the world today. ​

The correct answer is Only Statements 2 and 3 are true.

Explanation: While human activities significantly contribute to climate change, natural factors like volcanic eruptions also play a role. The IPCC assesses climate science, and biodiversity loss is connected to climate change.

Key PointsHuman activities and natural factors both contribute to climate change, each in different ways. Understanding the roles of both is crucial for a comprehensive view of how Earth's climate is changing and the associated impacts on biodiversity.

Human Activities Contributing to Climate Change
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The most significant human impact on the climate comes from the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These emissions primarily result from:

• Fossil Fuel Burning: Power generation, transportation, and industry burn coal, oil, and natural gas, releasing vast amounts of CO2.
• Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Removing forests for agriculture or urban development reduces the Earth's capacity to absorb CO2, contributing to higher atmospheric CO2 levels.
• Agriculture and Livestock Rearing: Agricultural practices and livestock rearing produce significant quantities of methane and nitrous oxide, potent greenhouse gases.
• Industrial Processes: Certain industrial activities release a variety of greenhouse gases, including fluorinated gases, which are extremely potent in trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Natural Factors Affecting Climate Change
Volcanic Eruptions: While they are sporadic, volcanic eruptions can have a notable impact on climate:

• Short-term Cooling Effect: Large eruptions release ash and sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere, creating a reflective layer that can cool the Earth's surface temporarily by blocking sunlight.
• Greenhouse Gases: Volcanoes also emit CO2, but this is generally much less than human-made emissions.
• Solar Variability: Changes in solar radiation can affect Earth's climate. However, over the last few decades, solar influences have been relatively small compared to human-induced changes.

Orbital Changes: Earth's orbit and tilt undergo changes over thousands of years, which can lead to significant climate shifts, such as ice ages. However, these are not relevant for the current rapid climate change.

IPCC's Role in Assessing Climate Science: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) plays a pivotal role in assessing climate science. It reviews and synthesizes the latest scientific research and provides comprehensive assessments that are critical for policymakers. The IPCC reports focus on:

• Understanding the extent and impact of human-induced climate change.
• Projecting future climate scenarios based on different emission trajectories.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change

Biodiversity loss is intricately connected to climate change:

Habitat Alteration: Climate change can alter habitats and ecosystems, making them unsuitable for some species. This includes effects like:

• Rising temperatures affecting species' geographical ranges.
• Ocean acidification harming marine life.
• Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of events like storms, floods, and droughts, driven by climate change, can devastate ecosystems and species.

Interactions with Other Human Pressures: Climate change exacerbates other human pressures on biodiversity, such as habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation.

Loss of Ecosystem Services: Biodiversity loss affects ecosystems' ability to provide services like pollination, water purification, and carbon sequestration, further aggravating climate change.

Additional Information

• While human activities are the dominant force driving current climate change, natural factors also play a role, albeit more minor in comparison.
• The interconnectedness of climate change and biodiversity loss underscores the importance of integrated approaches in addressing these global challenges.
• The IPCC’s comprehensive assessments provide essential guidance for formulating effective policy responses.

Sustainable development is a holistic concept that includes environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Let's evaluate each option:

1. Carrying capacity – Yes
   This refers to the ability of the environment to support human life and activities without being degraded. It is a key environmental parameter.

2. Inter and intra-generational equity and justice – Yes
   Central to sustainable development. It emphasizes fairness both within the current generation and across future generations.

3. Human development – No
   While closely related, human development (as measured by indicators like the Human Development Index) is a broader concept. It's an outcome of sustainable development rather than a parameter of it.

4. Gender disparity – Yes
   Addressing gender disparity (reducing it) is essential for achieving social equity, which is a pillar of sustainable development.

5. Social and cultural diversity – Yes
   Respecting and preserving diversity supports inclusive and equitable development.

6. GDP of an economy – No
   GDP measures economic output but does not account for environmental degradation, inequality, or sustainability. It is not a direct parameter of sustainable development.

Hence, the correct grouping is: 1, 2, 4 and 5.

The correct answer is A is true but R is false. Key Points

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals and 169 targets that aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
• The goals cover a wide range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice, and strong institutions, and partnerships for the goals. So, the Assertion is correct.
• The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• The 17 goals and 169 targets were developed through an inclusive and participatory process involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
• The SDGs build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were in place from 2000 to 2015.
• While the SDGs were not set up by the Government of India, India is a signatory to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and has developed its national development agenda in line with the SDGs.Hence the Reason is incorrect.
• India has also taken various initiatives and measures to achieve the SDGs, such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Digital India, Make in India, and Skill India.

Thus, we can conclude that the correct answer is A is true but R is false.

The correct answer is none of these.Key Points

• Green Revolution was a package of agricultural technologies introduced in the 1960s and 1970s in many developing countries.
• It included the use of high-yielding varieties of seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, and improved irrigation methods.
• While it did increase agricultural production in many regions, it also created disparities between regions that adopted it and those that did not.
• The regions that adopted the technologies benefited from higher yields and increased incomes, while the non-adopting regions lagged behind.
• Additionally, within the adopting regions, there were disparities in the level of adoption and the benefits derived from it, with large landowners benefiting more than small farmers.
• Green Revolution mainly focused on increasing the production of wheat and rice, which were the main staple crops in many developing countries.
• The production of other crops, such as pulses and oilseeds, did increase to some extent, but not as much as that of wheat and rice.
• In some cases, the adoption of Green Revolution technologies actually led to a decline in the production of traditional crops, as farmers shifted their focus to the new high-yielding varieties.

• Furthermore, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides had negative environmental impacts, such as soil degradation and water pollution.

Hence we can conclude that the correct answer is none of these.

Vandana Shiva is an Indian scholar, environmental activist, and ecofeminist known for her advocacy of sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and social justice.

Important Points

• Ecofeminism is a social and political movement that explores the intersections between feminism and environmentalism.
• It emerged in the late 20th century as a response to the recognition that both women and nature are often marginalized, exploited, and oppressed within patriarchal societies.
• Ecofeminism seeks to understand and address the connections between the domination of women and the exploitation of the natural world, advocating for social and ecological justice.
• Vandana Shiva's work is deeply rooted in an ecofeminist perspective, which highlights the interconnectedness between environmental degradation and the subjugation of women.
• She argues that patriarchal systems of domination exploit both nature and women, leading to ecological destruction and social injustice.
• Shiva's scholarship explores the intersection of gender and environment, examining how women are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and climate change.

Additional Information

• Sharmila Rege was an Indian sociologist known for her work on gender, caste, and feminism.
• While her research addressed various social issues, she is not particularly associated with ecofeminism.
• Bina Agarwal is an Indian economist known for her research on gender, property rights, and development.
• Her work intersects with ecofeminism through its exploration of gendered dimensions of environmental resource management, but she may not be exclusively associated with the term.
• Leela Dube was an Indian anthropologist known for her research on gender, kinship, and social change.
• While her work may have touched on issues related to gender and the environment, she may not be specifically associated with ecofeminism.

The passage mentions sociologists' focus on understanding inequalities through the lenses of Structural and Intersectionality approach.

Key Points

• The passage emphasizes sociologists' adoption of a structural, intersectional approach to comprehend inequality within AI sociotechnical systems.
• This approach involves analyzing how various social structures, such as race, gender, class, and others, intersect to shape individuals' experiences of inequality within AI systems.
• By employing a structural, intersectional lens, sociologists gain insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of inequality within AI sociotechnical systems.
• This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of how social structures and technological systems interact to perpetuate or challenge inequality in society.

• Sociological scholarship points out that human decision-making occurs at every step of the coding process, contrary to claims that algorithms or platform users alone create biased outcomes in AI systems.
• Human biases, intentional or unintentional, can be embedded within algorithms and data sets during the coding process.
• Lack of transparency in the coding process makes it difficult to identify and address biases effectively.
• Contrary to popular belief, algorithms alone do not create biased outcomes; human decisions play a crucial role.
• Understanding and addressing human factors in AI development are essential to mitigate biased outcomes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) supports India in enhancing measles and rubella surveillance, immunization, and public health response.

Key Points

• WHO provides assistance in establishing, sustaining, and strengthening surveillance systems for measles and rubella.
• It supports immunization efforts by providing technical expertise, guidance, and resources to ensure effective vaccination campaigns.
• It also plays a role in outbreak identification and response, helping to coordinate public health interventions to control and contain outbreaks of measles and rubella.
• WHO collaborates with national and international partners to expand laboratory networks for disease surveillance and diagnosis.

Achieving a high vaccination coverage is highlighted as the primary goal of India's efforts towards measles and rubella elimination through vaccination campaigns.

• The objective is to prevent outbreaks of measles and rubella by ensuring a significant portion of the population is immune through vaccination.
• This approach aligns with broader public health strategies aimed at disease prevention rather than solely focusing on treatment after individuals become affected.
• By achieving high vaccination coverage, India aims to significantly reduce the incidence of measles and rubella, ultimately contributing to their elimination as public health threats.

Concept-Immigration and Emigration are demographic factors of social change.

Explanation- Social change can be defined as the process of alteration of the structure and functioning of the social system.

Social change can be internal or external. Internal changes occur within the society while external factors bring changes outside the society.

Types of social change-

• Alternative
• Redemptive
• Reformative
• Revolutionary

Factors affecting Social change-

Demographic factors- Demography plays an important role in social change.

Biological changes- These involve genetic composition.

Cultural factor- Cultural changes involve the common behavior of a society.

Immigration and emigration are moving of people from one place to other, in that they bring their cultural practices with each other.

Additional Information

Technological Invention- This is helpful for the progress of the nation.

Industrial and Technological Growth - This is not the direct factor affecting social change.

The disparity in Rural-Urban Practices- Disparity brings migration which may affect social change.

The correct answer is Ramachandra Guha. Key Points

• "The Unquiet Woods: Ecological Change and Peasant Resistance in the Himalayas" is a book written by Ramachandra Guha and published in 1989.
• The book explores the complex relationship between the people of the Himalayan region and their environment, and how this relationship has evolved over time.
• Guha begins the book by discussing the ecological changes that have taken place in the Himalayas since the British colonial period.
• He then examines the ways in which local communities, particularly peasants, have responded to these changes, often through acts of resistance and rebellion.
• The book highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between human societies and their environment, and the consequences of environmental degradation.
• It also sheds light on the social, political, and economic factors that contribute to ecological change and peasant resistance.

• Overall, "The Unquiet Woods" is an important contribution to the field of environmental history and provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between people and the natural world.

Hence we can conclude that The correct answer is Ramachandra Guha.

The correct answer is 1973

Chipko Movement:

• The Chipko movement began in the 1973s in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand.
• Chipko movement was a social movement aimed at the protection and conservation of trees from being destroyed.
• Chipko movement was mainly about hugging the trees to protect them from wood cutters from cutting them.
• Sunderlal Bahuguna, an environmentalist, is the founder of the Chipko Movement.
• The Chipko slogan coined by Sunderlal Bahuguna is "Ecology is permanent economy".
• Sunder Lal Bahuguna is a noted Garhwali environmentalist and Chipko movement leader.
• Mr. Bahuguna has had an active role within the Chipko and anti-Tehri Dam movements.
• He started social activities at the age of thirteen, under the guidance of Shri Dev Suman
• He was honoured with Padma Vibhushan in 2009 for environment conservation.

The correct match is - (a) - (ii), (b) - (i), (c) - (iv), (d) - (iii).

Important PointsAnn Oakley: "Sex, Gender and Society"

• Oakley's work was pioneering in the 1970s for differentiating between 'sex' as biological and 'gender' as socially constructed, challenging traditional binaries.
• She scrutinizes how society and culture influence and enforce gender roles from an early age, particularly through family and education systems.
• Oakley critically analyzes societal norms and stereotypes surrounding masculinity and femininity, advocating for greater gender equality.
• Her research also contributed methodologically to the study of gender, advocating for the use of both qualitative and quantitative data to understand social issues.

• Butler's work is foundational in the development of queer theory,
• Emphasizing the performative nature of gender and challenging the fixed identity categories of 'male' and 'female.'
• Butler posits that gender identity is the result of repeated performance of gendered acts, rather than a pre-existing identity or role.
• She encourages the subversion of gender norms through performance, arguing that such acts can expose the arbitrary nature of gender categories.
• "Gender Trouble" has had a significant impact not just within gender studies, but also in philosophy, cultural studies, and critical theory more broadly.

• Patnaik approaches the issue of dowry from an economic perspective, examining how market forces and capitalist relations influence the practice.
• She explores the implications of dowry practices on women's social status and familial relationships.
• The work provides a historical context of the evolution of dowry practices,
• Highlighting how economic and social transformations have influenced its prevalence and form.
• Patnaik's analysis offers insights into potential policy interventions and societal changes needed to address the dowry system's negative consequences.

• Uberoi's compilation offers a comprehensive overview of the diverse forms of family, kinship, and marriage practices across different regions and communities in India.
• The work examines how traditional practices have evolved in response to modernization, globalization, and legal changes,
• Highlighting the continuity and change in family and kinship structures.
• It also addresses the dynamics of gender relations within families and marriages.
• Uberoi employs an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from sociology, anthropology, and history to provide a nuanced understanding of familial and kinship practices in the Indian context.

The correct answer is Double Descent.
Key Points

• Double descent is essentially a combination of matrilineal and patrilineal descent, the two modes of affiliation being followed concurrently. It is thus not unilinear but bilinear. However, it is not "bilateral" because it does not treat all possible lines of affiliation equally but emphasizes two lines and disregard others.
• Descent refers to the socially recognized links between ancestors and descendants or one's traceable ancestry and can be bilateral, or traced through either parents, or unilateral, or traced through parents and ancestors of only one sex.
• We find that for linear regression, a double descent-shaped risk is caused by a superposition of bias-variance tradeoffs corresponding to different parts of the model and can be mitigated by scaling the regularization strength of each part appropriately.

Additional Information​​

• A Cognatic descent is a mode of descent calculated from an ancestor or a system of bilateral kinship where relationships are traced through both a mother and father. Cognatic tribes are found commonly among the Samoans of Central Polynesia.
• A collateral descendant also referred to as a collateral heir or collateral kin, descends from the same common ancestor as the decedent, but does not descend directly from the decedent.
• Unilineal descent recognizes only a single line of ancestors through males or females. It occurs in two forms--patrilineal, which follows the male line, and matrilineal, which follows the female line. The patrilineal form is more common.

Thus, Yako of Nigeria utilizes matrilineal descent for some purposes and patrilineal for some purposes, achieving a system of Double descent.​

The correct answer is (a) - (ii), (b) - (i), (c) - (iv), (d) - (iii).
Key Points

• The Household Dimension of the Family in India written by AM Shah was widely regarded as a landmark study when it first appeared in 1973. It combines micro and macro perspectives and offers a rigorous critique of the stereotype of the 'decline' of the joint family under conditions of industrial modernization.
• Marriage and Family in India authored by KM Kapadia: Traces the history of polygyny and polyandry amongst Hindus and Muslims against a background of economic circumstance and religious belief.
• World revolution and family patterns. Author: William Josiah Goode.
• Some Aspects of Family in Mahuva: A Sociological Study of Jointness in a Small Town. By I. P. Desai.

Additional Information

• I.P. Desai, a renowned sociologist from India. He played a pioneering role in the shaping of teaching and research of sociology in India, including the study of education, family, untouchability, migration, social movements, and social change.
• K. M. KAPADIA (1908-1967) Kaniayalal Motilal Kapadia was a founder member of the Indian Sociological Society and was its Secretary between 1955 and 1966. He rendered invaluable service to the progress of Society and made sustained efforts to maintain the quality of its journal, Sociological Bulletin.
• Arvind M. Shah retired from his professorship in the Department of Sociology at the University of Delhi in 1996. He had been a student of M. N. Srinivas in 1952 and became a teacher in sociology at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, in 1958. He moved to the University of Delhi in 1961

Thus,

Caste systems are closed stratification systems where people can do little or nothing to change the social standing of their birth. The caste system determines all aspects of an individual’s life: occupations, marriage partners, and housing. Individual talents, interests, or potential do not provide opportunities to improve a person's social position.

Maximilian Karl Emil Weber German: 21 April 1864 – 14 June 1920 was a German sociologist, philosopher, jurist, and political economist. His ideas profoundly influenced social theory and social research. Weber is often cited, with Émile Durkheim and Karl Marx, as among the three founders of sociology. Weber was a key proponent of methodological anti-positivism, arguing for the study of social action through interpretive (rather than purely empiricist) means, based on understanding the purpose and meaning that individuals attach to their own actions. Unlike Durkheim, he did not believe in mono-causality and rather proposed that for any outcome there can be multiple causes.

Demographers study populations to determine their size and composition and to predict how they are likely to change in years to come. In all countries, this knowledge is key to meeting the population’s present and future needs, for example, to decide how many new kindergartens, schools, or retirement homes are needed. Demographers analyze data collected by the national statistical offices (INSEE in France) and organize surveys on specific themes. To become a demographer you need a Master’s degree in demography or a related discipline, such as sociology, statistics, geography, biology, etc. You can also study for a Ph.D. to specialize in research or to teach demography at the university level.

Tradition implies a value-judgement about the folkways.

A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. It therefore, implies a value-judgement about the folkways.

• Folkways refers to traditional customary ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Most people conform to folk ways out of habit. They are the lesser order of norms, as they are not as strictly enforced as mores or laws.
• Tradition, habit, and religious sanctions tend to strengthen folkways as time passes, making them more and more arbitrary, positive, and compelling.

GDP was not designed to assess welfare or the well-being of citizens. However, modern economies have lost sight of the fact that the standard metric of economic growth, gross domestic product (GDP), merely measures the size of a nation's economy and doesn't reflect a nation's welfare.

The term embourgeoisement signifies a social mobility. It is a process in which the working class people adopt the habits, the values and the working habits of the middle class to lead a more affluent life. Thus, embourgeoisement represents the spread of bourgeoisie values within the society.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently approved the Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) till the financial year 2024-25.

The second phase will be implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25, with the main focus on Open Defecation Free sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management collectively called as ODF Plus.

The social conflict theories under consideration are Lewis Coser's functionalist theory of conflict, Ralf Dahrendorf's theory, and Randall Collins' sociology of conflict.

The most fundamental distinction between functionalism and conflict theory is not that the notion of either structure or of change is absent from either of them but which of these holds centre stage. Although conflict theory became accepted into sociological theory.

A conjugal family is a nuclear family that may consist of a married couple and their children (by birth or adoption) or a couple who are unmarried or underage. Conjugal means there is a marriage relationship.

According to Lester Ward, applied sociology was intended to use scientific knowledge for a better society.

Science is valued by society because the application of scientific knowledge helps to satisfy many basic human needs and improve living standards. Similarly, science is often justified to the public as driving economic growth, which is seen as a return-on-investment for public funding. This is a concept given by Lester ward.

Religion, family, marriage, caste, etc. are examples of social institutions. The institution is a permanent and accepted model of rules and procedures governing relations between individuals and groups.

Values reflect our sense of right and wrong. They help us grow and develop. They help us create the future we want. The decisions we make every day are a reflection of our values. We learn most of our values from our parents and extended families. Our family values stem from our social and cultural values. Sometimes new life experiences may change values we previously held.
Individual values reflect how we live our lives and what we consider important for our own self-interests. Individual values include enthusiasm, creativity, humility, and personal fulfillment. Relationship values reflect how we relate to other people in our life, such as friends, family, teachers, managers, etc. Relationship values include openness, trust, generosity, and caring. Therefore the value is essential for society.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently successfully conducted the qualification test of Cryogenic Engine for Gaganyaan programme for a duration of 720 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Tamil Nadu’s Mahendragiri. The performance of the engine met the test objectives and the engine parameters were closely matching with the predictions during the entire duration of the test. Therefore, statement 2 is correct.

Gaganyaan programme is a Human Spaceflight Mission of India. With this launch, India will become the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission after the USA, Russia and China. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct.