BGS, BSGS Bachelor of General Studies BSGS Social and Cultural Studies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which anthropological term describes the practice of living within a community to study it from the inside?
- Comparative analysis
- Participant observation (Correct answer)
- Content analysis
- Survey research
Correct answer: Participant observation
Participant observation involves a researcher immersing themselves in a community or group to observe and understand social behavior from within.
Question 2: The 'digital divide' in contemporary society refers to:
- Conflicts between tech companies and governments
- Unequal access to digital technology across social groups (Correct answer)
- Differences in online content between countries
- The gap between digital and analog media usage
Correct answer: Unequal access to digital technology across social groups
The digital divide describes the gap between individuals who have access to modern information and communication technology and those who do not.
Question 3: Which concept describes the tension experienced when a person moves between two cultures and feels they do not fully belong to either?
- Culture shock
- Marginality (Correct answer)
- Acculturation stress
- Cultural lag
Correct answer: Marginality
Marginality refers to the state of being on the periphery of two cultures, not fully accepted by or integrated into either one.
Question 4: Max Weber's concept of 'verstehen' in social research means:
- Objective measurement of social facts
- Empathic understanding of social actors' perspectives (Correct answer)
- Statistical analysis of social trends
- Comparative cross-cultural methodology
Correct answer: Empathic understanding of social actors' perspectives
Verstehen, a German word for 'understanding,' refers to Weber's method of grasping the subjective meanings individuals attach to their social actions.
Question 5: Which term describes a pattern where dominant cultural values are imposed on minority groups, causing them to abandon their original culture?
- Multiculturalism
- Cultural pluralism
- Forced assimilation (Correct answer)
- Integration
Correct answer: Forced assimilation
Forced assimilation occurs when a dominant group compels minorities to adopt its language, customs, and values, suppressing their native culture.
Question 6: In social science, which research method involves collecting data from a large sample through standardized questions?
- Ethnography
- Case study
- Survey (Correct answer)
- Focus group
Correct answer: Survey
Surveys collect data from many respondents using standardized questions, enabling researchers to identify patterns and generalizations across populations.
Question 7: The concept of 'intersectionality,' introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw, argues that:
- Social problems can be solved by combining different government agencies
- Social identities like race, gender, and class overlap and create unique experiences of oppression (Correct answer)
- Cultural boundaries between groups should be respected
- Economic inequality is the root cause of all social disparities
Correct answer: Social identities like race, gender, and class overlap and create unique experiences of oppression
Intersectionality holds that overlapping social identities (race, gender, class, sexuality) interact to create distinct, compounded forms of discrimination.
BGS, BSGS Bachelor of General Studies BSGS Social and Cultural Studies 3
Which anthropological term describes the practice of living within a community to study it from the inside?