BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Bachelor of Social Science Anthropology 2

Question 1

Which anthropological concept refers to the practice of studying a culture from the perspective of its own members rather than imposing outside frameworks?

Accepted Answer

Cultural relativism

Answer

Cultural relativism holds that a culture's beliefs and practices should be understood on their own terms, without external judgment.

Question 2

In kinship terminology, what does a 'bilateral descent' system mean?

Accepted Answer

Descent traced equally through both parents' lines

Answer

Bilateral descent recognizes kin relationships through both the maternal and paternal lines equally, as is common in the United States.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'liminality' as developed by Victor Turner?

Accepted Answer

An in-between threshold state during ritual transition

Answer

Liminality describes the ambiguous, transitional phase in a rite of passage where individuals are 'betwixt and between' social statuses.

Question 4

What is 'participant observation' in ethnographic fieldwork?

Accepted Answer

Immersing oneself in daily community life while systematically recording observations

Answer

Participant observation involves living within a community, taking part in its activities, and systematically documenting behavior and meanings.

Question 5

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (linguistic relativity) proposes that:

Accepted Answer

The language people speak shapes how they perceive and think about the world

Answer

Linguistic relativity argues that the structure and vocabulary of a language influence its speakers' worldview and cognitive categories.

BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Practice Test

BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Practice Test

BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Bachelor of Social Science Anthropology 2