DSST Social Sciences 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sociological perspective views society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability?
- Conflict theory
- Symbolic interactionism
- Functionalism (Correct answer)
- Feminist theory
Correct answer: Functionalism
Functionalism, associated with Émile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons, sees society as a stable system where each part contributes to the whole.
Question 2: The concept of 'cultural lag' refers to:
- The slow adoption of new languages
- The gap between technological change and cultural adaptation (Correct answer)
- The delay in population growth
- The decline of traditional values over time
Correct answer: The gap between technological change and cultural adaptation
Sociologist William F. Ogburn coined 'cultural lag' to describe the period when non-material culture struggles to keep pace with material/technological changes.
Question 3: In economics, the term 'opportunity cost' refers to:
- The monetary price of a product
- The total cost of production
- The value of the next best alternative foregone (Correct answer)
- The tax imposed on imported goods
Correct answer: The value of the next best alternative foregone
Opportunity cost is the value of the best alternative sacrificed when making a choice, a foundational concept in economic decision-making.
Question 4: Which branch of the U.S. government has the power to declare laws unconstitutional?
- The Executive Branch
- The Legislative Branch
- The Judicial Branch (Correct answer)
- The Federal Reserve
Correct answer: The Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch, particularly the Supreme Court, exercises judicial review to determine the constitutionality of laws, established in Marbury v. Madison (1803).
Question 5: Which psychological concept describes the tendency to favor information that confirms one's preexisting beliefs?
- Cognitive dissonance
- Confirmation bias (Correct answer)
- Availability heuristic
- Fundamental attribution error
Correct answer: Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, and recall information in a way that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs.
Question 6: The demographic transition model predicts that as countries industrialize, their population growth rates will:
- Increase rapidly and remain high
- First increase then stabilize or decline (Correct answer)
- Remain constant throughout development
- Decline immediately with industrialization
Correct answer: First increase then stabilize or decline
The demographic transition model shows that death rates fall first (causing population growth), followed eventually by falling birth rates, stabilizing population.
Question 7: In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which level must be satisfied before 'esteem needs' can be addressed?
- Self-actualization
- Safety needs
- Love and belonging needs (Correct answer)
- Physiological needs
Correct answer: Love and belonging needs
Maslow's hierarchy places love and belonging (social needs) directly below esteem needs, meaning social connection must be met before esteem can be pursued.
DSST Social Sciences 2
Which sociological perspective views society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability?