DSST Social Sciences 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which concept in sociology refers to the advantages that individuals gain simply by belonging to a dominant social group?
- Social mobility
- Cultural capital
- Social privilege (Correct answer)
- Stratification
Correct answer: Social privilege
Social privilege refers to unearned advantages that members of dominant groups receive due to their race, gender, class, or other social characteristics.
Question 2: The Monroe Doctrine (1823) established the U.S. policy of:
- Open trade with all nations
- Opposing European colonization and intervention in the Americas (Correct answer)
- Neutrality in all foreign wars
- Expanding U.S. territory westward
Correct answer: Opposing European colonization and intervention in the Americas
The Monroe Doctrine declared that the Western Hemisphere was closed to further European colonization and that U.S. intervention would follow any European attempts at expansion in the Americas.
Question 3: In research methodology, 'validity' refers to:
- The consistency of results when a study is repeated
- The degree to which a measurement actually measures what it claims to measure (Correct answer)
- The size of the sample used in a study
- The ethical standards followed in data collection
Correct answer: The degree to which a measurement actually measures what it claims to measure
Validity measures whether a research instrument or method accurately captures the concept it is intended to measure, distinguishing it from reliability (consistency).
Question 4: Which theory of international relations argues that states are the primary actors and that they compete for power in an anarchic system?
- Liberalism
- Constructivism
- Realism (Correct answer)
- Marxism
Correct answer: Realism
Realism holds that states are rational, self-interested actors operating in an anarchic international system where power and security are the primary concerns.
Question 5: The concept of 'supply-side economics' advocates for:
- Higher taxes on corporations to fund public services
- Government spending programs to boost consumer demand
- Tax cuts for businesses and investors to stimulate economic growth (Correct answer)
- Strict trade protections to preserve domestic jobs
Correct answer: Tax cuts for businesses and investors to stimulate economic growth
Supply-side economics holds that reducing taxes and regulation on businesses and high-income earners will stimulate investment, production, and economic growth.
Question 6: Émile Durkheim's concept of 'anomie' describes a condition where:
- Social norms are too strict and individuals feel oppressed
- Social norms break down and individuals feel disconnected and normless (Correct answer)
- Economic inequality leads to class conflict
- Religion loses its social influence
Correct answer: Social norms break down and individuals feel disconnected and normless
Durkheim used 'anomie' to describe a state of normlessness where societal standards weaken, leaving individuals without moral guidance, often linked to rapid social change.
Question 7: Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted women the right to vote?
- 13th Amendment
- 15th Amendment
- 19th Amendment (Correct answer)
- 26th Amendment
Correct answer: 19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, prohibits denying U.S. citizens the right to vote on the basis of sex, granting women the right to vote nationwide.
DSST Social Sciences 5
Which concept in sociology refers to the advantages that individuals gain simply by belonging to a dominant social group?