Social Stratification: The Basics

Description: This quiz will test your understanding of the fundamental concepts related to social stratification. It covers topics such as the definition of social stratification, its different dimensions, and the major theories that explain how social stratification is maintained in society.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: social stratification sociology social inequality
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What is social stratification?

  1. The division of society into different social classes based on factors such as wealth, power, and prestige.

  2. The process by which individuals move from one social class to another.

  3. The study of how social inequality is maintained in society.

  4. The belief that some social groups are superior to others.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals and groups within a society based on their access to resources, power, and prestige.

Which of the following is NOT a dimension of social stratification?

  1. Economic class

  2. Political power

  3. Educational attainment

  4. Religious affiliation


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Religious affiliation is not typically considered a dimension of social stratification, as it does not directly determine an individual's access to resources, power, or prestige.

Which theory emphasizes the role of conflict and power struggles in maintaining social stratification?

  1. Functionalist theory

  2. Conflict theory

  3. Symbolic interactionist theory

  4. Social exchange theory


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Conflict theory argues that social stratification is maintained through conflict and power struggles between different social classes.

According to functionalist theory, what is the primary function of social stratification?

  1. To promote social mobility and equality.

  2. To maintain social order and stability.

  3. To encourage competition and innovation.

  4. To protect the rights of the disadvantaged.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Functionalist theory posits that social stratification serves to maintain social order and stability by assigning different roles and responsibilities to individuals based on their social position.

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism that maintains social stratification?

  1. Socialization

  2. Education

  3. Discrimination

  4. Social mobility


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals between different social classes, which can challenge the existing social stratification system.

What is the term for the process by which individuals move from one social class to another?

  1. Social mobility

  2. Social stratification

  3. Social inequality

  4. Social change


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals between different social classes, either upward or downward.

Which type of social mobility involves movement between different occupations?

  1. Horizontal mobility

  2. Vertical mobility

  3. Intergenerational mobility

  4. Intragenerational mobility


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Vertical mobility refers to movement between different social classes, typically based on changes in occupation or income.

What is the term for the movement of individuals between different social classes over multiple generations?

  1. Horizontal mobility

  2. Vertical mobility

  3. Intergenerational mobility

  4. Intragenerational mobility


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Intergenerational mobility refers to the movement of individuals between different social classes across generations, comparing their social position to that of their parents or grandparents.

Which theory emphasizes the role of cultural values and beliefs in maintaining social stratification?

  1. Functionalist theory

  2. Conflict theory

  3. Symbolic interactionist theory

  4. Social exchange theory


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Symbolic interactionist theory argues that social stratification is maintained through the shared cultural values and beliefs that legitimize the existing social hierarchy.

What is the term for the process by which individuals internalize the values and beliefs of their social class?

  1. Socialization

  2. Education

  3. Discrimination

  4. Social mobility


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Socialization refers to the process by which individuals learn and internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of their social group or society.

Which of the following is NOT a type of social stratification?

  1. Caste system

  2. Class system

  3. Estate system

  4. Gender stratification


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Gender stratification is not a type of social stratification in the same way that caste, class, and estate systems are, as it is based on biological sex rather than social or economic factors.

What is the term for the unequal distribution of resources, power, and prestige in society?

  1. Social stratification

  2. Social inequality

  3. Social mobility

  4. Social change


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Social inequality refers to the unequal distribution of resources, power, and prestige in society, which can lead to social stratification.

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of social stratification?

  1. Poverty and economic inequality

  2. Discrimination and prejudice

  3. Social mobility and equality

  4. Limited access to education and healthcare


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Social mobility and equality are not consequences of social stratification, but rather goals that societies strive to achieve in order to reduce social inequality.

What is the term for the belief that one's own social group is superior to others?

  1. Ethnocentrism

  2. Xenophobia

  3. Racism

  4. Sexism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ethnocentrism refers to the belief that one's own culture or social group is superior to others.

Which theory emphasizes the role of social exchange and reciprocity in maintaining social stratification?

  1. Functionalist theory

  2. Conflict theory

  3. Symbolic interactionist theory

  4. Social exchange theory


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Social exchange theory argues that social stratification is maintained through the exchange of resources and rewards between individuals and groups.

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