CAPE 2011

1. Which of the following BEST describes

sociology as a discipline? 6. A MAJOR difference between the positivists
(A) The systematic study of human social and interpretivists is that positivists
behaviour (A) use case studies while interpretivists
(B) Experimental designs of human use experiments
interaction (B) are micro-theorists while interpretivists
(C) The systematic study of individual are macro-theorists
behaviour (C) use quantitative research methods
(D) An understanding of the way things are while interpretivists use qualitative
in society research methods
(D) study human behaviour using
2. Which of the following are characteristics of qualitative methods while
empirical research? interpretivists use quantitative methods
I. The hypothesis is testable.
II. Data are interpreted and analysed 7. Which of the following thinkers are
III. Data are collected in a systematic associated with the development of
way sociology in the Caribbean?
IV. The hypothesis is confirmed or I. M.G. Smith
refuted II. Susan Craig
(A) I and II only III. Anthony Giddens
(B) I, II and III only IV. Rhoda Reddock
(C) II, III and IV only (A) I and II only
(D) I, II, III and IV (B) II and III only
(C) !, II and IV only
3. Which of the following theorists subscribes (D) I, II, III and IV
to the view that a shared culture is 8. A group of students are researching the
necessary if a society is to run smoothly? prevalence of drug abuse in a community.
(A) Marx Which sampling method may be BEST for
(B) Mead this study?
(C) Weber (A) Quota
(D) Durkheim (B) Random
(C) Snowball
4. A sociologist who decides to research the (D) Stratified
prevalence of teenage pregnancy across 9. According to Durkheim, a ‘social fact’ is
various generations in a society is pursuing (A) External to the individual
(A) A case study (B) Obvious in all institutions in society
(B) An in-depth study (C) Functional for social order and role
(C) A longitudinal study allocation
(D) A cross-sectional study (D) Necessary to maintain societal
integration
5. Which of the following terms describes the
process where the dominant culture is 10. Which of the following practical issues
imposed on the subordinate culture? should a sociologist consider before doing
(A) Assimilation research?
(B) Acculturation I. Cost of research
(C) Enculturation II. Access to information
(D) Counter culture III. Time required to do research
 IV. The availability of the information (C) Located within the wider society which
(A) I and III only has norms and values that differ from
(B) III and IV only those of mainstream society
(C) I, II and III only (D) Located within the substructure of
(D) I, II, III and IV society and are therefore exploited and
oppressed
11. When a research method is repeatedly
applied and consistently produces the same 16. Families meet the needs of society to
results in a study, it is said to be socialise children and reproduce new
(A) Reliable members.
(B) Relevant
(C) Standardised This statement MOST closely reflects
(D) Valid
(A) Marxism
12. Which of the following is the MAIN reason (B) Feminism
for using a multi-stage sample in research? (C) Functionalism
(A) It will allow for quick and easy analysis (D) Interactionism
of the data.
(B) A large geographical area can be 17. Maria, who has one son from a previous
covered in less time relationship, has married Marcel who has
(C) Important characteristics within the two daughters. They all live in the same
sample can be tested household. This family can be classified as
(D) All sample units have an unequal (A) Nuclear
chance of being selected (B) Extended
(C) Matrifocal
13. Social researchers are often criticized for (D) Reconstituted
not adhering to ethical principles in
research. Which of the following is NOT an 18. Which of the following theorists supports
ethical principle? the view that religion is NOT a barrier to
(A) The right to privacy social change?
(B) The consent of the participant (A) Karl Marx
(C) The right to research (B) Max Weber
(D) The publication of research findings (C) Talcott Parson
(D) Emile Durkheim
14. Professor X has demanded that his class
take part in his research. Non-participation 19. Matrifocality among black families in the
will result in failure in the course. What Caribbean is a result of
ethical issue was breached by Professor X? I. Male marginality
(A) Risk of harm II. Male dominance
(B) Confidentiality III. African retentions
(C) Informed consent IV. Polygamous unions
(D) Voluntary participation (A) I and II only
(B) I and III only
15. A subculture can BEST be defined as a group (C) II and IV only
(A) Whose cultural traits have been (D) III and IV only
assimilated into modern society
(B) That has certain cultural traits which are 20. Which of the following features is
inferior to those of the wider society characteristic of a sect?
 (A) Its membership rejects the beliefs of
others.
(B) It does not seek to change inequality
(C) It limits its membership to a specific
class
(D) Members can belong to other religious
groups
21. Which of the following theoretical
perspectives suggests that labelling is used
to explain how teacher expectations are
linked to educational performance?
(A) Marxist
(B) Subcultural
(C) Interactionist
(D) Functionalist
22. A meritocracy is a system in which rewards
and social positions are based on
(A) class and gender
(B) ability and ethnicity
(C) achievement and class
(D) ability and achievement
23. Which of the following can be considered a
similarity between the family based on a
common-law union and the family based on
a visiting union?
(A) In both units there are stable father
figures
(B) The mother is more likely to be the
head of the household in each unit
(C) Both types of units are relatively stable
(D) Both family types are recognised as
legal entities.
24. Education policy in the post-colonial
Caribbean society aimed at giving equal
access to all social groups. Which of the
following terms describes this type of
society?
(A) Closed
(B) Stratified
(C) Ascriptive
(D) Meritocratic
25. The Marxist view of education stresses that
(A) Society rewards individuals for hard
work
(B) Education allows the elite and
dominate society
(C) Individuals acquire skills which
allow them to meet societal goals.
(D) Education facilitates the teaching of
norms and values to young people
26. Rastafarianism is characterised as a
syncretic religion because it is
(A) Monotheistic in nature
(B) Practised by all classes
(C) A religion that was formed exclusively in
the Caribbean
(D) Derived from African, European and
East Indian religious practices
27. Secularisation may BEST be described as
(A) An enrichment of religious beliefs
(B) An increase in religious practices
(C) The reduction of religious influences
(D) The growth in the number of religious
sects
28. Karl Marx argued that religion
(A) Promotes positive change
(B) Justifies poverty and oppression
(C) Unites the different social classes
(D) Promotes alienation from production
29. Which of the following reasons BEST
explains academic underachievement
among students from working-class
families?
(A) Lower IQ level
(B) Poor work ethic
(C) Home environment
(D) Uneducated parents
30. ‘The education system reinforces gender
stereotyping.’ This perspective is BEST
 illustrated in which of the following Item 35 refers to the following information.
statements? John’s brother, James, is a cleaner at a local car
(A) Females outnumber males at tertiary company. John recently attained his degree at
level institutions the University and was employed as a business
(B) Females are expected to pursue non- manager in a prestigious organisation.
technical subjects
(C) Males underachieve in school because 35. Which of the following types of social
teachers are predominantly female mobility describes John’s experience?
(D) Males value non-academic routes to (A) Vertical
success more than their female (B) Horizontal
counterparts. (C) Intragenerational
(D) Intergenerational
31. Doctors are of greater importance to
society than janitors; therefore they should 36. Which of the following BEST describes
be placed higher on the stratification scale. intergenerational mobility?
(A) The son of a labourer becomes a
This statement MOST closely reflects the labourer
views of (B) After ten years of formal education, a
skilled mechanic becomes a lawyer
(A) Best and Levitt (C) Mary was demoted to clerical worker
(B) Davis and Moore after working as an administrative
(C) Marx and Engels assistant for 10 years.
(D) Young and Wilmott (D) Jane became a hospital receptionist and
subsequently her daughter became a
32. Which of the following theorists is medical doctor.
associated with a historical perspective of
social stratification in the Caribbean? 37. According to the functionalist perspective
(A) K. Marx social mobility is restricted in
(B) M.G. Smith (A) Open societies
(C) G. Beckford (B) Meritocracies
(D) S. Craig (C) Modern societies
(D) Closed societies
33. Carl, born to a poor family in Trinidad, has
become an educated politician at the age of 38. Which of the following reasons BEST
40 years. Which of the following BEST accounts for the ‘open’ system of
describes this type of mobility? stratification in Caribbean society?
(A) Vertical (A) The upper class has maintained its
(B) Relative privilege over other social classes.
(C) Absolute (B) Government policy has promoted equal
(D) Horizontal access to education and employment
opportunities
34. The Marxist term for the ‘working class’ is (C) Women still advocate for greater access
(A) Serf to education and employment
(B) Peasant opportunities
(C) Proletariat (D) Education and employment
(D) Bourgeoisie opportunities are unequally distributed
across all classes.
39. Which of the following BEST illustrate the
views of Max Weber and Karl Marx on social 42. Which of the following factors BEST
stratification? accounts for the change in the Caribbean
I. Institutions in society, in particular social structure from closed to open?
the economy, are critical to shaping I. New job opportunities
society. II. Political independence
II. Status is critical to an understanding III. Creation of new wealth
of stratification in society. IV. Availability of education
III. The powerful in society use their
ideas and values to control the (A) I and II only
powerless. (B) I and IV only
IV. The unequal distribution of (C) I, III and IV only
resources in society result in (D) II, III and IV only
economic classes with varying
degrees of power. 43. Which of the following factors has had the
(A) I,II and III only LEAST impact on the change in gender roles
(B) I,III, IV only in the Caribbean over the last 50 years?
(C) II,III, and IV only (A) Political independence
(D) I,II,III,IV (B) Secularisation
(C) Use of contraceptives
(D) Educational opportunities
40. The functionalist view of stratification is
BEST reflected in the belief that it 44. In a closed society, which determinant will
I. Is universal and shapes the social LEAST affect a person’s social position?
system (A) Race
II. Facilitates the optimal functioning (B) Education
of society and the individual (C) Skin colour
III. Is an expression of the commonly (D) Family ancestry
shared values of powerful groups
IV. Arises from the societal need for 45. Which of the following statement are TRUE
integration, coordination and of gender mobility?
cohesion I. More women than men are
(A) I and III only enrolled in tertiary education
(B) I and IV only II. Males are less likely to get top jobs
(C) II and IV only today as a result of patriarchy
(D) III and IV only III. Females outnumber males in
clerical and secretarial occupations
41. Social stratification provides an effective IV. Women do not face discrimination
mechanism for role allocation. in the labour market
This view is associated with: (A) I and III only
(A) Davis and Moore (B) I and IV only
(B) Tumin and Smith (C) II and III only
(C) Weber and Marx (D) II and IV only
(D) Durkheim and Beckford