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Terms, Concepts and their Use in Sociology – Class 11 Sociology notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 11 Sociology, chapter 2. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Sociology uses special concepts to describe and analyse social life precisely. Important concepts include social groups (primary and secondary), in-groups and out-groups, reference groups, peer groups, status and role, social stratification and social control. These terms help sociologists study how people relate to one another and how society is organised.

Social groups

A social group is a collection of people who interact regularly, share a sense of belonging and have common goals; a crowd or a queue is a quasi-group.
Primary groups (Charles Cooley), such as family and close friends, are small, face-to-face and personal; secondary groups, such as offices and associations, are larger, formal and goal-oriented.
In-groups give a sense of 'we'; out-groups are 'they'; reference groups are those whose standards people use to judge themselves; peer groups are of equal age or status.

Status, role, stratification and control

Status is a position in society; ascribed status is given by birth, achieved status is earned; role is the expected behaviour attached to a status, and role conflict arises when roles clash.
Social stratification is the ranking of groups in a hierarchy based on caste, class, gender or estate.
Social control is the set of ways society regulates behaviour; formal control uses laws, police and courts, while informal control uses customs, gossip and ridicule.

Key terms

Primary group: a small group with close, face-to-face relationships
Secondary group: a large, formal and impersonal group
Ascribed status: status given by birth, such as caste or sex
Achieved status: status earned through effort, such as doctor or teacher
Social control: ways through which society regulates individual behaviour

Important questions with answers

Distinguish between ascribed and achieved status.2 marks

Ascribed status is a social position given at birth or assigned without effort, such as caste, sex or age. Achieved status is a position earned through one's effort, ability or choice, such as being a doctor, engineer or sportsperson.

What are primary and secondary groups?3 marks

Primary groups are small groups with intimate, face-to-face, long-lasting relationships, such as family and close friends. Secondary groups are larger, formal and impersonal groups formed for specific goals, such as offices, political parties and clubs.

Explain the concepts of social stratification and social control.5 marks

Social stratification is the system by which society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy, so that they have unequal access to wealth, power and prestige. It is a characteristic of society, not just individual differences; it persists over generations; and it is supported by beliefs that make it seem legitimate. Major forms include slavery, estates in medieval Europe, caste in India and class in modern industrial societies; gender is also a basis of stratification. Social control refers to the various means by which society regulates the behaviour of individuals and groups to maintain order. Functionalists see it as necessary for stability, while conflict theorists see it as a way for dominant groups to maintain power. Formal social control is exercised through codified rules and official agencies such as laws, the police, courts and the state, with defined sanctions. Informal social control works through personal, unofficial means such as customs, traditions, religion, praise, gossip, ridicule and social pressure from family, neighbours and peer groups. Both forms of control shape behaviour, and informal control is especially strong in small, close-knit communities.

Quick revision

Social group versus quasi-group.
Primary and secondary groups (Cooley); in-group, out-group, reference group.
Status (ascribed, achieved) and role; role conflict.
Stratification; formal and informal control.

Exam tips

Give one example each of primary group, secondary group, ascribed status and achieved status.
Distinguish formal and informal social control.

Practice MCQs

A family is an example of a
1. secondary group
2. primary group
3. quasi-group
4. out-group
Show answer
Answer: (b) primary group. It has close face-to-face ties.
Status given by birth is called
1. achieved status
2. class
3. role
4. ascribed status
Show answer
Answer: (d) ascribed status. Caste is an example.
The expected behaviour attached to a status is called
1. role
2. group
3. norm only
4. class
Show answer
Answer: (a) role. A teacher's role is to teach.
The concept of primary group was given by
1. Karl Marx
2. Max Weber
3. Charles Cooley
4. Comte
Show answer
Answer: (c) Charles Cooley. He stressed face-to-face relations.
People waiting at a bus stop form a
1. primary group
2. reference group
3. secondary group
4. quasi-group
Show answer
Answer: (d) quasi-group. They lack lasting interaction.
Laws, police and courts are means of
1. informal social control
2. stratification
3. formal social control
4. socialisation only
Show answer
Answer: (c) formal social control. They involve official sanctions.
A working mother who must attend an office meeting while her child is ill experiences
1. stratification
2. ascribed status
3. role conflict
4. social mobility
Show answer
Answer: (c) role conflict. Two roles make conflicting demands.
A group whose standards people use to evaluate themselves is a
1. peer group
2. reference group
3. out-group
4. quasi-group
Show answer
Answer: (b) reference group. People may not belong to it.

All chapters of Class 11 Sociology

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.