AA Social Sciences 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which research method involves systematically watching and recording behavior in its natural setting without interference?
- Survey research
- Naturalistic observation (Correct answer)
- Controlled experiment
- Case study
Correct answer: Naturalistic observation
Naturalistic observation is a method where researchers watch subjects in their real-world environment without manipulating variables.
Question 2: The term 'ethnocentrism' refers to which of the following?
- The scientific study of ethnic groups
- Judging other cultures by the standards of one's own culture (Correct answer)
- Appreciation and respect for cultural differences
- The blending of multiple cultural traditions
Correct answer: Judging other cultures by the standards of one's own culture
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one's own culture as superior and to judge other cultures by its standards.
Question 3: In economics, a market is said to be in 'equilibrium' when:
- Government sets a fixed price for goods
- Quantity supplied equals quantity demanded (Correct answer)
- Consumers have perfect information
- Producers earn maximum profit
Correct answer: Quantity supplied equals quantity demanded
Market equilibrium occurs at the price where the quantity consumers want to buy equals the quantity producers want to sell.
Question 4: Which psychological concept describes the tendency to attribute one's own successes to internal factors while blaming failures on external ones?
- Cognitive dissonance
- Self-serving bias (Correct answer)
- Confirmation bias
- Fundamental attribution error
Correct answer: Self-serving bias
Self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to oneself and negative outcomes to external circumstances.
Question 5: In political science, a 'bicameral' legislature is one that:
- Is elected through proportional representation
- Has two separate chambers or houses (Correct answer)
- Is controlled by two dominant political parties
- Operates under a presidential system
Correct answer: Has two separate chambers or houses
A bicameral legislature consists of two chambers, such as the U.S. Congress with its Senate and House of Representatives.
Question 6: Which sociological concept refers to the process by which individuals learn the norms, values, and behaviors appropriate to their society?
- Stratification
- Socialization (Correct answer)
- Social mobility
- Deviance
Correct answer: Socialization
Socialization is the lifelong process through which people learn and internalize the cultural norms and values of their society.
Question 7: The 'multiplier effect' in economics refers to:
- The compounding of interest on savings accounts
- How an initial change in spending leads to a larger total change in output (Correct answer)
- The doubling of prices during hyperinflation
- The increase in production efficiency through specialization
Correct answer: How an initial change in spending leads to a larger total change in output
The multiplier effect describes how an initial injection of spending into the economy generates a larger cumulative increase in total income and output.
AA Social Sciences 2
Which research method involves systematically watching and recording behavior in its natural setting without interference?