When a person changes from one position to another position of equal status, it is called?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Horizontal mobility refers to the movement of an individual from one social position to another of the same rank or social class.
The defining characteristic is the absence of any change in the person's position within the social hierarchy.
An example is a nurse who works in a government hospital transferring to a private hospital in the same role and with similar pay and responsibilities.

Option A: Downward mobility involves a decrease in social status, which contradicts the 'equal status' condition in the question.
Option B: Upward mobility involves an increase in social status, which contradicts the 'equal status' condition.
Option C: Vertical mobility is a broader category that includes both upward and downward movement. The question specifies a move between equal statuses, which is more precisely defined as horizontal mobility.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Types of Social Mobility as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding social mobility helps nurses recognize the social and economic factors affecting a patient's health and access to care.
In a professional context, nurses experience both horizontal mobility (e.g., moving from a medical ward to a surgical ward) and vertical mobility (e.g., advancing from a staff nurse to a nurse manager or clinical nurse specialist).
Recognizing career pathways helps in professional development and planning for nurses.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question stem: 'position of equal status'.
Recall the definitions of the different types of social mobility provided in the options.
Analyze the terms: 'Horizontal' suggests movement at the same level, while 'Vertical' suggests movement up or down.
Match the key phrase 'equal status' with the definition of horizontal mobility, which is a change in position without a change in rank.
Eliminate the other options: 'Upward' and 'Downward' mobility are types of 'Vertical' mobility, and all three imply a change in status, which contradicts the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QETsbaa8s41BsWeWTxj3pG

E6 Applied Sociology for Nurses TK Indrani pp. 184-186, 185-187, 183-185

Practise the full DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.