Which of the following is NOT a method for controlling microorganisms?

The correct response highlights that social control is not a method specifically used to control microorganisms. Physical control methods include techniques like heat, radiation, or filtration, which serve to reduce or eliminate microbial populations. Chemical control involves the use of disinfectants, antiseptics, and antibiotics aimed at killing or inhibiting the growth of microbes. Biological control utilizes natural organisms or substances to manage microbial populations, such as employing beneficial bacteria to outcompete harmful pathogens.

In contrast, social control refers to societal measures and norms that regulate behavior and has no direct application in the context of controlling microbial growth. While it may play a role in public health measures or the promotion of hygiene practices, it does not constitute a method for directly combating microorganisms within the scientific framework of microbiology. This distinction clarifies why social control does not belong among the recognized methods for controlling microorganisms.