AIR 507 · CSE 2025 · Sociology I · 23 pages

Agnes Meritta Steffy: Sociology I answer copy

8 answers by Agnes Meritta Steffy, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1Describe various characteristics of a 'social fact'. How is rate of suicide a social fact according to Durkheim? (10M)10 marks
  2. Q2With suitable examples, explain how conformity and deviance coexist in a society as propounded by R.K. Merton.10 marks
  3. Q3What are informal organisations? Are NGOs informal organisations? (10M)10 marks
  4. Q4Talcott Parsons in his 'Social system' explained interrelations between subsystem through the 'cybernetic theory of hierarchy'. Explain the Cybernetic theory of hierarchy of Talcott Parsons? (10M)10 marks
  5. Q5Weber through his work 'the Protestant Ethic' stated that even superstructure can influence material or infrastructure as critique of Marx. Describe the main idea of Max Weber's book, 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism' as a critique of Marxism.20 marks
  6. Q6Marx as a conflict theorist viewed social conflict or class struggle as a catalyst to social change.20 marks
  7. Q7Work From Home has become the new normal after the covid-19 pandemic and advancements in technology. How has the idea of 'Work From Home' forced us to redefine the formal and informal organisation of work? (20M)20 marks
  8. Q8Analyse the causes and impact of gendered division of labour on social organisation of work.20 marks

The answers

Question 1 · 10 marks · 191 words written

Describe various characteristics of a 'social fact'. How is rate of suicide a social fact according to Durkheim? (10M)

Opening · a definition

Social fact according to Durkheim are ways of acting, thinking and feeling external to an individual which are enforced upon him by coercion and exercise control over him.

Characteristics of a 'social fact':-

Social fact is the subject matter of sociology eg. Religion. It has following features.

Body · points

  1. Externality - it is external to an individual in existence
  2. Constraining - It has constraining influence on individual action
  3. Generality - it is of general type and not specific type
  4. Independent - social fact can change individual but the opposite is not true

Suicide rate as a social fact:-

In his Le Suicide, Durkheim established suicide rate as a social fact.

  1. Suicide rate is based on external societal factors like integration and regulation, not based on psychology or individual factors.

  2. Suicide rate is constraining on individual actions eg. less suicide during war

  3. It is a general phenomenon in society

  4. Existence of suicide rate is independent of individual behaviour. eg. certain rate of suicide is seen in all the societies.

Close · a summary

Hence through social fact Durkheim tried to establish sociology as a positive discipline and laid its foundation.