AIR 301 · CSE 2023 · Sociology I · 82 pages

Devashish Bindal: Sociology I answer copy

28 answers by Devashish Bindal, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)The Enlightenment period was a significant contributing factor to the emergence of sociology in the late 18th and early 19th century. Discuss.10 marks
  2. Q1(b)Critical social science embraces all those approaches in sociology that aim to be critical of society in order to facilitate social change. In this context, discuss the main features of critical social science.10 marks
  3. Q1(c)The closer the Hypothesis generated by a theory comes to the reality, the better is the theory. Discuss the importance of building hypothesis in this context.10 marks
  4. Q1(d)What is the Gig economy? How does it lead to Informalization of labour?10 marks
  5. Q1(e)Gender is not something that we innately have, but rather is something that we do. In this context, explain the gender differences reinforced when we "do gender."10 marks
  6. Q2(a)It is argued that the society is largely influenced by economic factors while economic processes are determined by the social conditions. Discuss.20 marks
  7. Q2(b)While quantitative research is useful for identifying relationships between variables, it is qualitative research that can illuminate why this connection exists. Discuss.20 marks
  8. Q2(c)Education is not only instrumental in bringing about social change, it is also instrumental in maintaining the status quo. Discuss.10 marks
  9. Q3(a)Low-income countries are not underdeveloped, rather mis-developed. In the light of this statement, critically examine dependency theories on development.20 marks
  10. Q3(b)People react to others first and foremost as men and women, rather than in terms of their class membership. In this context, critically examine the factors identified by Kate Millet that explain the existence of Patriarchy.20 marks
  11. Q3(c)What is Multivariate analysis? Discuss it in context of Durkheim's study of Suicide.10 marks
  12. Q4(a)Discuss the stages in which the institution of family evolved from pre-industrial society, according to Michael Young and Peter Willmott in their work "The Symmetric Family".20 marks
  13. Q4(b)Sociology has a body of concepts, methods and data which distinguishes it from Common sensical approach. Explain.20 marks
  14. Q4(c)Explain Alvin Gouldner's reflexive sociology as a critique of positivism.10 marks
  15. Q5(a)Write a short note on each of the following in not more than 150 words. (a) Feminisation of Labour Force is viewed as a progress towards women's emancipation and empowerment. Critically discuss.10 marks
  16. Q5(b)Law entails two interrelated processes: the institutionalization and the internalization of patterns of behaviour. Comment.10 marks
  17. Q5(c)Family is represented as a unit where relations are unequal and exploitative based on sex. Critically discuss.10 marks
  18. Q5(d)Science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom. Critically discuss.10 marks
  19. Q5(e)Critically discuss the role played by Positivist methodology to attain Value neutrality in sociological research.10 marks
  20. Q6(a)Sociology is a discipline that can explain both society and work towards a more just world. In this context, discuss Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a research methodology.20 marks
  21. Q6(b)Distinguish between the social organization of work in feudal society and in capitalist society.20 marks
  22. Q6(c)Define 'Sandwich generation' and discuss the problems associated with this generation by taking support of reports and data.10 marks
  23. Q7(a)Society gradually moves to an even higher state of civilization and that it advances in a linear fashion and in the direction of improvement. Discuss.20 marks
  24. Q7(b)Questionnaires are the most commonly used method of collecting data, as they are useful for gathering large quantities of data, but are faced with certain limitations. Examine.20 marks
  25. Q7(c)Supporters of Longitudinal studies see them as more likely to provide valid data than other types of research. Critically discuss.10 marks
  26. Q8(a)Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both. Discuss wrt C.W Mill's concept of Sociological imagination.20 marks
  27. Q8(b)Though the founding fathers of Sociology sought to establish it as an independent discipline with a distinct subject matter; contemporary sociology is characterised by an interdisciplinary approach. Explain.20 marks
  28. Q8(c)Phenomenologists study the way that humans place the external world into categories by distinguishing particular phenomena. Critically analyse.10 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 146 words written

The Enlightenment period was a significant contributing factor to the emergence of sociology in the late 18th and early 19th century. Discuss.

Opening

Enlightenment was a period of re-awakening from dark ages due to rise of scientific, commercial industrial and french revolutions

It contributed to emergence of sociology as →

Body · points

(1) scientific and commercial rev led to rise of middle class and change in estate system's hagemony (2) the Industrial revolution marked a shift to mass scale production (3) french revolution gave new ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity.

Close · a summary

Together these revolutions created a state of Anomie, where old norms had lost relevance and new norms had not yet solidified. This led to chaos in society.

Chaos invoked interest of thinkers to restore order and this led to birth of sociology in late 18th & early 19th century. The quest for systematic study of society was thus a result of chaos created by renaissance and enlightenment. Positivists like August Comte, Spencer and Durkheim became flagbearers of the new discipline.