AIR 45 · CSE 2024 · Sociology I · 54 pages

Malavika G Nair: Sociology I answer copy

17 answers by Malavika G Nair, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)Sociology is the queen of social sciences. In the light of this statement, discuss why sociology is considered as last of all social sciences.10 marks
  2. Q1(b)Though Positivism became a powerful sociological method, it had its critics. Elucidate.10 marks
  3. Q1(c)Reliability and validity in social research are pre-requisites. Explain the concepts and their significance. Access to quality education contributes to breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering upward social mobility? Discuss.10 marks
  4. Q1(d)Could you elaborate on the diverse types of family structures prevalent in today's societies?10 marks
  5. Q2(a)Quantitative and Qualitative research can neither produce totally valid and completely reliable data, but both can provide useful insights into social life. In this context, provide the significance of 'methodological pluralism' in social research.20 marks
  6. Q2(b)“The family may well be dysfunctional both for society and its individual members”. Evaluate the statement with the help of sociological perspectives.20 marks
  7. Q2(c)Common sense is considered as way of mundane life, but sociology examines the mundane life. Explain.10 marks
  8. Q5(a)The alternatives to the institution of the marriage are leading to its disintegration. Identify the causes and comment on the validity of the statement.10 marks
  9. Q5(b)Clarify the correlation between Sociology and political science.10 marks
  10. Q5(c)What is sampling? Which sampling technique would be suitable to study voting behaviour of people? Explain How do online platforms contribute to the dynamics of social and political change in contemporary society?10 marks
  11. Q6(a)Examine the impact of information technology on social organization of work in contemporary society.20 marks
  12. Q6(b)Is society seen as a harmonious system with gradual changes to maintain stability, or is it viewed as a battleground where conflicts between groups drive significant transformations? Discuss in context of functionalist and conflict theory of social change.20 marks
  13. Q6(c)Techniques of data collection play crucial role in social research. Describe case studies as a technique of data collection in social research.10 marks
  14. Q7(a)How does structural-functional theoretical framework explain the functions of kinship systems in maintaining social order and stability?20 marks
  15. Q7(b)Surveys have become part and parcel of modern life, constituting almost an industry. In this context, critically evaluate the usefulness of survey as a research method.20 marks
  16. Q7(c)"History without Sociology has no fruit, Sociology without History has no root". Critically discuss10 marks
  17. Q8(a)Many of the founders of sociology believed that sociology could and should be value-free. Critically evaluate their beliefs.10 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 196 words written

Sociology is the queen of social sciences. In the light of this statement, discuss why sociology is considered as last of all social sciences.

Opening

Comte called sociology as the Queen of social sciences. Comte viewed Sociology as a 'synthetic school' which sought to subsume and explain all other sciences.

Why sociology is the last of sciences

Body · points

  1. Evolutionist View of Comte:
Diagram
Inorganic → Organic → Super Organic (SOCIETY) PHYSICS/CHEMISTRY → BIOLOGY → SOCIOLOGY

Same view was echoed by Spencer i.e Society is super organic and last to evolve → so will the science of society.

  1. Positivism was used by St. simmon and Comte to explain the complex of all phenomena- social phenomena.

  2. Sociology considered as a 'generalizing' science by Sorokin.

  3. Scope of sociology is all encompassing

Eg) Durkheim viewed Economic theories of Social Division of Labour by Adam smith, too simplistic and incomplete without social implications.

  1. Subject matter of sociology is very wide. Eg) Parson's theory which sought to explain entire social reality.

  2. Sociology uses both positivistic methods like natural sciences eg) scientific method (Karl Popper) as well as subjective meanings (Weber).

Close · a summary

Counterviews : Merton says sociologist should aim for middle range theories and grand theories of Parsons is trying to be Einstein when there is no 'Kepler' in social sciences.

Sociology though wide in scope now has diversified today with multiple subdisciplines and is still evolving.