AIR 121 · CSE 2019 · Sociology I · 70 pages

Neha Bandhu: Sociology I answer copy

27 answers by Neha Bandhu, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)Write a short note on each of the following in not more than 150 words. 10 x 5 = 50m (a) “Economic life is embedded in social life”. Critically analyze.10 marks
  2. Q1(b)Criticism of "Critical social research".10 marks
  3. Q1(c)Cybernetic hierarchy of control10 marks
  4. Q1(d)Discuss the importance of 'Pilot Studies' in sociological research.10 marks
  5. Q1(e)1. (e) "Anticipatory Socialization"10 marks
  6. Q2(a)"History without Sociology has no fruit, Sociology without History has no root". Critically discuss20 marks
  7. Q2(b)"Sociology could and should be value free". Critically examine the statement with respect to various sociological perspectives.20 marks
  8. Q2(c)"Researchers argue that 'interviews', produce masses of information, which may neither be valid nor reliable". In the context of this statement, discuss advantages and disadvantages of Interview as a tool of data collection.10 marks
  9. Q3(a)"For Marx, the history of mankind is not only a history of class struggle but also of the increasing alienation of man". Discuss.20 marks
  10. Q3(b)Draw a comparison between Durkheim's functional model and Marx conflict model in their treatment of the concept of 'division of labour'.20 marks
  11. Q3(c)"The contestations regarding 'Positivism' has, enriched the discipline of Sociology". Analyse.10 marks
  12. Q4(a)Sociology under Weber, through his interpretative approach asserted its ‘uniqueness’ and ‘distinctiveness’ from the physical sciences. Examine20 marks
  13. Q4(b)Critically examine to what extent the concept of 'latent and manifest functions' evolved by Robert .K. Merton , has given greater 'significance and relevance' to the 'functional analysis' in understanding social reality .20 marks
  14. Q4(c)"Historical Materialism is Economic determinism". Critically analyse10 marks
  15. Q5(b)Education and cultural reproduction
  16. Q5(c)"Patriarchal values reinforce 'gendered roles' in society". Discuss
  17. Q5(d)5. (d) "New religious Movements"
  18. Q5(e)Social implications of 'Mobility'
  19. Q6(a)The institution of family, despite it's 'functionality' has been criticized by many. Discuss.20 marks
  20. Q6(b)"Poverty, like any other social phenomena, survives because it is 'useful to society or some of its parts". Discuss.20 marks
  21. Q6(c)Briefly discuss the "cyclical theories" of social change.10 marks
  22. Q7(a)The pluralistic theories of power seem closer to empirical reality but they have certain limitations in their understanding of power. Critically evaluate20 marks
  23. Q7(b)Critically examine the concept of 'social movements' from different sociological perspectives.20 marks
  24. Q7(c)"Civil society plays a significant role in building and consolidating democracy". Discuss10 marks
  25. Q8(a)"Marriage is no longer the popular institution in today's modern society". Critically analyse.20 marks
  26. Q8(b)Critically examine "functional theories of religion".20 marks
  27. Q8(c)Critically evaluate the 'impact of automation' on the workers in the industrial and post-industrial societies.10 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 329 words written

Write a short note on each of the following in not more than 150 words. 10 x 5 = 50m (a) “Economic life is embedded in social life”. Critically analyze.

Opening · no separate opening

None written.

Body · points

(a) “Economic life is embedded in social life”. Critically analyze.

Economic life is driven by economic factors present in market situation. This view was given by Utilitarians like Adam Smith, Bentham etc.

  • However, Durkheim contradicted this view showing how economic life is embedded in social life through his theory of division of labour which is a social fact, as society changes so does DOL.

Subsequent sociologists also showed how economic habits depend upon social life (Goldthorpe, Smelser) who argued saving habits, spending habits depend upon our social stratification and socialisation. This is shown in 'affluent worker theory' where rise in salary did not give a proportionate rise in working class's children's education.

'Veblen' through his theory showed how 'leisure class' goes for 'conspicuous consumption' for maintaining their social status, for eg: economic spendings on T.V etc. depend upon social sanction of it belonging to higher class.

Marx also analysed how economics and social life are interrelated.

This way economic life is embedded in social life however economic factor is crucial in analysing it.

  1. (a) Dimensions of 'Social exclusion'

'Social exclusion' is defined as a multi-dimension problem in which one is deprived from participating in social system, political system, cultural system, etc. This shows multi-dimensional deprivation:

  1. Political dimension: In it, a group is excluded from participating in voting, protest, movement, forming pressure groups etc. for instance: In countries, transgenders are not given political importance thus do not much participate in voting etc.

  2. Cultural dimension: Culture of one is seen with suspicious eyes for eg: Minorities

  3. Social system dimension: Group is deprived from mainstream community thus goes for face beach, marginalisation etc. for instance: untouchables, HIV declared people etc.

  4. Economic dimension:

Close · a summary

Group mostly outside regular jobs and employment eg: Ethnicisation of occupation, Scavengers in India

Therefore 'exclusion' is multi-dimensional and bigger deprivation than poverty which is mostly economic. Exclusion is difficult to cure. In current world poverty is declining but exclusion based inequality is increasing.