AIR 517 · CSE 2025 · Sociology I · 82 pages

Nikhil Kashiba Tambe: Sociology I answer copy

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

The questions

  1. Q1(a)"Common sense is sociological nonsense." How far do you agree with the assertion in context of 21st century sociology?10 marks
  2. Q1(b)Examine the growth of the gig economy as a new form of informal work. What implications does it have for job security and labor rights?10 marks
  3. Q1(c)"Modernization does not necessarily lead to development." Analyze.10 marks
  4. Q1(d)Explain the concept of fictive kinship and its significance in forming social bonds. How does it operate in modern societies?10 marks
  5. Q1(e)Discuss how has the information revolution impacted social change in developing societies?10 marks
  6. Q2(a)Compare and contrast evolutionary and conflict theories of social change. What does each perspective reveal about societal transformation?20 marks
  7. Q2(b)Explain the concept of triangulation in research. How does it enhance the validity and reliability of sociological studies?20 marks
  8. Q2(c)Analyse the relationship between sociology and welfare economics, with special reference to Indian society.10 marks
  9. Q3(a)Discuss the concepts of fact, value, and objectivity in sociological research. Can sociology ever be entirely value-free?20 marks
  10. Q3(b)Discuss the role of education as an agent of social change, with reference to issues of social mobility, equality, and empowerment.20 marks
  11. Q3(c)Examine the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the future of work. What are its implications for developing economies?10 marks
  12. Q4(a)Compare and contrast the positivist and interpretive approaches in sociology, highlighting their methodologies and areas of strength.20 marks
  13. Q4(b)"One is not born a woman, but becomes one." In this context discuss feminist challenge of traditional kinship and family systems.20 marks
  14. Q4(c)Define Ulrich Beck's concept of the 'risk society.' How does the concept of risk influence contemporary social change?10 marks
  15. Q5(a)"Scientific method can be effectively applied to study social phenomena." Do you agree?10 marks
  16. Q5(b)"Alienation remains a relevant concept in understanding modern workplace dynamics." Comment with reference to digital workspaces.10 marks
  17. Q5(c)"Phenomenology represents the most radical departure from the 'scientific' methodology". Critically analyse.10 marks
  18. Q5(d)"Power dynamics in the formal sector today are increasingly driven by a gender-neutral work culture." Critically examine.10 marks
  19. Q5(e)How do cultural factors influence the pace and direction of social change in traditional societies?10 marks
  20. Q6(a)Discuss the rise of single-parent and cohabiting families in contemporary society. What are the social and economic implications of these trends?20 marks
  21. Q6(b)How modernity influenced the intellectual development of sociology or shaped sociology's focus on issues of social order and change?20 marks
  22. Q6(c)Examine the strengths and limitations of ethnography as a research method in sociology.10 marks
  23. Q7(a)Discuss how the integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches (mixed methods) can enhance sociological research. Give examples.20 marks
  24. Q7(b)With the rise of nuclear modern families, the relevance of kinship studies in the sociological analysis is reducing. Do you agree?20 marks
  25. Q7(c)Analyze the relationship between division of labor and social solidarity in industrial societies.10 marks
  26. Q8(a)Discuss Max Weber's theory of rationalization and its impact on social change in modern society. Provide contemporary examples.20 marks
  27. Q8(b)Discuss how the traditional functions of marriage are increasingly replaced by contractual and consumer-driven roles.20 marks
  28. Q8(c)Critically analyze the Dependency Theory in understanding social change in developing countries. How does it explain the global inequalities in development?10 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 168 words written

"Common sense is sociological nonsense." How far do you agree with the assertion in context of 21st century sociology?

Opening · a definition

Common sense refers to such knowledge that aids humans to carry out everyday tasks or interaction.

Body · points

Common sense: As sociological nonsense

(1) Common sense is pseudo-scientific, naturalistic, individually subjective and unreflective - that it doesnot question its origin.

(2) Common sense is non-self corrective, non-empirical, non-objective and superficial.

(3) Sociology originated in 18th-19th Century while common sense originated when humans homo sapiens were born.

(4) Common sense is not a science, doesnot use scientific method and has no definite methodology.

(5) Alan Bryman posits that common sense lacks validity.

(6) Common-sense doesnot study social change or latent functions of human social behaviour.

(7) Common-sense is vulnerable to informative influence, Sociology isnt.

Use of commonsense in Sociology of 21st Century

(1) Use to form hypothesis for deductive sociologists (Karl Popper)

(2) Used to question conclusion of a study or hypotheses or for logical validitation.

(3) Giddens argued that sociology with time becomes part of common sense.

(4) Carl Taylor: A good sociology is mixture of science and common sense.

Close · no separate close

None written.