AIR 821 · CSE 2025 · Sociology I · 31 pages

Nishanth T: Sociology I answer copy

8 answers by Nishanth T, 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.10 marks
  2. Q2With suitable examples, explain how Conformity & deviance coexist in a society as propounded by R.K. Merton.10 marks
  3. Q3What are informal organisations? Are NGOs informal organisations?10 marks
  4. Q4Explain the cybernetic theory of hierarchy of Talcott Parsons?10 marks
  5. Q5Describe the main idea of Max Weber's book, "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" as a critique of Marxism.20 marks
  6. Q6How does Marx view social conflict as an essential element in social change?20 marks
  7. Q7How has the idea of work from home forced us to redefine the formal and informal organisation of work?20 marks
  8. Q8Analyse the causes and impact of gendered division of labour on social organization of work.20 marks

The answers

Question 1 · 10 marks · 190 words written

Describe various characteristics of a 'social fact'. How is rate of suicide a social fact according to Durkheim.

Opening · a definition

Emile Durkheim created the concept of 'Social facts' which is defined as the phenomenon that exist independently outside the individual and influence the behaviour/actions of the individual.

Body · points

Characteristics of social fact:

  1. Externality: ↳ Social facts are "Sui-generis" - exist independently outside the individual.

  2. Coercive: ↳ They influence the behaviours of the individuals.

  3. Enduring: ↳ They continue to persist in all forms of societies in different forms.

  4. Collectivity: ↳ They are based on the general perspective of the society not of individuals.

  5. Distinct: ↳ They are not changable by individuals.

Rate of suicide is a social fact

Durkheim viewed 'suicide' as a social phenomenon rather than psychological phenomenon.

He considered it as social fact because

  1. suicide is determined by suicidogenic forces (degree of integration and degree of Regulation) external to individual.
  2. Certain suicide rates are present in all societies, collected from police records (empirical).
  3. Certain regularities can be seen in through different social variables (Gender, Religion, war, Marital status, development status).

Close

However, Durkheim failed to acknowledge the psychological / individualistic cause of suicide in his theory which later studied by post-positivists.