AIR 13 · CSE 2021 · Sociology I · 46 pages

Priyamvada Ashok Mhaddalkar: Sociology I answer copy

19 answers by Priyamvada Ashok Mhaddalkar, 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. (a) Critically examine the importance of comparative method in sociological research.10 marks
  2. Q1(b)"The contestations regarding 'Positivism' has, enriched the discipline of Sociology". Analyse.10 marks
  3. Q1(c)Sociology emerged in France but consolidated and made a very fast expansion in USA. Comment.10 marks
  4. Q1(d)"Critical ethnography certainly retains problems despite attempts by some sociologists to develop it and overcome objections." Discuss.10 marks
  5. Q1(e)The 'union' of anthropology and sociology is considered to be desirable and favorable, despite their distinctive areas of specialization. Elucidate.10 marks
  6. Q2(a)"Methodological pluralism is an increasingly common feature of social research." In the context of this statement, discuss the ways in which multi-strategy research can be used.20 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)"Sociology and common sense share a complimentary relationship". Comment.10 marks
  9. Q3(a)Describe the understanding and broad contours of sampling. How sampling enhances the scientific validity of social research efforts.20 marks
  10. Q3(b)"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.20 marks
  11. Q3(c)"Scope of Sociology has been defined differently by different scholars during different times". Substantiate this statement with proper validation.10 marks
  12. Q5(a)Write a short note on each of the following in not more than 150 words. (a) "Marriage is no longer the popular institution in today's modern society". Critically analyse.10 marks
  13. Q5(b)"Technology is the key to understanding social change today". Critically analyse.10 marks
  14. Q5(c)The amount of unpaid labor performed by women is very large and profitable to those who own means of production. Discuss.10 marks
  15. Q5(d)Development is a type of social change in society which is often equated with growth, progress or evolution. In this context, discuss various dimensions of development.10 marks
  16. Q5(e)Discuss briefly the "linear theories of social change".10 marks
  17. Q8(a)Societies are characterised by diversity of household and family types, and the idea of a 'typical family' is misleading. Critically analyse. Also, bring out the reasons for the continued existence of joint families in India.20 marks
  18. Q8(b)Is social change evolutionary or revolutionary? Discuss this statement in context of Marxian and Parsonian idea of social change.20 marks
  19. Q8(c)Trace the changing nature of organisation of work during the times of pandemic in a capitalistic society.10 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 160 words written

Write a short note on each of the following in not more than 150 words. (a) Critically examine the importance of comparative method in sociological research.

Opening · a definition

None written.

Body · points and prose

Comparative method in sociological research is used for comparative analysis of societies or different groups within the same society.

This method of sociological research has played a very important role in the development of the discipline of sociology.

The major sociologists like Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim have all used comparative method to arrive at their sociological explanations.

Victor Jupp mentions three different types of methods → content analysis (comparing using documents) historical analysis (using historical

texts for analysis and the third type being comparison using official statistics.

Advantages of Comparative Method

  1. can be used for both qualitative and quantitative research
  2. Less moral issues i.e prior informed consent compared to experimental method.
  3. elimination of Hawthorne effect → no artificial setting
  4. can be used to study causality and correlation

Disadvantages

  1. Lack of exact study
  2. Researcher bias → data selection

Close · a summary

Thus, despite its limitations the comparative method plays an important role in sociological research