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In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 1 SOCIAL STRUCTURE, STRATIFICATION AND SOCIAL PRESSURE IN SOCIETYNCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON SOCIAL STRUCTURE, STRATIFICATION AND SOCIAL PRESSURE IN SOCIETY

Question 1.
Explain the concept of status.
Answer:
The term ‘status’ has two meanings in sociology:

1. It refers to the position a person occupies in the social structure, such as a teacher or doctor. This status (position) may be ascribed or achieved.
2. Status refers to a form of social stratification in which social positions are ranked and organised by legal, political and cultural criteria into status groups.

Question 2.
What are Norms? Explain its importance.
Answer:
Norms are shared expectations of behaviour. It connotes what is considered culturally desirable and appropriate.
Norms are similar to rules or regulations in prescriptive, although they lack the formal status of rules.
The sociological concept of norm is closely related to that of ‘role’, which is commonly defined as a set of norms attached to social position.

Question 3.
Distinguish between mechanical and organic solidarity.
Answer:

• According to Durkheim, traditional cultures with a low division of labour are characterised by mechanical solidarity.
• Most of the members of the society are involved in similar occupations. They are bound together by common experience and shared beliefs.
• According to Durkheim, societies characterised and held together by people’s economic interdependence and a recognition of the importance of others contributions are called organic solidarity.
• Its division of labour becomes more complex, people become more and more dependent on each other.
• Relationships of economic reciprocity and mutual dependency come to replace shared beliefs in creating social consensus.

Question 4.
How voluntary cooperation is different from enforced cooperation?
Answer:
Cooperation may be voluntary, may be enforced. It depends on the situation.
In agricultural operations different members of the group perform different activities. They grow different crops. Some focus on fishing or growing vegetables and some perform supportive activities. For example, preparing tools and equipment. They all cooperate each other to get good harvest. This is voluntary cooperation, which is intrinsic in nature.

But the factory workers do cooperate with the owners in performing their tasks because total production depends on their mutual relations but it is actually system requirement. This cooperation is a prerequisite for job sustenance. Behind the cooperation there are many norms. So this is enforced cooperation which is extrinsic. The feeling of fulfilment and creativity of a weaver or potter or ironsmith is voluntary cooperation.
In contrast, a worker involved in a factory whose sole task may be to pull lever or press a button throughout the day. Cooperation in such a situation would be enforced.

Question 5.
How Durkheim and Marx differ on the issue of cooperation?
Answer:
For Durkheim, solidarity, the moral force of society is fundamental for understanding of cooperation and thereby functioning of society.

The role of division of labour which implies cooperation is precisely to fulfil certain needs of society. It is simply system requirement. For Marx, cooperation is not voluntary in a society where class exists. He argues, “The social power i.e. multiplied productive force (surplus) arises through the cooperation of different individuals as it is caused by the division of labour. Cooperation is not voluntary but naturally. In this enforced cooperation, workers lose control over how to organise their own work and they lose control over the fruits of their labour.”

Question 6.
What is competition? How is it different from cooperation?
Answer:
Cooperation is a dissociative social process in which it sets up its own values in opposition to the mainstream.
Competition is a social process in which many people struggle to achieve something which has hunted availability.
Competition is for getting scarce resources, may be money, jobs, prestige, position, power or love.
Competition is a universal social process but it varies from culture to culture.
Concept of competition involves attainment of goal without using force or terror. Cooperation represents all relations among persons or groups which work together towards a shared common goal.
Cooperation is an associative social process. It may be conscious or unconscious. It involves an element of sympathy, sacrifice and feeling of togetherness.

Question 7.
What is Laissezfaire liberalism?
Answer:
A political and economic approach based on the general principle of non-interference in the economy by government and freedom for markets and property owners, is called Laissez faire liberalism.
Laissez faire liberalism is an approach to economics that asserts the importance of the free, competitive market of the individual suppliers and individual purchasers to the efficient production, distribution and allocation of goods and services and emphasises on the need to keep state regulation to a maximum.

Question 8.
What do you mean by division of labour?
Answer:
The specialisation of work tasks by means of which different occupations are combined within a production system. With the development of industrialisation the division of labour becomes more complex than any prior type of production system. In the modem world, the division of labour is international in scope. On the basis of division of labour, the concept of organic solidarity functions with the form of social cohesion. The interdependence of members of society is the result of such kind of solidarity.

Question 9.
What is dominant ideology?
Answer:
Dominant ideology refers to shared ideas or beliefs which serve to justify the interests of dominant groups. Such ideologies are found in the societies in which are systematic. The concept of ideology connects closely with that of power, since ideological system serves to legitimise the differential power which groups hold.

Question 10.
What is alienation in terms of Marx?
Answer:
Marx used the term alienation to refer to the loss of control on the part of workers over the products of their labour.
In general term, it describes the estrangement of individuals from one another or from a specific situation or process.

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 3 ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

Question 1:

Describe in your own words what you understand by the term `ecology’.

ANSWER:

Ecology refers to the complex network of biological and physical systems and processes between the biotic and abiotic components of environment. It is responsible for the type of environment around living beings. Humans are also a constituent of ecology. Various physical features like mountains, rivers, plains and oceans, each with their unique flora and fauna, form their own ecology. The ecology of a place is affected by the interaction between its geography and hydrology. The flora and fauna of a particular region adapt themselves according to its ecology, in order to survive. Ecology of a place has an impact on the human living conditions and the lifestyle, food, clothing, occupation and culture of the people of that place.

Question 2:

Why is ecology not limited only to the forces of nature?

ANSWER:

Ecology is not limited to the forces of nature as it gradually gets modified by human actions. Many seemingly natural features and phenomena associated with the environment are the caused by human activities. For example, the change in climate because of global warming seems to be a natural process, but is an outcome of the human activities. The conservation of soil and water, usage of pesticide, and other man-made materials in agriculture are other examples of human transformation of nature. Artificial environment is prominently visible in cities in the form of built environment made from concrete, cement, brick, stone, glass and tar.

Question 3:

Describe the two-way process by which social environments emerge.

ANSWER:

Social environments emerge as a result of a two-way process in the form of interaction between biophysical ecology and human interventions. This can be explained as the shaping of human society by nature and the shaping of nature by human society. For example, the soil fertility of Indo-Gangetic plain enables agriculture and sustains high density of population while the arid and dry condition in Rajasthan barely supports pastoral form of life. This represents the impact of nature on human life. Contrary to this, technological developments like invention of automobiles have had an impact on the landscape. Air pollution and global warming are examples of the impact of human activities on nature.

Question 4:

Why and how does social organisation shape the relationship between the environment and society?

ANSWER:

Social organisation shapes the relationship between the environment and the society because the relations of property determine the usage of natural resources. For example, there would be a difference in the ownership of forests by the government and the private companies. This is because both of them would have different purposes and aim out of these resources. Hence the use of forests by both of them would be different.

The ownership of natural resources also vary with the division of labour. For instance, the relationship of landless labours and women with resources would be different than that of men because women experience scarcity of resources more acutely in a rural area, as they have to go to fetch water and collect firewood without controlling these resources.

Question 5:

Why is environmental management a complex and huge task for society?

ANSWER:

Environmental management is a complex and huge task for society because sufficient information is not available about the biophysical processes to predict and control them. The relation between humans and environment has become complex as industrialisation has accelerated the extraction of resources. This has affected ecosystems in ways which were not possible earlier. The industrial management systems are fragile and often vulnerable. This has also given rise to many environmental problems and risks. Disasters like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy are consequence of such hazards.

Question 6:

What are some of the important forms of pollution-related environmental hazards?

ANSWER:

Some of the important forms of pollution-related environmental hazards are as follows:

(i) Air Pollution – It is caused by emissions from industries and vehicles in urban areas and burning of wood and coal for domestic use in rural areas. It is one of the major environmental problems in both – urban and rural areas. Air pollution causes many diseases, such as respiratory disease that may result in serious illness and death.

(ii) Water Pollution – It is another form of pollution that affects the quality of water on surface and groundwater. It is mainly caused by domestic sewage, factory effluents and water from farms, which have large amounts of pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. Rivers and other bodies are particularly affected by water pollution.

(iii) Noise Pollution – Noise pollution mainly occurs in the cities as a result of continuous honking by vehicles, use of amplified loud speakers, traffic and construction work, etc. Noise pollution has been a subject in many court orders, for its control.

Question 7:

What are the major environmental issues associated with resource depletion?

ANSWER:

The depletion of resources is associated with the using up of non-renewable natural resources. The major environmental issues as associated with resource depletion are as follows:

(i) The depletion of land and water resources. The decline in groundwater levels has caused an acute shortage of water all over India, particularly in states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. With the growing demands of agriculture, industries and urban sector, the water shortage is one of the major problems faced by the world today. The fertile soil of the land also gets destroyed due to erosion, water-logging and salinization and activities like production of bricks.

(ii) Depletion of biodiversity habitats like forests, grasslands and wetlands is another major environmental concern. This has been caused by expansion of areas under agriculture. Many species of flora and fauna have been endangered by the loss of biodiversity. This includes the tiger population, which is now threatened by declining numbers.

Question 8:

Explain why environmental problems are simultaneously social problems.

ANSWER:

Environmental problems are simultaneously social problems, as the way they affect different social groups is associated with ‘social inequality’. This is because social status determines the extent to which a person is able to cope up with environment related problems. For example, in places like Gujarat where water is scarce, the rich farmers invest in deep bore tube wells to get underground water, whereas the poor farmers cannot afford to get tube wells. The depletion of water is compounded when the rains fail, as the wells of poorer farmers become dry.

However, some environmental problems, like air pollution and loss of biodiversity, are universal concerns. Differences in perception exist over the constitution of public interest in terms of environment. These differences often result in decisions which hurt the interest of weaker groups and minorities. For example, debates over construction of large dams and the displacement of people.

Question 9:

What is meant by social ecology?

ANSWER:

Social ecology emphasises the role of social relations in environmental practices and perceptions. It is particularly related to the organisation of property and production. Various social groups share a different relation with the environment and have a different approach to it. The varied interests and ideologies generate environmental conflicts. Thus, social ecology indicates the solution of environmental problems by changing relations between environment and society. To achieve this result, it advocates changing the relation between different social groups like men and women, urban and rural people, landlords and labourers. Change in social systems enables the development of new methods of managing the environment.

Question 10:

Describe some environment related conflicts that you know of or have read about. (Other than the examples in the text.)

ANSWER:

Note: Any answer supported with explanation would solve the purpose.

One sample answer has been provided to you:

Some of the environment related conflicts are:

(i) The Chipko Movement or the Chipko Andolan.- It was a socio-ecological movement which started in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. It was started by women, who hugged the trees to protect them when the lumbermen came to cut them. Later, this movement spread all over India and came to be known as the Chipko Movement.

(ii) Narmada Bachao Andolan- This was a movement for the rights of people who were displaced by the construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada. Medha Patkar and Baba Amte were the leading figures associated with this movement. The Supreme Court initially stopped the ongoing work at the dam site and later ordered the monitoring of the dam project along with its environmental aspects.

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 4 INTRODUCING WESTERN SOCIOLOGIST NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON INTRODUCING WESTERN SOCIOLOGIST

Question 1.
Explain the term ‘Bourgeoisie’.
Answer:
According to Marx, Bourgeoisie are those few people who own the means of production in a capitalist society. They enjoy both economic and political power.

Question 2.
Explain the term ‘surplus value’.
Answer:
The term ‘surplus value’ refers to the quality of value produced by the worker beyond the necessary labour time, i.e., the marking time required to produce a value equal to the one he has received in the form of wages.

Question 3.
Discuss main contributions of Karl Marx.
Answer:
Karl Marx was bom in Trier, Germany on May 5,1818. Marx was educated at the Treves school. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Jena in June, 1841. Marx’s personal life was a difficult struggle. Marx died on 14th March, 1883.
Karl Marx says that each society has two opposite classes:
1. The exploiters (means capitalists) and
2. The exploited (means workers).

The term ‘surplus value’ refers to the quantity of value produced by the worker beyond the necessary labour time i.e., the working time required to produce a value equal to the one he has received in the form of wages.
The term ‘alienation’ refers to the work alien, which means foreigner, and therefore alienation would mean becoming stranger to one’s own people and the product etc. In a capitalist society, alienation dominates every institutional sphere such as religion, economy and polity.

Question 4.
Write short note on Max Weber.
Answer:
Max Weber was born on 21st April, 1864 in Erfurt, Germany. He studied and received his degree in law. After the completion of his doctoral and the post-doctoral dissertations in 1897 he joined Heidelberg University as a Professor of Economics. He started his works in sociology in 1916 and was appointed Professor of Sociology at Munich. He died on July 14,1920. His main works include:

• The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism
• The Religion of India.
• Economy and Society
• Essays in Sociology

Question 5.
How Durkhiem interpreted suicide?
Answer:
According to Durkheim, all deaths which are the direct or indirect results of any function of dead person about which he himself knows that thin act will cause death to him.
Durkheim suggested four forms of Suicide:

• Egoistic Suicide: Characterised by excessive reflection on personal matters.
• Altruistic Suicide: When the individual is over integrated with society. For example, Jauhar Pratha in Rajputs.
• Anomic Suicide: The state, which results from the weakening of powers in society that regulate social equilibrium. Individual meets frustration, which they are not able to cope with.
• Fatalistic Suicide: Due to excessive degree of regulation e.g. suicide of enslavement under the master.

Question 6.
Explain in detail Karl Marx’s theory of class struggle.
Answer:
Karl Marx was of the view that:

• Human society passed through different stages of development viz primitive, communal, ancient, feudal and capitalist.
• Each stage is defined by a mode of production.
• The factors of production are in the hands of the “oppressors’, they control them; the “oppressed” are deprived of them.
• There is a conflict between the “haves” and the “have-nots”.
• When the proletariat becomes conscious and acquires revolutionary character, there is an overthrow of those in power or the bourgeoisie.

Question 7.
Write a short note on Emile Durkheim.
Answer:
Emile Durkheim was bom on 15th April, 1858 in France. His elementary education was completed at Ecole. After graduation from the Ecole, he started working for the
doctoral degree. He obtained his doctorate in 1893, and was appointed Professor in the Paris University. Durkheim founded L ‘Anne Sociologique, the first social science journal in France. He died on Nov. 15,1917. His works include :

• Division of Labour in Society
• The Rules of Sociological Method
• Suicide
• The Elementary Forms of Religious Life.

According to Durkheim, social facts are the substance of sociological study. Durkheim was strongly concerned with outlining the nature and scope of sociology.

• They are general throughout society.
• They are external to individuals and exist independently on their will.
• They exercise external constraint over individuals.

Question 8.
Explain “theory of suicide” as stated by Emile Durkheim.
Answer:
Emile Durkheim identified four types of suicide:

1. Egoistic Suicide: A person gives too much importance to his own self or ego; is not properly integrated in society; excessive self- reflection on personal matters leading to withdrawal from the outside world; as a result there is weakening in the bonds of solidarity in the family, religious and political organizations.

2. Altruistic Suicide: In this the person is over-integrated with the society. They commit suicide for the cause of society or a kind of self-denial, e.g. Sati, Jauhar.

3. Anomic Suicide: In societies that experience sudden changes. Anomic is a state which results from the weakening of the powers in the society that regulate social equilibrium. The person meets frustration and he cannot withstand it, he puts an end to his life.

4. Fatalistic Suicide: When there is excessive degree of regulation and an overly developed regime, e.g. seeing no alternative to enslavement under the master a slave takes his life.

Question 9.
Highlight the basic characteristics of religion.
Answer:
The basic characteristics of religion are:

• Belief in supernatural power.
• Emotional state of mind associated with the beliefs, happiness, fear, reverence etc.
• Material objects involved in the religious practices-altar, cross, sacrifice, flower, . incense sticks, special clothes, banana leaves etc.
• Variations in the types of material objects used in religious ceremonies-differ from culture to culture.
• Specific rituals – fasting, chanting, dancing, specific types of food etc.
• Specific mode of worship.
• Concept of heaven and hell; sacred and profane etc.
• A special place of worship.
• Generally rituals are performed in isolation but occasionally it is performed collectively.

Question 10.
How did Max Weber explain “social action”? Elaborate on the types of social action seen in society. (HOTS)
Answer:
According to Max Weber

• An action is social when it is oriented or directed to others in society.
• It is social in so far as by virtue of the meaning attached to it by the acting individual or individuals.
• All human behaviour to which the actor attaches a subjective meaning is social action.

Types of social action

• Goal-Rational Action: Both means and goals are rationally selected by the individual.
• Value-Rational Action: These are performed under the influence of ethical values and religious beliefs of the individual.
• Emotional Action: The means and ends of the action are selected on the basis of emotional criteria. They may not be rational.
• Traditional Action: Tradition and customs guide the selection of the means and ends.

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 5 INDIAN SOCIOLOGIST NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON INDIAN SOCIOLOGIST

Question 1.
Mention Ghurye’s contribution to sociology.
Answer:
Ghurye is considered as founder of institutionalised sociology in India.

• He created a generation of first class sociologist through his guidance.
• His contribution in the field of castes, races, marriages, family and kinship system, rural urbanisation, demography, sociology of religion is most significant. Obviously, he was deeply interested in castes and races from the beginning.

Question 2.
What does D.P. Mukerji mean by Purusha?
Answer:
According to D.P. Mukerji, the concept of Purusha is not different from society and an individual and neither is this concept under control of Purusha group mind. Mr. Mukerji was of the view that Purusha is an active actor who fulfills his responsibilities by establishing contact with other persons.

Question 3.
What is living tradition, according to D.P. Mukerji ?
Answer:
According to D.P. Mukerji, living tradition is a tradition which maintains links with the past by retaining something from it, and at the same time incorporates new things.

Question 4.
Differentiate between the rural and the urban society.
Answer:
Rural society: They are usually small in size, having a low density of population. The dominant occupation is agriculture or agriculture related activities. There is a rigidity in the caste system. Lifestyle is simple, closeness is emphasized, dependence on religion is dominant. People are god-fearing and more nature dependent. They have a similar culture despite the differences in religious following. They are informal and take part in each other’s work as their own e.g. harvesting, sowing etc.

Urban society: They are usually large in size, having a high density of population. The population is hetrogenous, cosmopolitan, having people from different cultures. They follow various occupations out of which agriculture is the least popular. Lifestyle is complex, formality dominates. Caste system seemingly does not exist. The neighbours do not maintain social relations and exhibit a disinterested approach.

Question 5.
What does Ghurye think about rural community and urban community?
Answer:
Ghurye was in favour of urban development. Ghurye was of the view that raw material and other goods produced in rural areas must be used for urban development. According to him, following problems exist in urban areas :

• Insufficient drinking water
• Human congestion
• Traffic congestion
• Indiscriminate tree felling
• Sound or noise pollution.

Question 6.
Discuss the views expressed by Ghurye on the tribes.
Answer:
Ghurye emphasized that some anothropologists and the British administrators advocated a policy of isolation for the tribes. They mentioned many causes for it such as: First, the tribals were different from the non-tribals or Hindus.
Secondly, tribals were the original inhabitants of the country.
Thirdly, they are unlike the Hindus, animists.
Fourthly, the tribals are different from the Hindus on linguistic grounds also.
Fifthly, tribal’s contact with the non-tribals had been harmful for the culture and economy of the tribals.
Ghurye referred to the long process of Hinduization of the tribes of India in different parts of the country. Some tribes had been integrated with the Hindu society. Some others remained loosely integrated. The tribes living in the hilly regions and the depths of forests were barely touched by the Hinduism. They were the imperfectly integrated classes of Hindus.
The tribes embraced the Hindu social order mainly for following causes :

• The first reason was the economic motivation. They adopted specialized types of occupation which were in demand in the society.
• The second reason lies in the Catholicity of caste system to the tribal belief and rituals.
  Ghurye emphasized that the policy of the British Government in relation to forests caused hardship for the tribals.

Question 7.
Explain the structural features of caste given by Ghurye.
Answer:
The caste system has got the following six structural characteristics :

• Segmental Division: Govind Sadashiv Ghurye sees caste as social grouping or segments; the membership of which is obtained and fixed by birth.
  Caste provides its own centre regarding rules, regulations, standards of morality and justice.
• Hierarchy: The castes or segments are arranged in terms of hierarchy. The Brahmans were placed at the top and the untouchables were kept at the bottom of the hierarchy.
• Principles of Purity and Pollution: The above described two features (attributes) reflect the separation or distance between castes. This fact of separation is reinforced by the principles of purity and pollution that find their expression in the codes, regulating the acceptance of food or drink from other castes.
• Civil and Religious Disabilities and Privileges of different Sections:
  A result of the hierarchical division of society is that rights and obligations are unequally shared by different sections of the society.
• Lack of Choice of Occupation:
  Every group or caste was associated with a hereditary occupation. Distinction between pure and impure occupations, the hereditary occupation of a caste reflected its status in society.
• Restrictions on Marriage:
  Inter-caste marriage was prohibited.

Question 8.
What was D.P. Mukerji’s view about traditions and modernity?
Answer:
D.P. Mukerji’s view about traditions:

1. D.P. Mukerji asserts that traditions do change. These principles of change are recognized in Indian tradition:
   • Shruti,
   • Smriti,
   • Anubhava.
     It is anubhava or personal experience, which is the revolutionary principle.
2. The experience of prem or love and sahaj or spontaneity of these saints and their followers was noticeable also in Sufis among the Muslims.
3. Our country has definitely preserved many values (some good and other bad also). The point, however, is that of utilizing the forces which are foreign to Indian traditions, e.g.
   • technology,
   • democracy,
   • urbanization,
   • bureaucratic rule, etc.

D.P. Mukerji’s views about modernity:

• D.P. Mukerji does not worship tradition. His idea of “full man” or “well balanced personality” calls for a blend of moral fervor and aesthetic and intellectual sensibility with the sense of history and rationality.
• D.P. Mukerji believed that “the knowledge of tradition shows the way to break them with the least social cost.”
• According to D.P. Mukerji, a dialectical process of conflict and synthesis, must be given a push by the conserved energies of the class structure of Indian society.

Question 9.
Discuss the features of the caste system as stated by G.S.Ghurye.
Answer:
According to Ghurye, the caste system has the following features:

• Segmental division: This refers to the division of society into compartments, segments or castes. They have a set of rules, regulations, standards of morality and justice for each caste.
• ‘Hierarchy: Hierarchy is a scheme, which arranges castes in terms of higher, or Superior and lower or inferior in relation to each other.
• Principles of purity and pollution: The principles of purity and pollution find their expression in the codes regulating the acceptance of food or drink from other castes.
• Civil and religious disabilities and privileges of different sections: The ritual status of a caste; their rights and obligations are the crucial determinants of the nature of these disabilities.
• Lack of choice of occupation: Every caste is associated with a hereditary occupation. As distinction is made between ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ and therefore between ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ occupations; the hereditary occupation of a caste reflected its status in society.
• Restrictions on marriage: Inter-marriage between castes was prohibited. Individuals were allowed to marry within their castes only i.e. they practised endogamy.

Question 10.
Discuss the factors that brought about social changes in society.
Answer:
Some of the factors are internal to the society whereas some are external.
1. Environment: It sets limits to the social change and may bring very rapid change in society. Difficult environmental conditions make slow the development of an advanced technology. In suitable environmental conditions, they grow and develop faster. If there are unfavourable environmental conditions, a society may remain backward. Isolated societies remain underdeveloped whereas well communicated societies develop rapidly. Natural disasters like flood, cyclone, drought force people to move from place to place, thus bringing social change in their lives.

2. Population: Change in the size of population brings about change in the economic life of the people and other aspects of life. Decrease in population may solve some social problems, decrease unemployment, whereas increase will do to the contrary. Industrialised nations need to maintain a balance between the size of the population and natural resources.

3. Technology: Social change is more rapid in technologically developed societies. In traditional societies, changes are very slow. Complexity in social structure grows along with advancement of technology. Due to advancement of technology, simple division of labour of the traditional societies has changed into complex form of division of labour. This has helped in the development of occupational specialisation. However, this has divided the population into a number of groups.

4. Values and Beliefs: On one hand, new social values and beliefs can bring about
social change, whereas they may also cause resistance to it. Changes in values and beliefs take a long time to be realized. When changes occur in society, they are noticed only partially.

5. Diffusion: Diffusion is an important mechanism of social change. Borrowing of cultural traits from an advanced society by a backward society is a normal process. This brings about social change. The backward societies change very rapidly and become modem by borrowing advanced technologies from the advanced societies. Non material traits like religion, ideology, beliefs and values change very slowly.

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 2 SOCIAL CHANGES AND SOCIAL ORDER IN RURAL AND URBAN SOCIETY NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON SOCIAL CHANGES AND SOCIAL ORDER IN RURAL AND URBAN SOCIETY

Question 1:

Would you agree with the statement that rapid social change is a comparatively new phenomenon in human history? Give reasons for your answer.

ANSWER:

Yes, rapid social change is a comparatively new phenomenon in human history. It has been estimated that the human beings have been in existence for 500,000 years, but civilization started only around 6,000 years ago. The most rapid changes started 400 years ago and the pace of changes increased in the last100 years. This acceleration in changes was mainly due to advancements in technology and the advent of industrial revolution. Therefore, the speed of these changes that are occurring, is increasing day by day, every decade. The human beings are progressing towards development and new scientific milestones everyday.

Question 2:

How is social change to be distinguished from other kinds of change?

ANSWER:

Social change, unlike other forms of change, refers to significant changes that take place in the foundations of social structure and systems of a society. Other forms of change may impact certain aspects of social life without encompassing it as a whole. Such restrictions are not applied to social changes.

It does not include the small changes but only the big changes that alter the society fundamentally. The influence of such changes has to be both intensive and extensive.

Therefore, the changes that impact a large section of the society are called social changes. For example, a change in the government may not necessarily qualify as a social change. However a change in the social ideals from capitalism to socialism or abolition of practices like untouchability, that impact a large number of people, does represent social change.

Question 3:

What do you understand by `structural change’? Explain with examples other than those in the text.

ANSWER:

Structural change refers to the transformation in the structure of a society. This type of change includes changes in the structure of social institutions or the rules by which they are run. Structural changes are thus long term and permanent changes. For example, globalization is a structural change. It took place in order to integrate the economies of the world through a global network.

Question 4:

Describe some kinds of environment-related social change.

ANSWER:

The nature of a society is altered by its ecology and environment. Modern technology has significantly altered the impact of environment on society. However, catastrophic events that take place can change the structure of a society completely. For instance, the tsunami that occurred in the Indian Ocean changed the lives of people drastically. These changes are irreversible and permanent in nature. There was a great loss of lives, loss of livelihood and in many cases, large scale migration of people to new areas in search of new opportunities. Thus, the tsunami became an agent of social change. Similar phenomena are associated with floods, draughts and earthquakes.

Question 5:

What are some kinds of changes brought about by technology and the economy?

ANSWER:

Technology and economy have immensely changed the structure of the society. Technology, through its association with the economy, has caused major social changes. Various examples of these changes are as follows:

(i) The Industrial Revolution, which brought about many industries and the development of capitalist system of production in society.

(ii) The invention of steam engine and development of various modes of transport like rail and aeroplane transformed the entire economy and social geography of the world.

(iii) Steam ships made gigantic changes not only in the economy, but also in the social, cultural and demographic directions, by enabling large scale trade.

(iv) Development of textile industry in Britain had a negative impact upon the handloom industry in India which was very distant from Britain. This type of integration of economies was enabled only by the advent of technology.

(v) Changes in economic institutions caused a skewed demand for labour and adoption of new social practices. For example, development of plantation agriculture of cash crops established slavery and slave trade between Europe, America and Africa.

(vi) The ongoing process of globalisation, while being beneficial for multinational corporations, has had a negative impact on indigenous industries.

Question 6:

What is meant by social order and how is it maintained?

ANSWER:

Social order is the tendency of social institutions to resist and regulate change. It is useful as it provides a backdrop and relativity to compare social change.

Every society strives for social order in order to maintain stability and provide a strong and viable social system. This inevitably leads to the process of stratification of society as social rules need a visible authority for them to be followed. Thus, social order is maintained by the people who are in power because they do not want to lose control over the societal norms and access to resources. Therefore, the dominant groups in societies resist social change because it may reduce their status. As power generally lies with such groups, they are successful in their endeavour and societies acquire stability.

Question 7:

What is authority and how is it related to domination and the law?

ANSWER:

Authority, according to Max Weber, is the power which is legitimate, justified and proper. It is generally derived from the official position of a person and the powers are specified on written documents. Other members of a society implicitly agree to follow the authority. For example, the authority of police or a judge.

A law is an explicitly codified norm or rule and usually exists in a written form. Authority is related to law and domination as the difference between the strict authority, which is explicitly codified, and the informal authority, lies in the notion of law.

In a modern democratic state, the laws are created by legislature. They act as a binding force on citizens and, hence, dominate them. This domination works through legitimate power or authority, a large part of which is codified in the law. It requires consent and cooperation on a regular basis to maintain legitimacy.

Question 8:

How are a village, town and city distinguished from each other?

ANSWER:

In sociological terms, a village and a city are distinguished by their social organisation, administrative factors like population density and the proportion of agriculture and its allied economic activities.

Villages emerged as part of the major changes in social structure which was brought by the transition from nomadic life to a more settled form of life. They are traditionally dependent upon agriculture and other primary activities for income. They also have lower density of population. In comparison, towns and cities have higher population density and are more dependent upon industries for income.

The difference between a city and a town is based upon their size. A city is similar to a town, except that it is much larger in size and area.

Question 9:

What are some features of social order in rural areas?

ANSWER:

Every rural area has a different condition. Thus, the social order also varies from village to village. The features of social order in rural areas are as follows:

(i) The small size of a village is suitable for more personalised relationships.

(ii) The social structure of a village follows traditional lifestyle. Institutions such as caste and religion are stronger here.

(iii) The social institutions do not welcome change easily, as compared to towns and cities.

(iv) A village also has a strong power structure as the people in power control all the resources and resist change.

(v) It is not easy for subordinate groups to challenge the dominant groups. The poor are dependent upon dominant sections for support and employment.

(vi) The villages are not very well connected to the towns and cities and thus not conducive to change.

(vii) New modes of communication, land reforms and technology have reduced this gap and accelerated the pace of change.

Question 10:

What are some of the challenges to social order in urban areas?

ANSWER:

Most of the challenges to social order in the urban areas are related to the ‘space’. This is because of the high population density which leads to the problem of logistics. The following are some of these challenges:

(i) The management of space is related to development of housing, transportation, land use and public facilities like sanitation, policing and urban governance.

(ii) Inadequate facilities for housing results in homelessness and development of slums that are congested and overcrowded neighbourhoods, with improper facilities.

(iii) Law and order issues due to criminal activities in slums. The major cause is the undefined rights over property of slum owners.

(iv) The residential colonies in urban areas are mixed with people of all class, caste, religion and ethnicity, which also give rise to communal problems, such as riots, and the phenomenon of ghettoisation.

(v) The gated or affluent communities are separated from their surroundings by walls, gates and run their own parallel facilities for water and electricity supply, policing and security.

(vi) Large distances between residential, industrial and commercial areas place a burden on transport. People rely on private transport, which results in congestion and pollution.

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 1 SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY

Question 1.
Describe the growth of Sociology in India.
Answer:
The history of origin and development of Sociology in India is more than 4000 years old. The fundamental source of social ideology was religion. During Indian Vedic era, a systematic development of different social institutions of society was prevalent. Sociology in India has been influenced by various internal processes particularly the colonial regime which tried to prove their cultural superiority in comparison of Indian culture.

First of all, Sociology courses were taught at Calcutta University in the Department of Economics, Political Science, Human Geography and Anthropology. This was pioneered by philosopher Brajendra Nath Seal, Benoy Sarkar, anthropologist K.P. Chattopadhyay and human geographer Nirmal Bose.

• In 1914, the Department of Sociology was started for PG students of economics.
  As Sociology is defined today have been first of all introduced in India in Bombay University under the guidance of Prof. Patriels in 1919.
• In 1923, Mysore University introduced Sociology in BA course as a separate subject. Presently Sociology is being taught in most of the Indian universities as a BA pass or BA honours course and PG courses.
• Presently the premier institutes of India like JNU, Delhi School of Economics, Tata Institute of Social Science have special professional courses in Sociology.
• Indian sociologists who contributed significantly to make their subject flourish are Dr. Radha Kamal Mukherjee, Prof. P.N. Prabhu, Prof. Wadia, Prof. Shrinivas, Dr. R.N. Saxena, Prof. R.R. Shastri, Prof. Kapadia, Prof. N. Prasad, Prof. T.K. Oomen, Prof. S.C. Dubey, Prof Andrea.

Question 2.
How Sociology and Political Science are related to each other?
Answer:
Political science studies political institution such as state governments and its branches like legislative, executive and judiciary.

• Sociology studies power in terms of social context e.g. during elections.
• Political Science is restricted to study of formal organisation and institutions whereas sociology is concerned with study of behaviour of the people in power.
• Sociology focuses on social stress on the interpersonal relationship between political institution.
• The main task of a political scientist is to study the political behaviour whereas main task of sociologist is to develop knowledge that would explain both social and political behaviour along with the consequences of this behaviour.
• There are several areas of social life that need both the approaches e.g. implementing a law and its effect on people.

Question 3.
How success of French Revolution and Industrial Revolution caused changes in social life of people universally?
Answer:
Success of French and American Revolution
Enlightenment values of intellectual and political freedom found expressions in the French Revolution in 1789.
These revolutions popularised the nation that individuals possess alienable rights, monarchy was overthrown and democracy was brought in. Ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity put an end to the age of feudalism. Birth based privileges were abolished.

Industrial Revolution and Capitalism
Began in Britain in late 18th and early 19th centuries it had two major aspects.

(a) Systematic application of science and technology to industrial production: Invention of new machines, and harnessing of new sources of power revolutionised the production process. There was now factory production of goods on a large scale.

(b) Industrial revolution was based upon new, dynamic forms of economic activity. Capitalism revolutionised ways of organising labour and markets. Entrepreneurs were now engaged in the sustained, systematic pursuit of profit. Large scale production was geared towards distant markets, raw materials too were procured from all over the world.

These changes in production system led to many dramatic changes in social life too.

1. Before industrialisation, agriculture and textiles were the chief occupations of the British.

2. Most people lived in villages. Like in our own Indian villages, there were peasants and landlords, the blacksmith and leather workers, the weavers and the potters, the shepherds and the brewers.

3. Society was small. It was hierarchical, that is the status and class positions of different people were clearly defined. Like all traditional societies it was also, characterised by close interaction. With industrialisation each of these features changed.

4. One of the most fundamental aspects of the new order was the degradation of labour, the wrenching of work from the protective context of guild, village, and family. Both the radical and conservative thinkers were appalled at the decline of the status of the common labourer, not the skilled craftsmen.

5. Urban centres expanded and grew. It was not that there were no cities earlier. But their character prior to industrialisation was different. The industrial cities gave birth to a completely new kind of urban world. It was marked by the soot and grime of factories, by overcrowded slums of the new industrial working class, bad sanitation and general squalor. It was also marked by new kinds of social interactions.

Consequently many early sociologists like Karl Marx and Durkheim were concerned with the scientific analysis of the developments in industrial society.
Sociology was therefore bom as “Science of the new modem industrial society”.

Question 4.
What do you understand by Sociology?
Answer:
Capitalism was the new economic system that emerged in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. This system became the driving force behind industrial growth. Karl Marx believed that capitalists were factory owners and entrepreneurs who were engaged in the systematic pursuit of profit and became rich at the expense of their workers who remained poor.

The key to capitalism as a social system was the complex relationship between factory owners, workers and the means of production i.e. factories, machinery and tools. Renaissance was a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries, which laid emphasis on reason, individualism and rational thought. The ideas of fraternity, equality and liberty became important and resulted in the French Revolution, which abolished the monarchy, ended feudalism and privileges based on birth. The central idea of Renaissance was that all men are born with certain rights that had to be respected.

Positivism was a theory developed by Auguste Comte, regarded as the “Father of Sociology.” Positivism is based on the theory that on the basis of verifiable facts it is possible to observe social life in a methodical way to establish reliable, valid knowledge which can be used to affect the course of social change and improve human conditions. Positivism has had little influence on contemporary sociology, however, because it is argued that it encourages a misleading emphasis on superficial facts without any attention to underlying mechanisms that cannot be observed.

Question 5.
In what ways did the Industrial Revolution lead to the birth of Sociology in Europe?

• The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It marked the beginning of the scientific age and led to changes in social lives of people.
• Before industrialization the rural sector was important. The chief occupation was farming and weaving. Society was hierarchical, status and class conscious. People worked according to their needs, factors like daylight and deadlines.
• Industrialisation meant there was a systematic application of science and technology. Huge factories were set up for large-scale production of goods like textiles and iron and steel. New forms of economic activity gave rise to capitalism as the pursuit of profit was geared to markets in distant colonies.
• There was a dramatic change in social life as a new working class emerged. Farmers migrated to industrial cities, which were characterised by overcrowded housing, poor sanitation and general squalor.
• An indicator of this new society was the emergence of “clock time”. The tempo of work was set by the clock and calendar. Factory production meant that work began punctually and people worked in shifts for set hours and were paid according to what they produced.
• Karl Marx and Durkheim were appalled at the degradation of factory workers and became concerned with the scientific analysis of developments in industrial society. Sociology was bom as a result of this as it was based on the understanding of “science of a new modem industrial world”.

Question 6.
Discuss the revolutionary changes in 19th century Europe that led to the emergence of Sociology.
Answer:
1. Sociology was born in 19th century Europe as a result of the revolutionary changes brought about by Enlightenment, the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution.

2. Medieval Europe was a feudal society. The church dominated all spheres of society including matters of state and the king was regarded to be divinely ordained to rule over his people as he deemed fit. Gradually people began to question every aspect of life including the authority of the church and the monarchy.

3. This led to the Age of Enlightenment, which laid great emphasis on reason and
rationality. There was a growing conviction that the methods of natural sciences could be extended to study affairs of human society. Eg. Poverty began to be seen not as a natural phenomenon but as a social problem caused by exploitation and human ignorance. Hence poverty could be redressed and resolved.

4. Enlightenment values of intellectual and political freedom found expression in the French Revolution of 1789. This revolution popularised the notion that all individuals possessed the right to liberty, equality and fraternity. The revolution ended monarchy and ushered in democracy. The age of feudalism ended and birth based privileges were abolished.

5. The Industrial Revolution began with the advancement of science and technology. It brought in capitalism as industry became economically very important. Farmers left their holdings to work in factories in the industrial cities of Britain. The features of society changed and the working class became important. Once again society was transformed as a new social order emerged.

6. People like Comte, Marx and Durkheim tried to make sense of these revolutionary changes and restore order to chaos. Their efforts helped the emergence of Sociology, as they believed that the scientific study of Sociology would help in the reconstruction and reorganization of a strong and healthy society.

Question 7.
Discuss relationship between Sociology and History.
Answer:
Sociology and the other social sciences have much in common. Recently there has been a gradual coming together of various social sciences. Pioneers of Indian sociology like DP Mukerji have stressed on an inter-disciplinary approach within the field of Sociology.
While there are many similarities between other social sciences. They are different in focus, orientation and emphasis.

Differences between Sociology and History:
History is concerned with the description of the past of the society while Sociology is primarily concerned with the present of society and to some extent its future too. Historians try to narrate historical events in their chronological order. Primary interest of sociology is to discover the general laws of society and to establish causal relationships between social phenomenon.

Conventional history has been more about the history of kings and war. The history of less glamorous events such as gender relations within the family have traditionally been less studied by historians but formed a core area of the sociologist’s interest.

Convergence of History and Sociology:

However, recently history and sociology are beginning to converge. This is because the present of society cannot be understood without looking at its past. Sociologists therefore, very often use historical records and refer to the works of historians for their own research.

Even history is often studied now from a sociological point of view. To quote G.E Howard, “History is past sociology and sociology is present history”. Historians today are using sociological methods and concepts in their analysis.
The coming of history and sociology together has led to the emergence of the specialization of historical sociology. It deals with social patterns, gender relations, customs other than the acts of rulers and wars.

Question 8.
Discuss relationship between Sociology and Economics.
Answer:
Differences between Sociology and Economics:

• Economics is concerned with the study of production and distribution of goods and services in society. On the other hand, sociology is the systematic study of social relations and interactions.
• The classical approach in economics dealt almost exclusively with the interrelations of pure economic variables such as price, demand, supply, money flow etc. Focus of traditional economics has been on a narrow understanding of economic activities.

Convergence of Sociology and Economics:

• Despite the difference irTfocus economics and sociology share a two way relationship because the economic activities of human beings do not exist in a vacuum.
• Production, consumption and distribution of goods and services in a society are influenced by non-economic, socio-cultural considerations like traditions, social norms, consumer nationalities etc.
• The large investment in the advertising industry is directly linked to the need to reshape life styles and consumption pattern of consumers. In fact, a number of MNC’s often refine or change their products to suit local taste and culture.

Question 9.
Discuss relationship between Sociology and Political Science.
Answer:
Differences between Sociology and Political Science:

• Sociology studies all aspects of society whereas conventional Political Science focused on the study of power embodied in formal institutions such as the state, government, political parties etc.
• Sociology stresses on the interrelationship between different social institutions like religion, education, politics etc whereas political science has tended to focus on the processes within the government.

Convergence of Sociology and Political Science:

• Despite these differences there are similar interests of researchers as well as increased interaction of methods and approaches between sociology and political science.
• The interface of political science and sociology is termed as political sociology. It acts as a bridge between the two subjects. For example, political sociology studies how religious and caste identities are used as vote banks.

Question 10.
How Sociology is related with Social Anthropology?
Answer:
Relationship between Sociology and Social Anthropology:

1. Types of Society: Sociology emerged as the study of modem, industrial complex societies while Social Anthropology emerged as the study of primitive, simple and small scale societies.
The anthropologists of the past documented the details of simple societies apparently in a neutral scientific fashion. In practice, however, they were constantly comparing those societies with the model of the western modern societies as a benchmark.

2. Scale of study: Social anthropology tended to study society (simple societies) in all their aspects, as a whole. In so far, as they specialised, it was on the basis of area. For example, the Andaman Islands. Sociologists study complex societies and
would therefore often focus on parts of society like the bureaucracy or religion or caste or a process such as social mobility.

3. Methods of Study: Social Anthropology has been associated with the ethnographic methods of participant observation. It is characterised by long field work tradition, living in and with the community being studied for a long time and learning their language.
Sociologists have often relied on survey methods and quantitative data using statistics and the questionnaire mode.

Convergence of Sociology and Social Anthropology:

• Today the distinction between a simple society and a complex one itself needs major rethinking. India itself is a complex mix of tradition and modernity, of the village and the city, of caste and tribe, of class and community.
• Consequently, there is a coming together of sociology and social anthropology in India. There have been fruitful interchanges between the two disciplines and today often methods and techniques are drawn from both.
• On the other hand, Sociology too has been using quantitative and qualitative techniques, macro and micro approaches for studying the complexities of modem societies.

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 2 TERMS, CONCEPT AND THEIR USE IN SOCIOLOGY NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON TERMS, CONCEPT AND THEIR USE IN SOCIOLOGY

Question 1.
Why do we need to use special terms and concepts in sociology?
Answer:
As opposed to commonsensical knowledge, sociology like any other science has its own body of concepts and methods of data collection.

As a social science, sociology does need to have certain agreed upon meanings of social realities and processes in studying. Each subject is required to have a standard vocabulary, terminology, language and concepts through which professionals can converse and maintain the different identity of its subject.
It becomes all the more important to discuss sociological terms so as to distinguish what they mean from commonsensical usage which may have varied meanings and connotations.

Question 2.
As a member of society you must be interacting with and in different groups. How do you see these groups from a sociological perspective?
Answer:
Social group refers to the members or individuals defined by formal or informal criteria of membership, who share a feeling of unity or are bound together in relatively stable patterns of interaction is known as social group.
The members of social group establish relationships on the basis of common characteristics and goals and influence each other.

Social groups can be defined as an organised structure of two or more persons who interact with one another, have shared goals, are interdependent, and consider themselves as members of a group.
Groups have the following salient characteristics:

• A social unit consisting of two or more individuals who perceive themselves as belonging to the group. This characteristic of the group helps in distinguishing one group from the other and gives the group its unique identity.
• A collection of individuals who have common motives and goals. Groups function either working towards a given goal or away from certain threats facing the group.
• Persistent interaction to provide continuity.
• A stable pattern of interaction.
• Acceptance of common norms and structures.
• A collection of individuals who are interdependent on what one is doing may have consequences for others.
• There is an organised structure by a set of roles, norms, status and cohesiveness.

Sociologists, Anthropologists and Social Psychologists categorised groups into different types:
Primary and Secondary groups

• Primary groups are pre-existing formations which are usually given to the individual whereas secondary groups are those which the individual joins’ by choice, e.g., family, caste and religion are primary groups, whereas membership of a political party is an example of secondary group.
• In a primary group, there is face to face interaction, members have close physical proximity and they share warm emotional bonds.
• Primary groups are central to individual functioning and have a major role in developing values and ideals of the individual during the early stages of development.
• Secondary groups are those where relationships among members are more impersonal, indirect and less frequent.
• In the primary group, boundaries are less permeable i.e. members do not have the option to choose membership as compared to secondary groups where it is easy to leave and choose another group.
• Primary groups have a sense of belongingness whereas secondary groups are relatively large in size, maintain formal and impersonal relationships e.g. schools, offices, hospitals etc.

Formal and informal groups
The functions of the group are stated explicitly and formally in formal groups
The formation of formal groups is based on specific rules or laws and members have
definite roles.
Formal groups differ to informal groups on the basis of structure.
Informal groups are more flexible and members have close relationship.

In group – Out group:
The term In-group refers to one’s own group and Out-group refers to another group.

For In-group members, we use the word ‘we’ while for Out-group members the word ‘they’ is used.
Persons in the In-group are generally supposed to be similar and viewed favourably and have desirable traits.
Members of this group are viewed differently and are often perceived negatively in comparison to the In-group members.

Peer group:
A set of individuals who, share certain common characteristics such as age, ethnicity or occupation, perceive themselves and are recognised by others as a distinct social collectivity.
The group is seen to have its own culture, symbols, sanctions and rituals, into which the new members must be socialised according to which those who fail to comply with group norms may be ostracized.

Reference group:
The term ‘Reference group’ was coined by Herbert Hyman.
Hyman distinguished between a membership group to which people actually belong to and a reference group which is used as a basis for comparison.
A reference group may or may not be a membership group.

We all have a world of our dreams and desires. In sociological perspective, we all live in a social world. We get fascinated and attracted towards a group which might appear to be leading a more fulfilling life. When we look up to other people or groups, we secretly aspire to be like them. We start identifying with them, we internalise their traits, behavioural patterns and actions so that we may like them. Thus we do not belong to our reference groups, we only identify them.

Newcomb (social psychologist) used reference groups to help explain the changing values and attitudes of students of a liberal women’s college. Many of the women who came from politically conservative background developed increasingly liberal attitudes over the course of their college careers, as they came to identify more with the college faculty and less with their family of origin. The girls who changed most were those characterised by independence from their parents, a sense of personal adequacy in social relations in achieving their goals.

For example, many a time school and college girls and boys who are basically members of students group admire, appreciate and identify with the stars of Bollywood e.g. Sadhna, Rajesh Khanna etc. and develop desire to become like them secretly. They initiate their life style, hair style, talking style, clothes etc. Basically their membership group is students group but they get fascinated with the film stars group which for them is the reference groups.
From sociological perspective if a society has strong healthy role models related to politics, religion, profession etc. as reference group then young generation do get influenced with them accordingly.

Question 3.
What have you observed about the stratification system existing in your society? How are individual lives affected by stratification?
Answer:
The term ‘stratification’ in sociology is usually applied to studies of structured social inequality i.e. studies of any systematic inequalities between groups of people, which
arise as the unintended consequence of social processes and relationships. When we ask why there is poverty, why Dalits and women in India are disadvantaged, we are posing questions about social stratification.

Social stratification is the core issue of micro sociology, the study of whole society. Social stratification is concerned in different ways with the issues of class and status – group formation as the key to understanding social integration, that is, the extent to which social relationships are cohesive (togetherness) or divisive which in consequence determines social order.

I have observed that stratification system in our society denotes existence of structure, of inequality between different groups of Indian society.
Indian society consists of a strata in hierarchy i.e. most favoured people at the top and least privileged people at the bottom of the society. Economic disparity leading to class system, caste system, etc. play significant role in stratification in Indian society.

• In Indian caste stratification system, individual’s status is ascribed by birth rather than individual’s achievements and his/her contribution or his/her psychological attributes.
• Against this stratification of Indian society there is a ray of hope. Due to economic growth, constitutional provision, urbanisation, industrialisation, education, easy communication and enlightened media our society is gradually changing towards betterment.
• Stratification is a natural process of any society. As we know, society is a group. And group is an organised structure in which members have a status role.
• Social stratification gets evolved to ensure that the most important position should be occupied by qualified people.
• The roles refer to expectations which is dynamic and behavioural aspect of status. Status refers to position of each member in the society. The status of any member has an institutionalised role. The role becomes regularised, standardised and formalised in the society.
• Social stratification begins from general assumption or based on the belief of functionalism that no society is classless or without stratification. The only thing required is coordination, balance, integration and development of everyone should be the objective of any healthy society.

Question 4.
What is social control? Do you think the modes of social control in different spheres of society are different? Discuss.
Answer:
The term ‘social control’ refers to the social process by which the behaviour of individuals or group is regulated.
Society is a harmonious organisation of human beings and expected to perform their functions accordingly. In order to exist and progress society has to exercise certain control over its members, such controls are termed as social control. Consequently social control is pervasive feature of any society.
Social control helps to restrain the unwanted behaviour of the individuals and the groups. It is an influence, exercised by society for promoting the welfare of the group as a whole.

Social control varies from one society to another because each society has its own rules and norms. Different types of societies like individualistic society or collectivistic societies have different expectations (roles) from their members.
Indian cultural values and general standards of life are different from western individualistic society, therefore both the societies have different patterns of social control. We emphasise on socialisation whereas technologically advanced western society focuses on individual liberty

Social control considers customs, traditions, rituals, rules and sub rules according to the social demands. Accordingly in that particular society, family system, marriage system, positive and negative conventions, religion and education systems develop. Members of that particular society should conform these systems. Society develops an appropriate social control for that particular society.

Question 5.
Identify the different roles and status that you play and are located in. Do you think roles and status change? Discuss when and how they change.
Answer:
For self-attempt.

Question 6.
Define formal group.
Answer:
The groups which are arranged and organised. These are large or a part of large organisation. Formal groups are always normative hierarchal structure in which relationship bonds are professional, e.g. university, army etc.

Question 7.
Explain the concept of social stratification.
Answer:
Social stratification refers to division of members of a society into different social categories or strata which are ranked into hierarchy, according to their relative power, prestige and wealth. It is not an individual fact, it is rather a social fact.
It refers to the ranking of a large number of individuals into hierarchy organised strata.
It has little to do with individual merits/abilities and more to do with socially patterned inequalities.
Major systems of stratification include: caste, class, gender, slavery and estate.
State main functions of stratification.

• Determination of nature of social relations.
• Stratification accelerates the process of social change.
• It is helpful in determining social order and organisation.
• Stratification functions as a safety valve from frustrations, conflict and tension because it helps to place the individuals where they actually fit in.
• Social stratification gives rise to division of labour and specialisation which helps in social integration.
• Social stratification leads to social progress through the spirit of competitions.

Question 8.
How ‘Ascribed Status’ is different from ‘Achieved Status’? (HOTS)
Answer:
Status, which an individual gets by birth or due to nominations is known as ‘Ascribed Status.’ e.g. Brahmins higher status in Hindu society is simply ‘ascribed’.
Ascribed status is determined by age, sex, birth, caste, kinship, race, class etc.
The bases of ascribed status is usually fixed and the sources of ‘Ascribed Status’ are the customs, traditions, values and names of the society.
An individual acquires ‘Achieved Status’ because of his intelligence, aptitude, efforts, diligence, skills and personality characterisation.
The sources of ‘Achieved Status’ are individual’s own personality traits and his/her ability to make best use of his/her potentials.

Question 9.
What do you understand by role?
Answer:
Role refers to the expected behaviour of an individual who holds a certain status and it is the status which determines the behaviour pattern, obligations and privileges. Role is the dynamic aspect of status. The functions which an individual performs in society are referred to as ‘Role taking’ and the functions that he/she is expected to perform are known as ‘Role expectations’.

Question 10.

What are social groups? Discuss various types of group.
Answer:
A number of individuals, defined by formal and informal criteria of membership, who share a feeling of unity or are bound together in relatively stable pattern of interaction are called social groups.

Sociology is primarily concerned with social relations and how these relations develop as a result of social interaction. When some people establish social relations with one another, their gathering is called a group. Direct or indirect relations between two or more people is the fundamental basis of a social group. A collection of human beings may be called a group only when it has a permanent set of patterns. The members need to influence one another by their internal activities. When members establish relationships on the basis of common characteristics and goals and influence each other, it is called a group.

Social groups differ in size, ranging from intimate associations, like a family to large collectivities such as a political party. Groups are organised system of two or more individuals. People join groups because they provide security, status, self-esteem, satisfaction of one’s psychological and social needs, goal achievement, knowledge and information. Group formation is a natural process of society. Proximity, similarity and common motives and goals facilitate group formation. Groups are of different types i.e. primary and secondary, formal and informal and ‘in-group’ and ‘out-group’.

Primary groups are preexisting formations in which face to face interaction is possible and relationship bonds are based on personal relationship. In primary groups a person knows one another well and they establish close relationship among them, boundaries are more permeable. Secondary groups are those where relationship among members are more impersonal, indirect and less frequent. In this group it is easy to leave and join another group. Secondary groups provide experience lacking in intimacy.

Formal groups differ in degree to which the functions of the group are stated explicitly and formally. The functions of a formal group are explicitly stated as in the case of an office organisation. The roles to be performed by group members are stated in the explicit manner. The formal and informal groups differ on the basis of structure. The formations of formal groups is based on same specific rules or laws and members have definite roles.

There are a set of norms which help in establishing order.
On the other hand, the formation of informal groups is not based on rules or laws and there is close relationship among members. Formal groups are groups that are arranged and organised e.g. university. Formal groups tend to be large or a part of large organisation having a normative hierarchial structure. Informal groups are typically small and casually or spontaneously formed and function without formal rules, goals or leaders.

The term in-group refers to one’s own group, and out-group refers to another group. For in-group members, we use the word ‘we’ group while for out-group members the word ‘they’ group is used. By using the word ‘they’ and ‘we’, one is categorising people on similar or different basis. It has been found that persons in the in-group are generally supposed to be similar, are viewed favourably, and have desirable traits. Members of the out-group are viewed differently and are often perceived negatively in comparison to the in-group members.

Perceptions of in-group and out-group affect our social lives. Co-operation and proximity are common features of in-group members. Hostile and aggressive relationship leading to conflict and competition is common feature towards out-group members. In-group members maintain mutual dependence, solidarity, faithfulness, friendship, cooperation and communication for members whereas out-groups are known as stranger group.

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 3 UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL INSTITUTION NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL INSTITUTION

Q. no 1. Social Institution. Give example of two social institution. 

Ans : Social Institution are forms of procedure which are recognized and accepted by society. Society Institution governs the relationship between individuals and usage. For example, marriage is an institution. 

Q. no 2. Mention the functions of Social Institution. 

Ans :Social Institution perform various important functions is the society. 

They are –

(i) Social Institution gives guide to the people so that people can live a social life. 

(ii) Social Institutions maintains social control over the individuals. 

(iii) Social Institutions determine the role and status of an individual in the society. 

(iv) Social Institutions transfers cultural elements from one generation to another. 

(v) Social Institutions brings unity and cultural harmony in the society. 

Q. no 3. Write a short note on division of labour.

Ans : In all type of societies division labour have existed. However in modern societies division of labour is more prominent and more complex. With the development of industrialization. division of labour increases in all societies. In simple word it means division of work and its specialization. It refers to a system of distribution of work among the people according to their skill and competence. 

Q. no 4. What is the meaning of religion. 

Ans : Religion is the system of belief in the existence of God or some kind of supernatural being. It implies a system of belief and practices related to sacred things. Every religion has its specific mode of worship. Religion considers some acts as righteous and sacred. It also regards some acts as sinful and profane. Religion encourages righteousness and sacred things and discourages sinful and profane. 

Q. no 5. What is monogamy and polygamy? 

Ans : Monogamy is a kind of marriage in which one man marries only one woman . Polygamy is a kind of marriage in which one man marries more than one woman and one woman marries more than one man. 

Q.  no 6. What do you mean by Nuclear family and Joint family. 

Ans : Nuclear family is small family. Nuclear family is a group of persons consisting of husband, wife and their unmarried children . 

Joint family is large family. Within a joint family two or more family reside sharing common residence, kitchen and property  . 

Q. no 7. Write the meaning of ideology. 

Ans : Ideology refers to a set. of beliefs or ideas. Ideology exists in all societies  . It is related to power. Ideology is used to justify the interests of dominant groups or classes. 

Q. no 8. Mention four characteristics of Matriarchal family. 

Ans : (i) In Matriarchal family. mother becomes the head of the family. 

(ii) Woman manage and own property and other belongings of the family. 

(iii) Women stays on her mother’s house after the marriage. The husband goes to the wife’s house. 

(iv) The status of woman is higher than men in matriarchal family. 

Q. no 9. What is kinship system? What are the kinds of kinship ? 

Ans : Kinship is a system of the way the relations between individuals in the family and between families are organized. In simple words the close relatives through birth and marriage is called kinship system. 

Q. no 10. Mention four social functions of religion. 

Ans : (i) Religion acts as an agent of social control. 

(ii) Religion promotes social solidarity and unity. 

(iii) Religion promotes social welfare. 

(iv) Religion provides peace of mind to the people. 

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 4 CULTURE AND SOCIALISATION NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON CULTURE AND SOCIALISATION

Question 1.
Discuss the sources of culture.
Answer:
Sources of culture:
Internal (Endogenous cause)

• Inner pressure, stress and conflicts
• Conflict between ideals and realities
• Change in individual
• Planning

External (Exogenous cause)

• Urbanisation
• Industrialisation
• Migration
• Attack
• War
• Domination
• Trade
• Means of communication
•  Movements of their societies.

Physical Environment

• Drought
• Woods
• earthquake
• Deforestation
• Pollution
• Destruction of wildlife
• Ecological changes.

Question 2.
Discuss dimensions of culture.
Answer:
Cognitive-Ideas and beliefs
Normative-Norms (Value, norms, sanctions).
Customs or normative something is right or wrong-not an idea of something. Cognitive, myths, superstition, belief, customs, stories (mostly not true)

• Ideas etc. which refer to the thinking of the people, our understanding, how we absorb all information we get from the society. ‘
• Little tradition: It is transmitted orally from generation to generation in the form of songs/plays, stories (folklores) etc. It moves in illiterate and rural societies.
• Great tradition: It is transmitted from generation to generation through written work. Usually in literate societies ideas are recorded, written down and are available to us in the form of books etc.
• It is the cognitive dimension of culture which helps us to comprehend and relate to the societies.
• Little and great tradition can be converted into each other.
• Universalisation—converting great to little tradition.

Normative
It deals with controlling people’s behaviour by rules, norms, customs, values. It is basically different ways of controlling deviant behaviour.
To make society disciplined, to behave in a particular way etc.

Question 3.
How laws are different from norms?
Answer:
Laws may be formal and written exercised by institutions e.g.; Parliament, police.
Laws are explicit-very clear on paper and are the same for everybody in that society. They also provide severe, specific, unchangeable punishment. Rewards in forms of citations, medal, honor, cash prize, Bharat Ratna. Formal laws are the same everywhere and depend upon societal requirement.
Norms: Norms are informal and unwritten. They are exercised by the primary group which includes family and friends.
Laws are:

• Implicit: Ambiguity can be there, depends upon the people and situations.
• Punishment given in indifferent contexts.
• Informal reward like pat on back etc. hug etc.
• Differs from person to person, place to place, based on values/cultures of society.

Question 4.
What do you mean by cultural lag? Discuss its main features.
Answer:

Cultural lag: When the material culture is moving ahead and fast with times, but the non-material culture is not able to keep up with the fast pace of material culture propounded the theory a cultural lag.

• Let us consider the basic need of hunger. We know that it has a biological basis, which is common among animals and human beings, but the way this need is gratified by human beings is extremely complex. For example, some people eat vegetarian food, while others eat non-vegetarian food.
• Sexual behaviour can be taken as another example. We know that this behaviour involves hormones and reflexive reactions in animals and human beings alike.
• While among animals sexual behaviour is fairly simple and reflexive (all animals indulge in sexual behaviour almost in the same manner).
• It is so complex among human beings that it can hardly be described as reflexive.
• Partner preferences are a key feature of human sexual behaviour. The bases of these preferences widely differ within and across societies.
• Human sexual behaviour is also governed by many rules, standards, values, and laws.
• These examples illustrate that biological factors alone cannot help us very much in understanding human behaviour.
• Human nature has evolved through an interplay of biological and cultural forces. These forces have made us similar in many ways and different in others.

Question 5.
Explain the concept of culture.
Answer:
Concept of culture
Human behaviour is fundamentally social. It involves relationships with other people, reactions to their behaviour, and engagement with innumerable products made available to us by our predecessors. Although many other species are also social like us, human beings are cultural as well.

In the simplest terms, culture refers to “the man-made part of the environment”. It comprises diverse products of the behaviour of many people, including ourselves. These products can be material objects (e.g., tools, sculptures), ideas (e.g., family, school). We find them almost everywhere. They influence behaviour, although we may not always be aware of it.

Let us look at some examples. The room you might be in now is a cultural product. It is the result of someone’s architectural ideas and building skills. Your room may be rectangular, but there are many places where rooms are not rectangular (e.g., those of Eskimos).

You might be sitting on a chair that some people designed and built some time ago. Since sitting in a chair requires a particular posture, this invention is shaping your behaviour. There are societies without chairs. Just try to think how people in those societies would be sitting in order to do some reading.
Much of our life as human beings involves interacting with various cultural products and behaving in accordance with them. This means that culture shapes our behaviour in a significant manner.

Question 6.
How culture and society are related to each other?
Answer:
The terms ‘culture’ and ‘society’ are often considered to carry similar meaning. Let us note at this point that they are not the same thing. A society is a group of people who occupy a particular territory and speak a common language not generally understood by neighbouring people. A society may or may not be single nation, but every society has its own culture. It is culture that shapes human behaviour from society to society. Culture is the label for all the different features that vary from society to society. It is these different features of society whose influences psychologists want to examine in their studies of human behaviour. Thus, a group of people, who manage their livelihood through hunting and gathering in forests, would present a life characterised by certain features that will not be found in a society that lives mainly on agricultural produce or wage earnings.

Question 7.
Discuss various socialisation agents of society.
Answer:
Socialisation agents of society:

• A number of people who relate to us possess power to socialise us. Such people . are called “socialisation agents”.
• Parents and family members are the most significant socialisation agents.
• Legal responsibility of child care, too, lies with parents. Their task is to nurture children in such a manner that their natural potentials are maximized and negative behaviour tendencies are minimized or controlled.

Parents

• Parents have most direct and significant impact on children’s development. Children respond in different ways to parents in different situations.
• Parents encourage certain behaviours by rewarding them verbally (e.g., praising) or in other tangible ways (e.g., buying chocolates or objects of child’s desire). They also discourage certain behaviours through non-approving behaviours.
• They also arrange to put children in a variety of positive experiences, learning opportunities, and challenges. While interacting with children parents adopt different strategies, which are generally known as parenting styles.
• A distinction is made between authoritative, authoritarian and democratic or permissive parenting styles.
• Studies indicate that parents vary enormously in the treatment of children in terms of their degree of acceptance and degree of control.
•  The conditions of life in which parents live (poverty, illness, job stress, nature of family) also influence the styles they adopt in socialising children.

School

• School is another important socialising agent. Since children spend a long time in schools, which provide them with a fairly organised set up for interaction with teachers and peers.
• Nowadays school is being viewed as a more important agent of child socialisation than parents and family. Children learn not only cognitive skills (e.g., reading, writing, doing mathematics) but also many social skills (e.g., ways of behaving with elders and age mates, accepting roles, fulfilling responsibilities).
• They also learn and internalise the norms and rules of society.
• Several other positive qualities, such as self-initiative, self-control, responsibility and creativity are encouraged in schools.

Peer Groups

• Friendship acquires great significance in this respect.
• It provides children not only with a good opportunity to be in company of others, but also for organising various activities (e.g., play) collectively with the members of their own age.
• Question ualities like sharing, trust, mutual understanding, role acceptance and fulfilment develop in interaction with peers.
• Children also learn to assert their own point of view and accept and adapt to those of others.
• Development of self-identity is greatly facilitated by the peer group. Since communication of children with peer groups is direct, process of socialisation is generally smooth.

Media influences

• In recent years media has also become the medium of socialisation.
• Through television, newspapers, books and cinema the external world has made/ is making its way into our home and our lives.
• While children learn about many things from these sources, adolescents and young adults often derive their models from them, particularly from television and cinema.
• There is a need to use this agent of socialisation in a better way in order to prevent children from developing undesirable behaviours.

Question 8.
What is acculturation?
Answer:
Culture is determined by dynamic and evolving process. It is not static. Cultural changes occur due to acculturation and defusion.

• Acculturation refers to cultural and psychological changes resulting from contact with other cultures.
• Contact may be direct (e.g., when one moves and settles in a new culture) or indirect (e.g., through media or other means).
• It may be voluntary (e.g., when one goes abroad for higher studies, training, job, or trade) or involuntary (e.g., through colonial experience, invasion, political refuge).
• In both cases, people often need to learn (and also they do learn) something new to negotiate life with people of other cultural groups. For example, during the British rule in India many individuals and groups adopted several aspects of British lifestyle.
• Acculturation can take place any time in one’s life. Whenever it occurs, it requires re-leaming of norms, values, dispositions, and patterns of behaviour.
• For any acculturation to take place contact with another cultural group is essential. This often generates some sort of conflict. Since people cannot live in a state of conflict for a long time, they often resort to certain strategies to resolve their conflicts.
• Studies carried out with immigrants to western countries and native or tribal people in different parts of the world have revealed that people have various options to deal with the problem of acculturative changes. Thus, the course of acculturative change is multidirectional.
• Changes due to acculturation may be examined at subjective and objective levels. At the subjective level, changes are often reflected in people’s attitudes towards change. They are referred to as acculturation attitudes. At the objective level, changes are reflected in people’s day-to-day behaviours and activities. These are referred to as acculturation strategies.

Question 9.
Discuss differences between social change and cultural change.
Answer:
Malinowike, Gillin and Gillin and others gave their same opinions regarding social and cultural changes.
However Prof. Dawis has pointed out some difference between the two. According to him, change in social structure only represents social change.

Some important differences between social and cultural changes are:
Social Change:

• Change in social relations
• Change in social structure and relationship is a must.
• Scope of social change is limited.
• Social change effects culture.
• Society has its roots in the present, hence change in it has relative implications.

Cultural Change

• Changes in religion and art, language or literature which in turn effect social relationships.
• Cultural change is primarily responsible for new discoveries, inventions and change in cultural activities.
• Scope of cultural change is large.
• Cultural change effects social change.
• As culture has got its roots in their past, hence change in it has relatively less implications.

If society is a tributary while culture is the main river, cultural changes are more relevant. Still both the changes cannot be taken independently from each other as they effect mutually.

Question 10.
How material culture is different from non-material culture?
Answer:
Material Culture: Anything paid for stuff or money related is example of material culture. Material culture is tangible, concrete, physical, quantified and can be replaced. Non-material Culture: Values, respect, honesty, consideration, gratitude etc. are non-material culture.

Values are basically morals.
Values are those which are concerned with the morals of human beings. They are either right or wrong. They guide us as to how we are supposed to behave in society.
They define, what is proper and improper for an individual in order to reach his/her goal as per societal norms.
Non-material culture is standard of social life. Certain values which everyone has to follow in social life are: honesty, respect, integrity, responsibility.

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 5 DOING SOCIOLOGY: RESEARCH METHOD NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION for Class 11 SOCIOLOGY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These   can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ON DOING SOCIOLOGY: RESEARCH METHOD

Question 1.
What is objectivity?
Answer:
The ability to carry out an investigation and to collect data without personal interpretation or bias to influence the process. If we have to rely on a subjective interpretation of an event (such as ‘Was that an act of aggression or of playfulness?’), we may find it difficult to maintain our objectivity. Psychologists may choose either to concentrate on actions which are unquestionably relating to the behaviour of interest (stabbing someone in the back, for example, could hardly be interpreted as playfulness) or relying on the shared agreement of more than one observer of the same event (inter¬observer reliability).

Question 2.
What is observation?
Answer:
This term is used to describe any situation where an observer records behaviour that is exhibited by a participant. The term ‘observation’ may be used as a technique for gathering data (i.e. we observe somebody doing something) or as the design of a study. It leads to such a variety of usage. To give a precise definition of the term
‘observation’ means contrasting it with an experimental study. In an observation there is no manipulation of an independent variable. There are different types of study that would be classified as ‘observational’ under this definition.

Question 3.
What is reliability?
Answer:
If a finding is repeated, it is described as being reliable. Within the general meaning of the term, it is also used more specifically within psychological assessment and research. For a research finding to be reliable, it must be shown to exist on successive investigations under the same condition (replication).

For a psychometric assessment to be reliable, it should have both internal and external reliability. Answers to a questionnaire or inventory may be checked to see if respondents answer all questions in the same way or if they contradict themselves. This is a measure of internal reliability. Responses may also be checked over a period of time to see if there is stability of measurement over times. If respondent gives the same responses or obtains the same scores consistently over time, then the measure is said to have external reliability.

Question 4.
Discuss the research process in sociology.
Answer:
Steps in Research
1. Selection of a specific problem (relevant, current): The problem should have sociological significance. Define and formulate the problem. Reviving literature/ secondary research-use different sources e.g. Internet, magazine together information about the problem (reliable sources). Find out information about a specific aspect of the problem. This helps to formulate a conceptual framework. Now the path for the research is paved. Formulating a hypothesis. Assumption/tentative, conclusion/opinion of the researcher on certain aspects of the problem – may/may not be true.

2. Measurement – [Quantitative and Qualitative]:
By assigning values to variables that can be measured by features, attributes etc. It means research from abstract to concrete and further to a conclusion. It involves validity and reliability-reliable sources and measuring.
What do you want to measure objectively? When the researcher gets the same result, if he conducts a research in the same way as another researcher in the same circumstances by using quantitative methods like statistics and analysis of data.

3. Choosing a research design/technique: Survey is the best research technique. It is a method used to gather information about a particular issue/problem and also finding out the views of people and/or interests of people. It is the most common/ effective method of research. It is usually quantitative.

• Sample survey: A small audience represents the population. These are selected from an area and they represent the whole area.
• Random survey: It is done asking people randomly (people selected at random) and they represent the population.

In a survey, there are three most common ways:

• Question uestionnaire
• Interview
• Case study

4. Collection of Data: After the questionnaire is formed, it is distributed and data is collected from respondents.
Depending upon the problem, the respondents are selected.

•  Keep in mind the age/gender/class and the kind of questions when distributing the questionnaire.

5. Analysis and interpretation of Data:
After the data is collected the whole information is analysed and interpreted. Analysis is always in percentages specially for close ended questions (choices).
eg. Yes – 75%  No – 15 %

6. Evaluation: Conclusion of the whole analysis and the interpretation of the data.
Summary of all the questionnaires/hypothesis Includes

1. Summary
2. Whether your hypothesis has been proved or not.
3. Problems the researcher faces while doing the research such as :
   • Dishonesty
   • No interest
   • Incomplete
   • Stupid answers
   • No time
   • Shyness
   • If someone was offended by a certain question etc.
   • More serious problems.

Besides survey, other methods of collecting data can be used:

• Ethnography-Field work, stay with population for months and find out the stuff.
• Archives-historical facts.
• Do commentary (make a movie about it).

Question 5.
What is questionnaire? Discuss advantages and disadvantages.
Answer:
Questionnaire:
Set of questions prepared by the investigator and given to the respondent with option like yes, no, mock.
A method of collecting data systematically by asking questions which are answered by the respondent.

Types of Question:

1. Close Ended: Fixed choices are given and you have to tick one. MCQuestion s, Yes/No/ May be. An analysis is easier.
2. Easier to understand as it is based on facts. Easier for respondent to answer.
3. Objective.
4. Open Ended.
5. Opinion of respondent is asked. Subjective analysis is difficult as you will get different answers for the same question. It gives more detailed information.
6. A questionnaire should be a combination of these with more close ended questions to make analysis easier. This will give us percentage of choice and reasons for that choice.

• Question uestions should not be lengthy.
• Question uestions should be short/precise and to the point.
• Use simple language and convey the same meaning to everyone.
• Question uestions should be sensitive to the audience.
• Question uestions should not be too personal/ more general.
• No G.K. questions like who is the prime minister.

Advantages

• You can cover a large area in limited time period and large number of people.
• Objective, subjectivity doesn’t enter into it.
• Comparatively less expensive.
• Investigator’s presence is not required.
• No bias as there is no face to face interaction.
• Many questions can be covered.
• No hesitation for the respondent.

Disadvantages

• Many a time questionnaires are not taken seriously.
• Might be incorrectly filled out.
• False identity.
• You may not get it back.
• Could be incomplete.
• Can’t clarify doubts.
• Illiterate people can’t answer.

Question 6.
What is an interview? Discuss its advantages and disadvantages. (HOTS)
Answer:
In interview, a set of questions are asked face to face by the interviewer. Interview may be structured or unstructured. The success of interview depends on the following factors:

• Interviewer must be framed, sensitive, confident and qualified.
• Have some background of Interviewee.
• Should be well prepared for the discussion.
• Should be in control.
• Patient not pushy.
• Just guide the interviewee.
• Be as objective as possible.
• Has to have alternative questions.
• Should not deviate from the topic chosen.
• Question uestions showed always go from easy to difficult.

Advantages

• Facial expressions can give away emotions to a certain extent. Almost all questions are answered.
• No false identity.
• Question uestions are taken seriously.
• Universally acceptable.

Disadvantages

• Interviews are time consuming
• Expensive
• There is bias and subjectivity.

How can a researcher avoid bias and error?

• Interviewer should not get involved emotionally.
• Not forget the objective of the interview.
• Not deviate from what he /she has to find out.

Question 7.
What is observation? Discuss its types.
Answer:
Observation: It refers to systematically attending, recording and processing information through direct participation and observation of the group, tribe or community which is included in the study. •

• There is use of vision for collection of data.
• Collection of data by watching people’s behaviour without actually interfering with it.
• Noting down the data as it happens with regard to the cause, phenomenon and effect.

Observation – as a sociological research:

• Specific, valid, reliable, accountable, precise
• Precise and no extra details
• Objectivity.
• Researcher’s opinion should not be expressed.
• Validity is important. What you are observing must be related to the problem.
• Has to be reliable and accurate.

Types of Observation
Participant

• When you are a part of the observation, e.g. in a wedding, you are part of music and dancing along with observing.
• Participant takes active part in all activities of the observed group.
• Observed may or may not know the identity of the observer.
• Usually the identity of the observer is not known as the observed will become very conscious.
• Subjectivity is present and will be more as your identity bias.
• Complete participant observation : identity of observer is not known.
• Observer stays with the people for days/months. He gets completely involved in activities of group and stays with them in order to understand them completely and thorougly.

Non-Participant

• When you observe from outside. The observer is not part of the group that is being observed, e.g.; sitting out in sangeet.
• Observed may or may not know of the observer’s identity.
• More objectivity than subjectivity-less bias.
• Notes more than participant observer.
• Personal bias may contaminate the results.
• Question uantitative data is less and difficult to find.
• Noting sequence is after observation.

Steps involved for participant and non-participant observation:

1. Selection of appropriate group.
2. Familiarise with group and its activities.
3. Do research in sequence.
4. Get involved /observe from outside depending on the type of participation.

Question 8.
Elaborate on the functional method used for the study of sociology.
Answer:
This approach appeared initially as a reaction against the methods and claims of the evolutionists. Functional analysis is a method of sociological enquiry which examines social and cultural items by locating them in a wider context. This usually means showing how these items affect and are affected by others with which they coexist over time, within the same social system. In other words, functional method refers to the functional analysis which is also known as “functionalism”. This asserts that the principal task of sociology is to examine the contribution of social items that make the social and cultural life of human collectivities. It examines social phenomenon in a way so as to explain why these items occur at all,why they have persisted?
The central concern is with the source of order and stability in society.
The focus is on:

1. The way social institutions help to maintain order and continuity in social life.
2. The way structural arrangements in society influence behaviour.

It may be said that functional analysis is a method which refers to factors and forces of integration, equilibrium and also disequilibrium. At a given time, inter-relation between components of society can be studied from functional point of view.

Question 9.
What is survey method?
Answer:
Survey: It is a systematic collection of facts about a defined social group. The term usually refers to data collections that employ both interviewing and sampling to produce quantitative date-sets, amenable to computer based analysis.
Sampling and interviewing are employed in many other research designs. It is the combination of the two that has led to the social survey or sample survey, becoming the most important single type of social research, used by all the social sciences, market research and opinion polls.

1. Surveys can be used to provide descriptive statistics for national, regional or local population; to examine the clustering of social phenomena; to identify the social location and characteristics of subgroups for more intensive follow-up case-study research and to analyse causal processes and test explanations.

2. In recent years sociological survey analysis has been greatly extended to include the sophisticated multivariate modelling techniques that are common in econometrics.

3. One of the main attractions of the sample survey for both policy research and theoretical research is its transparency and accountability, methods and procedures can be made visible and accessible to other parties, unlike research designs that depend heavily on the contribution of individual researchers.

4. The key disadvantage is that surveys normally use structured questionnaires, which constrain an enquiry to paths fixed at the start of fieldwork.

5. Other criticism which are sometimes levelled at surveys are that numerical variables rarely provide adequate operationalization of sociological constructs; the highly asymmetric power relatipn between researcher and interviewee is detrimental to the quality of the data collected; they provide a false aura of objectivity which makes their result vulnerable to political manipulation.

6. Many of these criticisms can be overcome by good survey design and implementation.
Survey interviews may be personal, postal or conducted by telephone. Telephone surveys are particularly common.

Question 10.
What is sample?
Answer:
A group of people that take part in a research investigation and are presumed to be representative of the population from which they have been drawn. Because of the constraints of time, money and practicality, psychologists can hardly ever study the whole population and therefore are forced to sample from it using one of the sampling methods.

Sampling refers to the process by which research psychologists attempt to select a representative group from the population under study. As an entire population tends to be too large to work with, a smaller group of participants must act as a representative sample. In an attempt to select a representative sample and thus avoid sampling bias (the over-representation of one category of participant in the sample), psychologists utilize a variety of sampling methods, such as:

1. Random Sample: Each member of the population under study stands the same chance of being selected.
2. Stratified Sample: The composition of the sample reflects the composition of the population, e.g. 30 percent males, 70 percent females in the population determines that the sample shall contain a selection of 70 percent females, 30 percent males.
3. Question uota Sample: The researcher selects a quota of people roughly in proportion to their occurrence in the population (e.g. a quota of different age groups).
4. Opportunity Sample: Roughly a case of selecting whoever is available at the time at that location.