SOC101 Midterm Short Questions

SoC101 Short Question All Lesson Topic wise For Mid Term Compiled By: A.N Khuram

Q1. What is sociology?

•  Sociology is the systematic and scientific study of human behavior, social groups, and society. It analyzes structural and institutional forces shaping our lives and behaviors.

Q2. How did the scientific method influence the development of sociology?

•  The scientific method emphasized empirical evidence and systematic observation, challenging traditional beliefs and leading to sociology's emergence as a scientific study of social phenomena.

Q3. Who coined the term "sociology"?

•  Auguste Comte is credited with coining the term "sociology" to capture the belief in a social physics that could discover laws explaining society.

Q4. What was Comte's view on objectivity in sociology?

•  Comte believed sociology should approach its subject matter with objectivity, impartiality, and systematic attention similar to physical sciences like biology.

Q5. What is positivism in sociology?

•  Positivism, proposed by Comte, applies the scientific method to the study of society, aiming to uncover underlying social laws and apply them to social reform.

Q6. How did Herbert Spencer contribute to sociology?

•  Spencer's concept of social Darwinism linked societal evolution to natural selection, where societies evolve from lower to higher forms through the survival of the fittest.

Q7. How did Karl Marx view capitalism?

•  Marx saw capitalism as a system of structured inequality, with the means of production owned by a minority (bourgeoisie) and exploited by wage-workers (proletariat).

Q8. What did Emile Durkheim contribute to sociology?

•  Durkheim emphasized the study of social facts and the role of social structures in maintaining social order, pioneering scientific methodology in sociology.

Q9. How did Durkheim explain suicide as a social phenomenon?

•  Durkheim classified suicide types (altruistic, egoistic, anomic) based on social integration, showing how societal factors influence individual behavior.

Q10. What are mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity?

•  Mechanical solidarity is based on similarities and shared beliefs in traditional societies, while organic solidarity arises from interdependence in complex societies with specialized labor.

Lesson No.2

Q1. What is the sociological perspective?

•  The sociological perspective, or imagination, emphasizes the importance of social contexts in shaping individuals' lives and behaviors. It examines how groups and societies influence people.

Q2. Why do sociologists study social problems?

•  Sociologists study social problems because these issues extend beyond individual experiences and affect many people. They often involve conflicts with societal values.

Q3. What is the sociological imagination according to C. Wright Mills?

•  C. Wright Mills described the sociological imagination as understanding the connection between history (society's values and beliefs) and biography (individual life experiences). It places individual behavior within a broader social context.

Q4. How does sociology challenge common sense?

•  Sociology challenges common sense by revealing surprising and counterintuitive social patterns, debunking myths, and providing systematic explanations based on research and evidence.

Q5. What are some key questions in sociology?

•  Key questions in sociology include examining social structures and institutions, understanding the influence of norms and values on behavior, analyzing power and inequality, exploring causes and consequences of social problems, and studying social change and movements.

Q6. What are the conditions needed to establish causality in sociology?

•  To establish causality, three conditions are essential: temporal order (cause precedes effect), empirical association (two phenomena occur together), and elimination of plausible alternatives (showing the effect is due to the cause, not something else).

Lesson No.3

Q1. What role do theories play in sociology?

•  Theories in sociology provide a conceptual framework to interpret observations and understand how different social elements are related to each other.

2. Name three major sociological theories and explain their perspectives.

•  The three major sociological theories are symbolic interactionism, functional analysis, and conflict theory. Symbolic interactionism focuses on how symbols shape our understanding and communication. Functional analysis views society as a system of interrelated parts working together. Conflict theory emphasizes competition and inequality among different groups.