Sociology as a Discipline: NBSE Class 11 Sociology notes

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Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF and guide of chapter 1, Sociology as a Discipline: NBSE Class 11 Sociology textbook, which is part of the syllabus for students studying under the Nagaland Board. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed. 

Summary

The chapter explains what sociology is, where it came from, and how it relates to other subjects. Sociology is the scientific study of society and human behavior. The word “sociology” comes from Latin and Greek words meaning “companion” and “study.” Auguste Comte, a French thinker, invented the term in 1839 and is called the father of sociology. He believed that society could be studied using methods similar to those used in physical sciences.

Sociology started as a response to big changes in Europe during the 19th century, like the Industrial Revolution and political movements. These changes made people realize they needed to understand society better. Other important thinkers who helped shape sociology include Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx. Each had different ideas about how to study society, but all agreed it should be done scientifically.

Sociology is considered a science because it uses systematic methods to study society. It looks at patterns in social relationships, institutions, and culture. Unlike natural sciences that study things like plants or chemicals, sociology focuses on human behavior and society. However, studying humans is more complex because people’s feelings and values can influence research.

Sociology has many branches, such as rural sociology, urban sociology, and political sociology. Each branch focuses on different aspects of society. Some sociologists believe sociology should stay independent, while others think it should combine insights from other social sciences.

The chapter also discusses how sociology is related to other subjects. For example, history studies the past, while sociology focuses on current social issues. Political science examines power and government, which are also part of sociology but in a broader context. Economics looks at how people manage resources, which sociology also considers alongside other social factors. Social anthropology studies simpler societies, whereas sociology often focuses on modern, complex ones.

Textbook solutions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What is the etymological meaning of sociology?

Answer : The etymological meaning of sociology is the “science or study of society.” The word ‘sociology’ is derived from two words: the Latin word ‘socius’ or ‘societas,’ which means ‘companion’ or ‘associate,’ and the Greek word ‘logos,’ which means ‘study or science.’

2. Who coined the word ‘sociology’?

Answer : Auguste Comte coined the word ‘sociology.’

3. Who is known as the father of sociology? (’06)

Answer : Auguste Comte is known as the father of sociology.

4. In which year did Auguste Comte coin the word ‘sociology’? (’08)

Answer : Auguste Comte coined the word ‘sociology’ in 1839.

5. How does Emile Durkheim define sociology?

Answer : Emile Durkheim defines sociology as the study of social facts.

6. What is positivism? (’08)

Answer : Positivism is a method of scientific enquiry that calls for empirical research. It rejects speculative analysis of social reality and emphasizes the understanding of experience through the use of the scientific method.

7. What is a science?

Answer : A science is a systematised body of verified knowledge about reality, obtained through the application or use of the scientific method. Such knowledge is cumulative, meaning it is built upon existing knowledge, and deals with empirical reality that can be observed through the senses.

8. What is social science?

Answer : Social science is a type of science that deals with social realities or human social behaviour. It studies human society and human behaviour using the scientific method, similar to natural sciences.

9. Mention one difference between social science and physical science.

Answer : One difference between social science and physical science is that the subject matter of physical sciences is relatively static and unchanging, whereas the subject matter of social sciences is flexible and dynamic.

10. What is ‘political sociology’?

Answer : Political sociology is the interface between sociology and political science. It studies power relations in the wider social context, including the processes which enable a group to secure and wield power.

11. What is the Sociology of Economic Life?

Answer : The Sociology of Economic Life is a branch of sociology that studies the social aspects of income, occupation, consumption, and other related areas.

12. Broadly define ‘social anthropology’.

Answer : Social anthropology is a branch of anthropology that deals with the social and cultural aspects of human societies. It focuses on the study of tribal, peasant, and pre-literate societies and examines their social organization.

13. What is the basic difference between sociology and anthropology? (’06)

Answer : The basic difference between sociology and anthropology is that social anthropology primarily studies tribal, peasant, and pre-literate societies in the world, while sociology focuses on complex, modern, and urban-industrial societies.

14. What is the chief method of data collection in sociology?

Answer : The chief method of data collection in sociology is the social survey.

15. Who divided sociology into Social Statics and Social Dynamics? (’12)

Answer : Auguste Comte divided sociology into Social Statics and Social Dynamics.

16. What is value-neutrality? (’12)

Answer : Value-neutrality means that the values, ideas, biases, and prejudices of the scholar should not influence his conclusions. Value-neutrality requires objectivity or looking at realities as they are, and not as they should be.

17. What is meant by sociological perspective? (’13)

Answer : The sociological perspective looks at human society and social relationships in themselves. It considers social realities in so far as they are ‘social’. Its focus is on the social nature of social phenomena or social realities. Thus, sociology looks at society and social relationships and tries to understand how they are formed and how human behaviour is influenced by them. In simple terms, the sociological perspective consists in looking at the relationships between individuals and the wider society.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What is sociology? (’09)

Answer : Sociology is the scientific study of society and human behaviour.

2. Give the meaning of sociology. (’07,’13)

Answer : Sociology means the science or study of society, derived from the Latin word ‘socius’ or ‘societas’, which means ‘companion’ or ‘associate’, and the Greek word ‘logos’, which means ‘study or science’.

3. What is meant by empiricism? (’06)

Answer : Empiricism means understanding based on experience.

4. What is sociology? (’09)

Answer : Sociology is the scientific study of society and human behaviour.

5. Give the meaning of sociology. (’07, ’13)

Answer : Sociology means the science or study of society, derived from the Latin word ‘socius’ or ‘societas’, which means ‘companion’ or ‘associate’, and the Greek word ‘logos’, which means ‘study or science’.

6. What is meant by empiricism? (’06)

Answer : Empiricism means understanding based on experience.

7. What do you understand by ‘historical sociology’ and ‘social history’?

Answer : Historical sociology refers to the use of historical data by sociologists in their studies to understand the present society, as they realized that the present society cannot be understood without an investigation into the past. On the other hand, social history refers to the adoption of the sociological perspective by historians in their studies, where they investigate how an event cannot be understood without reference to other events of the time.

8. State two similarities between sociology and economics.

Answer : Two similarities between sociology and economics are:

• Both sociology and economics deal with human society and social relationships, making them essentially related disciplines.
• They cooperate with each other and enrich each other by contributing to an understanding of human society as a whole.

9. Why did Comte call sociology as a positive science of society? (’14)

Answer : Comte called sociology as a positive science of society because he believed that the scientific method used in physical sciences should be applied to the study of human society. He argued that by using the positivist method, it was possible to formulate the laws of society similar to the laws of physics. Such a study, according to him, would reveal the laws of the evolution and functioning of society, making it possible to rebuild society in a scientific manner.

10. Point out two differences between sociology and social anthropology. (’14)

Answer : Two differences between sociology and social anthropology are:

• Social anthropology primarily studies tribal, peasant, and pre-literate societies in the world, whereas sociology focuses on complex, modern, and urban-industrial societies.
• Sociology uses various methods for data collection and relies chiefly on the social survey method, while social anthropology mainly employs participant observation as its chief method of data collection.

Essay Type Questions

1. Explain the meaning and definition of sociology?

Answer : Sociology is defined as the scientific study of society and human behavior. The term ‘sociology’ is derived from two words: the Latin word ‘socius’ or ‘societas,’ which means ‘companion’ or ‘associate,’ and the Greek word ‘logos,’ which means ‘study or science.’ Thus, literally, ‘sociology’ means the ‘science or study of society.’ Auguste Comte coined the word ‘sociology’ in 1839 and defined it as the “science of human association.” Emile Durkheim, another founder of sociology, defined sociology as the study of social facts. Max Weber described sociology as “the science which attempts the interpretative understanding of social action.” At present, sociologists define sociology in various ways. For example, Franklin Giddings defines sociology as the science of social phenomena, while Park and Burgess state that “sociology is the science of collective behavior.” Therefore, sociology is the scientific study of human social behavior.

2. Discuss briefly the origin of sociology. (’13)

Answer : Sociology emerged as a scientific study of society in response to rapid and far-reaching changes in European societies during the 19th century. These changes were brought about by factors such as the emergence of modern sciences, the Commercial Revolution following the discovery of America and new routes to India, the Industrial Revolution, and political revolutions like the French Revolution in 1789. These transformations led to significant progress and development but also created numerous social problems. In this context, some social thinkers felt the need for a scientific study of society to pursue greater progress and solve these problems, leading to the birth of sociology.

Though human beings have always shown an interest in understanding their society, with ancient thinkers like Aristotle making observations about human society, these writings were philosophical or theological in nature and not scientific. The scientific study of society began only with the emergence of sociology in the 19th century. For this reason, it is said that sociology has a long past but a short history. Auguste Comte, a Frenchman, is traditionally considered the father of sociology. He coined the term ‘sociology’ in 1839 and identified human society as its subject matter. He also suggested using the scientific method from physical sciences to study human society, an approach known as positivism.

3. Define sociology and discuss the scientific nature of sociology. (’14)

Answer : Sociology is defined as the scientific study of society or human social behaviour. It is the systematic investigation of human society and social relationships using empirical methods, theory, cumulative knowledge, and value neutrality.

Sociology is a science because it fulfils the requirements of a science. To explain its scientific nature, science is described as a systematised body of verified knowledge about reality obtained through the application of the scientific method. This body of knowledge is cumulative, built upon existing knowledge, and deals with empirical reality, which can be observed through our senses. The essential characteristic of science is the use of the scientific method, which involves empirical observation, the collection of information on reality, the organisation and interpretation of that information, and drawing reliable and verifiable conclusions using rational and logical procedures. An important aspect of the scientific method is theory, a master idea guiding the entire procedure.

Sociology makes use of the scientific method in understanding society and social realities. It is characterised by empiricism, meaning it seeks to understand social reality based on experience and employs rational and logical procedures. Theory is central to sociology, as it adopts master ideas to interpret and explain social realities. Sociology is also cumulative because it builds on existing knowledge about social realities. Furthermore, sociology strives for value-neutrality, which means the values, biases, or prejudices of the scholar should not influence conclusions. Value-neutrality requires objectivity, looking at realities as they are rather than how they should be. In this sense, sociology is an objective or value-free science.

4. Discuss the nature of sociology as a science. (’10)

Answer : Sociology is defined as the scientific study of society or human social behaviour, which makes it a science. To explain the nature of sociology as a science, it is necessary to understand what is meant by ‘science’. Science is a systematised body of verified knowledge about reality obtained through the application or use of the scientific method. Such a body of knowledge is cumulative, meaning it is built upon existing knowledge. Science deals with empirical reality, which refers to reality that can be observed through our senses.

The essential characteristic of science is the use of the scientific method, which is a systematic way of proceeding in understanding empirical reality. This method consists of various steps: the first step is empirical observation or the collection of information on reality as it exists, followed by the organisation and interpretation of information, and finally drawing reliable and verifiable conclusions. Rational and logical procedures are used throughout these steps. An important aspect of the scientific method is theory, or a master idea, which guides the entire procedure.

To sum up, a discipline or study can be called a science if it is empirical, theoretical, cumulative, and value-neutral. Sociology fulfils these requirements and thus qualifies as a science. It makes use of the scientific method in understanding society and social realities. Sociology is characterised by empiricism, which means understanding based on experience; it employs rational and logical procedures. Theory is central to sociology because it adopts some master ideas to interpret and explain social realities. Sociology is also cumulative because it builds on existing knowledge about social realities. Lastly, sociology aims for value-neutrality, meaning that the values, ideas, biases, and prejudices of the scholar should not influence their conclusions. Value-neutrality requires objectivity, or looking at realities as they are and not as they should be, making sociology an objective or value-free science in this sense.

5. What are the differences between social science and natural science? (’10)

Answer : The differences between social science and natural science are as follows:

(i) The subject matter of natural sciences is relatively static and unchanging, whereas the subject matter of social sciences, including sociology, is flexible and dynamic.
(ii) The methodology in natural sciences is truly positivist and objective, with no room for subjectivity and bias. However, in social sciences, it is difficult to be completely objective and value-free because the scholar who studies social reality is a part of the reality he studies.

6. Why is sociology a science?

Answer : Sociology is a science because it fulfills the requirements of a science. It makes use of the scientific method in understanding society and social realities. Sociology is characterized by empiricism, theory, cumulative knowledge, and value neutrality. Empiricism means understanding based on experience, and sociology is empirical because it wants to understand social reality as it exists. Theory is central to sociology because it adopts master ideas to interpret and explain social realities. Cumulative knowledge refers to knowledge built upon existing knowledge, and sociology is cumulative because it builds on existing knowledge about social realities. Value-neutrality means that the values or biases of the scholar should not influence conclusions, and sociology aims to be an objective or value-free science in this sense.

7. Discuss the subject matter and scope of sociology.(’08, ’11)

Answer : Sociology is the general science of society, and its subject matter is society or social life as a whole. However, sociology does not deal with human society in a vague manner because it has a definite scope. The term ‘scope’ refers to the range or extent to which a science deals with its subject matter, indicating the boundaries or limits of that science. Hence, sociology has a distinctive subject matter and a definite scope.

The various aspects of society that fall within the subject matter and scope of sociology include:

• Social organization : This refers to the interdependence of different aspects of society such as groups, communities, and collectivities, which is an essential characteristic of all enduring social entities.
• Social structure : This refers to the pattern of interrelations between individuals. Social structure consists of the complex of institutions, groups, and arrangements relating to status and power found in every society, community, or group.
• Social institutions : These are stable clusters of norms, values, and roles, representing procedures or established practices in a group or collectivity. People create social institutions to meet their basic needs of survival, including those related to the economy, politics, education, religion, marriage, family, social differentiation, and hierarchy.
• Culture : Culture encompasses the totality of learned behavior in a society that is transmitted from one generation to the next. It includes language, symbols and signs, religious beliefs, ritual practices, music, arts, and material things like artifacts.

These aspects indicate that sociology has an extensive subject matter and vast scope, leading to several branches or sub-divisions such as rural sociology, urban sociology, political sociology, industrial sociology, and others. These sub-divisions represent specific specializations within sociology.

8. Discuss the relationship between sociology and history. (’07)

Answer : Sociology and history are distinct yet related disciplines because both study human society, though they differ in their time frame and approach. History is concerned with the past of human society, seeking to record, reconstruct, and understand past events. Sociology, on the other hand, focuses on the present and, to some extent, the past, aiming to discover patterns and causal relationships between social phenomena. The main differences between sociology and history are as follows:

• Sociology deals with the regular and recurrent events or phenomena, aiming to discover general patterns, making it a generalizing and analytical science. History, however, studies unique and individual events, making it a particularizing or individualizing discipline that is also descriptive.
• Sociology is concerned with the inter-relationships between events to find causal relationships, while history seeks to describe events as accurately as possible within a time sequence.

Despite these differences, sociology and history are closely related. Many sociologists recognize that understanding present society requires investigating the past, leading to the development of historical sociology. Similarly, many historians have adopted the sociological perspective, giving rise to what is known as social history. Thus, sociology and history cooperate with and enrich each other, even though they remain distinct disciplines due to their specific time frames and approaches.

9. Discuss the differences and relationship between sociology and History. (’13)

Answer : Sociology and history are both social sciences that study human society, but they differ in their focus, approach, and time frame. The key differences between sociology and history are:

• Sociology is concerned with the present and, to some extent, the past. However, history is concerned only with the past. This difference in time frame is the primary distinction between the two disciplines.
• Sociology focuses on events or social phenomena and seeks to understand the inter-relationships between them to discover patterns and causal relationships. In contrast, history aims to describe events of the past as accurately as possible and examines how these events are connected within a time sequence.
• Sociology deals with regular and recurring events or phenomena, aiming to discover general patterns. Therefore, it is considered a generalizing and analytical science. On the other hand, history studies individual and unique events, making it a particularizing or individualizing discipline that is also descriptive in nature.

Despite these differences, sociology and history are closely related because both are interested in the study of human society. Their relationship has been debated, particularly regarding methodological issues. For instance, E.H. Carr argued in the early 1960s that history should adopt the sociological perspective to enrich historical studies, though many historians did not accept this view.

Currently, the relationship between sociology and history can be understood as follows:

• Many sociologists recognize that understanding present society requires investigating the past. As a result, they use historical data in their studies, leading to the development of historical sociology.
• Many historians have adopted the sociological perspective in their studies, arguing that an event cannot be fully understood without reference to other events of the same period. This approach has given rise to what is known as social history.

10. Discuss the relationship and differences between sociology and economics. (’08, ’11)

Answer : Sociology and economics are two distinct social sciences but are essentially related because both deal with human society and behaviour. They also cooperate with each other and enrich each other.

The differences between sociology and economics are as follows:

• Economics studies only the economic activities, relationships, and organizations in a society, though these are also social realities. On the other hand, sociology studies all social activities.
• Economic theory explains social realities only from the economic perspective. For instance, Adam Smith explains that division of labour came into existence because of the mass production of goods. However, Emile Durkheim argues that the division of labour arose due to the transformation of a simple society into a complex society. According to him, social organization in a simple society is mechanical, while in a complex society, it is organic and requires an elaborate division of labour.

Despite these differences, there is a close relationship between sociology and economics. Sociology is also interested in economic activities. In fact, there is a branch of sociology called the Sociology of Economic Life which studies the social aspects of income, occupation, consumption, and so on. Economics has also benefited from sociology because it has begun to take into account the social dimensions of economic activities.

11. Discuss the relationship between Sociology and Political Science. (’09)

Answer : Sociology and Political Science are both social sciences because they study human society. Political Science is known as the ‘science of government’ and focuses on political institutions such as the state, government, legislative, executive, and judicial institutions. It also deals with the behavior of people in power and the concept of power, which is central to it. Power is defined as the ability of a person or group to control and influence the behavior of others despite resistance, while authority refers to legitimate power vested through accepted means like elections. These aspects of power relations and authority are essentially part of human society, making Political Science a social science like Sociology.

Differences between Sociology and Political Science include:

• Sociology studies all social aspects of society, whereas Political Science restricts itself to the study of power embedded in formal organizations like the state and government.
• Sociology focuses on the inter-relations between institutions such as the state, government, and political parties, while Political Science concentrates on governmental processes.

Despite these differences, there is a close relationship between Sociology and Political Science. Political Science studies power relations and governmental processes, while Sociology is interested in studying power relations within the wider social context. For example, Sociology examines the processes that enable a group to secure and wield power. This overlap between Sociology and Political Science is referred to as Political Sociology. In India, a major area of study in Political Sociology has been the role of caste in politics, particularly in elections.

12. Discuss the similarities and dissimilarities between sociology and political science. (’06)

Answer : Sociology and political science are both social sciences that study human society and behavior, but they differ in their specific subject matter and approach.

• Sociology studies all aspects of society, including social institutions, relationships, and structures. On the other hand, political science restricts itself to the study of power as embedded in formal organizations such as the state and government.
• Sociology focuses on the interrelations between various institutions, such as the state, government, and political parties. In contrast, political science focuses specifically on governmental processes and the functioning of political institutions.

Political science studies power relations and governmental processes, while sociology is also interested in studying power relations but within a wider social context. For instance, sociology examines the processes through which groups secure and wield power. This interface between sociology and political science has given rise to a discipline known as political sociology. In India, a major area of study in political sociology has been the role of caste in politics and elections.

In conclusion, sociology and political science are distinct social sciences due to their differing areas of focus and approaches. However, they are essentially related because both deal with human society and behavior, and they cooperate with and enrich each other.

13. Discuss the differences and relationships between sociology and social anthropology? (’10, ’12)

Answer : The main differences between sociology and social anthropology are as follows:

• Social anthropology studies tribal, peasant, and pre-literate societies in the world. On the other hand, sociology studies complex, modern, and urban-industrial societies.
• Sociology makes use of various methods and uses the social survey as its chief method. Social anthropology, however, makes use of participant observation as its chief method of data collection.

It is often said that social anthropology studies “other cultures,” while sociology deals with “one’s own society.” Such a distinction was possible when European and American scholars studied simple societies found outside their countries. However, in India, such a distinction is not clear because of the continuity between tribal and non-tribal communities, rural and urban populations. Therefore, in India, there is practically no difference between sociology and social anthropology.

Despite these differences, sociology and social anthropology are closely related. Both study society in a holistic manner and are comparative in nature. They accept each other’s conclusions, making them so close to each other that, in India, the distinction between them has become completely blurred.

Problem Solving

1. We live in villages or towns. What procedure will you adopt to do a sociological study of your village or town in order to find out the problems faced by the people?

Answer : To conduct a sociological study of my village or town to identify the problems faced by the people, I would adopt the following procedure:

First, I would start with empirical observation, which involves collecting information on the reality as it exists. This would include observing the living conditions, social interactions, and general environment of the village or town.

Next, I would organize and interpret the collected information. This step involves categorizing the observed issues into different areas such as economic problems, social issues, educational challenges, and health concerns.

Finally, I would draw reliable and verifiable conclusions based on the organized data. These conclusions would help in understanding the underlying causes of the problems faced by the community and suggest possible solutions. Throughout this process, I would use rational and logical procedures to ensure the study is scientific and objective.

Think and Answer

2. Writings of many ancient thinkers deal with human society. Sociology also deals with human society. But Sociology alone is considered a ‘science’. Why is it so?

Answer : Sociology is considered a ‘science’ because it fulfills the requirements of a science. Unlike the writings of many ancient thinkers that deal with human society, sociology uses the scientific method to understand society and social realities.

Sociology is empirical, meaning it seeks to understand social reality as it exists through experience and observation. It employs rational and logical procedures to gather and interpret data.

Additionally, sociology is characterized by theory, which involves adopting master ideas to interpret and explain social realities. It builds cumulative knowledge, extending existing knowledge about social realities.

Furthermore, sociology aims for value-neutrality, ensuring that the values, biases, and prejudices of the scholar do not influence the conclusions. This requires objectivity, looking at realities as they are, rather than how they should be.

For these reasons, sociology is distinguished from the philosophical or theological nature of ancient writings and is recognized as a science.