Sociology Optional · Paper I · Fundamentals of Sociology
Sociology as a Science Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for Sociology as a Science (Paper I, Fundamentals of Sociology), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: Science, scientific method and critique; major theoretical strands; positivism and its critique; fact, value and objectivity; non-positivist methodologies.
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1984–2025
Years covered
57
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2
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Free notes Previous year questions Solved answers All Sociology Optional units
Paper I · Unit 02
Sociology as a Science notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order. Read a topic, then open its previous year questions below.
Free notes
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Previous year questions: Sociology as a Science
Every question UPSC has asked from this unit, year-wise, with a link to its solved answer.
Topic-wise question list
Year-wise question papers
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UPSC Sociology Optional Question Paper 2026
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UPSC Sociology Optional Question Paper 2025
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UPSC Sociology Optional Question Paper 2024
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UPSC Sociology Optional Question Paper 2023
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2010
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2011
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2012
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2013
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2014
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2015
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2016
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2017
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2018
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Sociology Optional Question Paper 2019
Sociology PYQ Master Pack
Solved PYQ answers: Sociology as a Science
Topic-wise model answers, newest exam year first. Members open the full answer; everyone else sees the question and can join the pack.
PYQ Solutions
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How does Weber’s Verstehen address the objectivity-subjectivity debate in sociology?
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What is science? Do you think that the methods used in natural sciences can be applied to sociology? Give reasons for your answer.
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What is positivism? Critically analyze the major arguments against it.
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Do you think ‘objectivity’ is an over-hyped idea in sociological research? Discuss the merits and demerits of non-positivist methods.
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What are the characteristics of scientific method? Do you think that scientific method in conducting sociological research is foolproof? Elaborate.
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Examine the relevance of corporate social responsibility in a world marked by increasing environmental crises.
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What are the shortfalls of positivist philosophy that gave rise to the non-positivist methods of studying social reality?
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How does a researcher achieve objectivity in interpretative research?
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How far are sociologists justified in using positivist approach to understand social reality? Explain with suitable illustrations.
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Do you think ethnomethodology helps us in getting reliable and valid data? Justify your answer.
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Is Sociology a Value-free Science? Discuss.
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Phenomenological perspectives in Sociology reject many of the assumption of positivism, Comment.
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Methodology is a system of rules, Principles and procedures, which forms scientific investigation. Comment.
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Explain with examples, the explanatory and exploratory designs of social research
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Does scientific method make Sociology a science? Illustrate your answer with Durkheim’s method.
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Is non-positivistic methodology scientific? Illustrate
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Elaborate the main tenets of interpretative perspective in sociology
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Examine the basic postulates of positivism and post-positivism.
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Examine ethnomethodological and phenomenological perspectives as critique of positivism
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Describe the basic postulates of scientific method. How far are these followed in sociological research?
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What is ‘value-free sociology’? Clarify
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“Non-positivistic methodology is essential for understanding human behaviour.” Discuss.
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Discuss the relevance of historical method in the study of society
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Is Sociology a Science? Give reasons for your answer?
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In what way ‘interpretative’ method is different from ‘positivist’ approach in the study of social phenomena?
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Write short answer of the following in about 150 words: How is objectivity different from value neutrality? Discuss with reference to Weber’s views on methodology.
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Critically examine positivistic approach in sociological studies. (150 words)
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Write short note on the following, keeping sociological perspective in view : Fact Value and Objectivity
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Write short note on the following, keeping sociological perspective in view : Interpretative Sociology.
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Write short note on Fact and Value, keeni,, sociological perspective in view. In about 150 words.
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Write short note on Serendipity.
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Write short note on Problems of objectivity in sociological research
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Comment on the reasons why neo-idealists and symbolic interactionists are critical of ‘positivism’ in Sociology
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Write short note : Role of values in sociological enquiry
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Write short note : Sociology as a science of society.
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Write short note : Social research design.
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Objectivity and Value Neutrality in Social Research.
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Highlight the problem of objectivity and value neutrality in Social Research. Elaborate, with suitable examples, the limitations associated with the tools of measurement in Social Science Research.
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Write short note : Sociology as a science.
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Write short note : Theory and Fact.
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Write short note : Problem of objectivity in social research.
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Write short note : Value neutrality in social science
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Is it possible to study social phenomenon scientifically? Give a critical answer.
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Write short note : A good hypothesis
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Write short note : Value – free sociology
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Write short note : Methods of science and sociology
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Write short note : Comparative method in Sociology.
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Write short note : Significance of objectivity in sociological research.
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Write short note : Design of sociological research.
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Write short note : The problem of objectivity
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Write short note : Methods of scientific investigation
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Discuss the nature and character of voluntary associations. What is their importance in developing societies ?
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Write short note : Bearing of research on theory
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Write short note : The problem of objectivity in Sociology.
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Write short note : Sociology as a science of society.
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Write short note : Research Design
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Write short note : Rapport and objectivity in social science research.
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