Model answers for these questions. 54 UPSC questions from Research Methods and Analysis (1985–2026) are solved in Sociology Optional PYQ Solutions, with a full model answer for each. Use the View answer links in the table, or open the whole unit topic-wise, newest year first.
| Year | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Compare and critically assess 'the grounded theory' with 'theory-driven research method' in sociology. (20 marks) | View answer |
| 2026 | Discuss the significance and limitations of 'intersectionality' in social research. (10 marks) | View answer |
| 2025 | What is a variable in social research? What are their different types? Elaborate. (10 marks) | View answer |
| 2025 | What do you mean by reliability? Discuss the importance of reliability in social science research. (10 marks) | View answer |
| 2025 | What is hypothesis? Critically evaluate the significance of the hypothesis in social research. (10 marks) | View answer |
| 2025 | What is sampling in the context of social research? Discuss different forms of sampling with their relative advantages and disadvantages. (20 marks) | View answer |
| 2024 | What do you understand be ‘Mixed method’? Discuss its strengths and limitations in Social research. | View answer |
| 2024 | How do you view and assess the increasing trend of digital ethnography and use of visual culture in sociological research? | View answer |
| 2023 | What are the different dimensions of qualitative method? Do you think that qualitative methods help to gain a deeper sociological insight? Give reasons for your answer. | View answer |
| 2023 | What are the ethical issues that a researcher faces in making use of participant observation as a method of collecting data? Explain. | View answer |
| 2023 | What are variables? How do they facilitate research? | View answer |
| 2023 | How does the dramaturgical perspective enable our understanding of everyday life? | View answer |
| 2022 | What is the distinctiveness of the feminist method of Social research Comment? | View answer |
| 2022 | The difference between information and data in social science is subtle. Comment. | View answer |
| 2022 | Explain the different types of non-probability sampling techniques. Bring out the conditions of their usage with appropriate examples. | View answer |
| 2022 | Suggest measures to minimize the influence of the researcher in the process of collecting data through focus group discussion. | View answer |
| 2022 | What is reliability? Explain the different tests available to social science researchers to establish reliability. | View answer |
| 2021 | Discuss the challenges involved in collecting data through census method | View answer |
| 2021 | How do qualitative and quantitative methods supplement each other in sociological enquiry? | View answer |
| 2020 | Analyse the strengths and weakness of social survey method in social research. | View answer |
| 2020 | Discuss the importance and source of hypothesis in social research. | View answer |
| 2019 | Explain the probability sampling strategies with examples. | View answer |
| 2019 | Bring out the significance of Ethnography in social research. | View answer |
| 2018 | Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative techniques of data collection with suitable examples from Indian society. | View answer |
| 2017 | Illustrate with example the significance of variables in sociological research. | View answer |
| 2017 | Examine epistemological foundations of qualitative methods of social research. | View answer |
| 2017 | How can one resolve the issue of reliability and validity in the context of sociological research on inequality? | View answer |
| 2016 | Analyze the importance of qualitative method in social research. | View answer |
| 2016 | "Hypothesis is a statement of the relationship between two or more variables." Elucidate by giving examples of poverty and illiteracy. | View answer |
| 2016 | "Participant observation is the most effective tool for collecting facts." Comment. | View answer |
| 2015 | What are variables? Discuss their role in experimental research. | View answer |
| 2015 | Examine the problems of maintaining objectivity and value neutrality in Social Science research? | View answer |
| 2015 | Why is random sampling said to have more reliability and validity in research? | View answer |
| 2014 | Write short answer of the following in about 150 words: In what way biographies could be used to study social life ? | View answer |
| 2014 | Which research technique would be most suitable for the study of consumer behaviour and its social correlates ? Explain | View answer |
| 2013 | Analyse the limitations of quantitative methods in social research. | View answer |
| 2012 | Write short note on the following, keeping sociological perspective in view : Comparative method. | View answer |
| 2012 | Differentiate between the qualitative and quantitative methods in Research. | View answer |
| 2011 | Write short note on Reliability and Validity, keeping sociological perspective in view. | View answer |
| 2011 | What is subjective method in social research ? Examine Focus Group Discussion (FGD) as a technique for data collection, with suitable examples | View answer |
| 2010 | Write short note on Content Analysis. | View answer |
| 2010 | Write short note on Nomothetic and Idiographic Methods | View answer |
| 2009 | Distinguish between probability and nonprobability sampling methods. How many types of sampling designs are there ? | View answer |
| 2008 | Write short note : Importance and sources of hypotheses in social research. | View answer |
| 2008 | What is the importance of sampling in sociological studies ? Distinguish between simple random sampling and stratified random sampling | View answer |
| 2003 | Utility of Reliability and Validity in Social Research. | |
| 2002 | What are the uses of Bogardus’ social distance scale and of Likert scale? Discuss | View answer |
| 1999 | Short note : Limitations of questionnaire as a technique of data collection. | View answer |
| 1998 | Write short note : Reliability of a sample. | View answer |
| 1990 | Write short note : Participant observation. | View answer |
| 1989 | Write short note : Measurement of Attitudes. | View answer |
| 1988 | Write short note : Experimental design. | View answer |
| 1987 | Write short note : Techniques of Data Collection. | View answer |
| 1986 | Write short note : Techniques employed in measuring attitudes. | View answer |
| 1985 | Write short note : Interview as a method of social research. | View answer |
Solved PYQs for every Sociology topic
Notes tell you what a thinker said. Sociology Optional PYQ Solutions shows you how UPSC asks it and how a strong answer is written, on every question since 1985.
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