Upsc Sociology
Upsc Sociology
Upsc Sociology
SOCIOLOGY
PAPER - I
FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY
1. Sociology - The Discipline: Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of sociology. Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences. Sociology and common sense. 2. Sociology as Science: Science, scientific method and critique. Major theoretical strands of research methodology. Positivism and its critique. Fact value and objectivity. Non- positivist methodologies. 3. Research Methods and Analysis: Qualitative and quantitative methods. Techniques of data collection. Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity. 4. Sociological Thinkers: Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle. Employment Emile Durkheim- Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society. Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. Talcolt Parsons- Social system, pattern variables. Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups. Mead - Self and identity. 5. Stratification and Mobility: Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory. Dimensions Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race. Social mobility- open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility. 6. Works and Economic Life: Social organization of work in different types of society- slave society, feudal society, industrial /capitalist society. Formal and informal organization of work. Labour and society. 7. Politics and Society: Sociological theories of power.
PAPER - Ii
(vi) Population Dynamics: Population size, growth, composition and distribution. Components of population growth: birth, death, migration. Population policy and family planning. Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health. (vii) Challenges of Social Transformation: Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems and sustainability. Poverty, deprivation and inequalities. Violence against women. Caste conflicts. Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism. Illiteracy and disparities in education.