Sociology Mock Tests

1. Sociological Thought

This section introduces six foundational sociological thinkers and their core contributions to the discipline:

• Auguste Comte: Founder of positivism and the scientific study of society.
• Herbert Spencer: Social Darwinism and the concept of society as an organism.
• Émile Durkheim: Social facts, collective conscience, and the study of social integration.
• Max Weber: Social action theory, verstehen (interpretive understanding), and bureaucracy.
• Karl Marx: Class struggle, historical materialism, and the critique of capitalism.
• Vilfredo Pareto: Elite theory and the circulation of elites in society.

Note: Understanding these thinkers provides a foundation for analyzing social structures and processes.

2. Sociological Theory

This section covers major theoretical frameworks used to analyze society, along with foundational concepts:

• Functionalism: Focus on social stability and functions of institutions (Parsons, Merton).
• Conflict Theory: Emphasis on power struggles and social inequalities (Dahrendorf, Coser).
• Exchange Theory: Social interactions based on cost-benefit analyses and reciprocity (Homans, Blau).
• Symbolic Interactionism: Micro-level analysis of social interactions and meaning-making (Mead, Blumer).

Additional Concepts: Macro vs. micro perspectives, the role of theory in guiding sociological research.

3. General Sociology

This section explores essential sociological concepts and social phenomena:

• Society and Culture: Definitions, components, and interrelations.
• Social Control: Mechanisms that regulate behavior and maintain order.
• Social Stratification: Systems of inequality based on caste, class, and gender.
• Social Change: Processes such as globalization, revolution, and modernization.

4. Indian Society

This section focuses on the structure and dynamics of Indian society, highlighting key social institutions and issues:

• Family and Marriage Systems: Types, functions, and changing patterns.
• Caste and Sanskritization: Social hierarchy and processes of upward mobility.
• Marginalized Groups: Issues concerning Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), women, and child labor.
• Population Issues: Growth, migration, and demographic challenges.
• Social Change: Urbanization, environmental concerns, and modernization impacts.
• Local Governance: Role and functioning of Panchayats and Municipalities.

5. Research Methods

This section introduces the fundamentals of social research methodology:

• Sampling Techniques: Types and importance of representative sampling.
• Data Collection Tools: Observation, questionnaires, and interviews.
• Research Design: Formulating variables, hypotheses, and structuring research projects.

Tip: Emphasize practical application of research methods in sociological studies and examinations.