Rules Of Sociological Method by Emile Durkheim
  • 1. The 'Rules of Sociological Method' by Emile Durkheim, published in 1895, is a foundational text in the field of sociology that articulates the principles and methodologies necessary for conducting sociological research. Durkheim emphasizes the importance of treating social phenomena as 'things' that can be studied scientifically, distinct from individual actions or psychological explanations. He introduces key concepts such as social facts, which are the norms, values, and structures that exist outside of the individual yet exert influence over their behavior. Durkheim advocates for a systematic approach to sociology, wherein researchers must rely on empirical data and apply rigorous methods to observe and analyze social facts. In this work, he also differentiates sociology from other social sciences, insisting that sociologists must focus on collective behaviors and societal functions rather than individual behaviors alone. Through this text, Durkheim lays the groundwork for sociology as a distinct and credible academic discipline, calling for a scientific rigor that would allow sociologists to uncover the underlying laws of social life, thus fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities of human society.

    Durkheim emphasizes the importance of studying social facts as what?
A) Values
B) Things
C) Structures
D) Ideas
  • 2. Durkheim's view on social facts is that they are:
A) Only subjective
B) Unchanging
C) Internal and fluid
D) External and constraining
  • 3. In Durkheim's methodology, correlation between social facts indicates:
A) Causation
B) Repulsion
C) Possibility
D) Indifference
  • 4. What did Durkheim argue is essential to the study of suicide?
A) Family connections
B) Religious beliefs
C) Economic status
D) Social integration
  • 5. What does Durkheim classify as an example of social fact?
A) Laws
B) Physical traits
C) Personal opinions
D) Emotional experiences
  • 6. Durkheim's 'Rules of Sociological Method' primarily aims to set a groundwork for:
A) Artistic sociology
B) Philosophical sociology
C) Historical sociology
D) Scientific sociology
  • 7. Which element is central to understanding the causes of suicide according to Durkheim?
A) Mental illness
B) Crime rates
C) Integration
D) Economic hardship
  • 8. Durkheim categorizes suicide into how many types?
A) Four types
B) Two types
C) Five types
D) Three types
  • 9. According to Durkheim, what creates social order?
A) Individual desires
B) Collective consciousness
C) Market forces
D) Government laws
  • 10. What is the focus of the rules laid down in Durkheim's work?
A) To critique existing social theories
B) To categorize types of societies
C) To provide ethical guidelines
D) To establish a distinct scientific method
  • 11. What does Durkheim argue soothes societal tensions?
A) Social norms
B) Technological advancements
C) Political legislation
D) Economic growth
  • 12. Durkheim believed that sociology could be established as a discipline similar to which field?
A) Mathematics
B) Psychology
C) History
D) Biology
  • 13. What method does Durkheim suggest sociologists use to study social facts?
A) Empirical observation
B) Introspection
C) Theoretical speculation
D) Narrative analysis
  • 14. Durkheim believes that social facts can exert what kind of influence?
A) Voluntary influence
B) Random influence
C) Coercive influence
D) Global influence
  • 15. Which type of social solidarity does Durkheim associate with pre-industrial societies?
A) Transitory solidarity
B) Hierarchical solidarity
C) Mechanical solidarity
D) Organic solidarity
  • 16. Which methodology does Durkheim advocate for studying social phenomena?
A) Symbolic interactionism
B) Comparative analysis
C) Ethnomethodology
D) Phenomenological analysis
  • 17. What type of society does Durkheim associate with organic solidarity?
A) Simple, tribal societies
B) Nomadic societies
C) Feudal societies
D) Complex, modern societies
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