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