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