DRISHTI IAS NTA UGC NET/JRF Samajshastra Class Notes Part-I – Sociological Theory & Research Methodology | Hindi Medium

• Focused coverage of NTA UGC NET/JRF Sociology Paper-II – Unit I & Unit II
• Detailed coverage of Sociological Theory and Classical Sociological Traditions
• Covers major thinkers including Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx
• Includes Structural Functionalism and Structuralism
• Covers Bronislaw Malinowski, A.R. Radcliffe-Brown, Talcott Parsons, Robert K. Merton and Claude Lévi-Strauss
• Detailed coverage of Interpretative and Hermeneutic Traditions
• Includes G.H. Mead, Karl Mannheim, Alfred Schutz, Harold Garfinkel, Erving Goffman and Clifford Geertz
• Covers Postmodernism, Post-Structuralism and Post-Colonialism
• Includes contemporary thinkers such as Edward Said, Pierre Bourdieu, Michel Foucault, Jürgen Habermas, Anthony Giddens and Manuel Castells
• 🇮🇳 Dedicated section on Indian Sociological Thinkers
• Covers M.K. Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, Radhakamal Mukerjee, G.S. Ghurye, M.N. Srinivas and Irawati Karve
• Comprehensive coverage of Research Methodology and Methods in Sociology
• Covers Quantitative and Qualitative Research
• Includes Research Design, Hypothesis, Research Questions, Sampling, Questionnaire and Schedule
• Covers Statistical Analysis, Observation, Interview, Case Study and Data Interpretation
• Includes Mean, Median, Mode, Dispersion, Correlation, Reliability and Validity
• Contains NTA/UGC-NET Previous Years’ Questions for exam-oriented preparation
• 🇮🇳 Prepared in Hindi Medium for Sociology Paper-II aspirants

The PDF is presented as NTA/UGC-NET/JRF Samajshastra Class Notes by Drishti Publications and Part-I primarily covers Unit I – Sociological Theory and Unit II – Research Methodology and Methods.

About these Class Notes

Drishti IAS NTA UGC NET/JRF Samajshastra Class Notes Part-I are Hindi-medium study notes designed for aspirants preparing Sociology Paper-II of the NTA UGC NET/JRF examination.

The first major section, Sociological Theory, covers classical sociological traditions, structural-functional and structuralist perspectives, interpretative traditions, postmodern and post-colonial approaches, and major Indian sociological thinkers.

The second major section, Research Methodology and Methods, covers the philosophy of science, scientific method in social sciences, epistemology, objectivity, reflexivity, research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, sampling, questionnaires, interviews, observation, case studies, statistical analysis and research-report writing.

Together, these notes provide a strong conceptual base for understanding both sociological thinkers and theories as well as the methods used to conduct systematic social research.

Key Areas Covered

• Classical Sociological Traditions
• Emile Durkheim
• Max Weber
• Karl Marx
• Structural Functionalism
• Structuralism
• Bronislaw Malinowski
• A.R. Radcliffe-Brown
• Talcott Parsons
• Robert K. Merton
• Claude Lévi-Strauss
• G.H. Mead
• Karl Mannheim
• Alfred Schutz
• Harold Garfinkel
• Erving Goffman
• Clifford Geertz
• Postmodernism
• Post-Structuralism
• Post-Colonialism
• Edward Said
• Pierre Bourdieu
• Michel Foucault
• Jürgen Habermas
• Anthony Giddens
• Manuel Castells
• 🇮🇳 M.K. Gandhi
• B.R. Ambedkar
• Radhakamal Mukerjee
• G.S. Ghurye
• M.N. Srinivas
• Irawati Karve
• Social Research
• Philosophy of Science
• Research Design
• Hypothesis
• Research Questions
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research
• Ethnography
• Survey Method
• Historical Method
• Comparative Method
• Sampling
• Questionnaire & Schedule
• Observation
• Interview
• Case Study
• Statistical Analysis
• Data Interpretation
• Reliability & Validity
• Research Report Writing

Table of Contents

Unit I – Sociological Theory

1. Classical Sociological Traditions

The syllabus begins with three major classical sociologists:

Emile Durkheim • Max Weber • Karl Marx.

Emile Durkheim

The detailed contents cover:

Life & Works • Rules of Sociological Method • Social Facts • Collective Consciousness • Division of Labour • Mechanical Solidarity • Organic Solidarity • Suicide • Religion & Society • Evaluation of Durkheim’s Theory.

The text introduces Sociology as the scientific study of society and identifies Durkheim, Weber and Marx among the leading figures of the classical sociological tradition.

Max Weber

Life & Works • Methodology • Value Judgement • Ideal Type • Social Action • Power and Authority • Rational-Legal Authority • Charismatic Authority • Traditional Authority • Religion and Economy • Bureaucracy • Social Class & Status

Karl Marx

Life & Works • Dialectical Materialism • Historical Materialism • Class Conflict • Social Change • Alienation • Evaluation of Marxism

Structural Functionalism & Structuralism

2. Structural-Functional & Structuralist Traditions

The prescribed thinkers include:

Bronislaw Malinowski • A.R. Radcliffe-Brown • Talcott Parsons • Robert K. Merton • Claude Lévi-Strauss.

Bronislaw Malinowski

Culture and Function • Theory of Needs • Religion, Magic and Science • Functionalism and its Critique

A.R. Radcliffe-Brown

Concept of Social Structure • Tribal Social Structure • Structural Functionalism

Talcott Parsons

Social Action • Pattern Variables • Functional Prerequisites • Adaptation • Goal Attainment • Integration • Latency/Pattern Maintenance • Types of Social Structure • Social Change • Cybernetic Hierarchy • Evolutionary Theory

Robert K. Merton

Middle-Range Theory • Functionalism • Manifest & Latent Functions • Reference Groups • Relative Deprivation • Anomie • Modes of Individual Adaptation

Claude Lévi-Strauss

Structuralism • Structural Analysis • Structural Study of Myths

Interpretative & Hermeneutic Traditions

3. Major Interpretative Thinkers

The syllabus includes:

G.H. Mead • Karl Mannheim • Alfred Schutz • Harold Garfinkel • Erving Goffman • Clifford Geertz.

The detailed contents cover themes such as Self and Identity, Sociology of Knowledge, Phenomenology, Ethnomethodology, Dramaturgical Approach, Social Interaction and Cultural Interpretation.

Postmodernism, Post-Structuralism & Post-Colonialism

4. Contemporary Sociological Traditions

The notes cover:

Postmodernism • Post-Structuralism • Post-Colonialism and thinkers including Edward Said, Pierre Bourdieu, Michel Foucault, Jürgen Habermas, Anthony Giddens and Manuel Castells.

Pierre Bourdieu

The detailed content includes Bourdieu’s ideas related to practice, habitus and cultural structuralism.

Michel Foucault

The notes cover Foucault’s views on:

Knowledge • Power • Disciplinary Systems • Sexuality • Postmodernity and other major concepts.

Jürgen Habermas

Lifeworld • Marxism • Legitimation Crisis • Communicative Action • Classification of Action Patterns

Anthony Giddens

Structuration Theory • Views on Modernity.

Manuel Castells

Major sociological ideas associated with contemporary society and social transformation.

🇮🇳 Indian Sociological Thinkers

5. Major Indian Thinkers

The syllabus includes:

M.K. Gandhi • B.R. Ambedkar • Radhakamal Mukerjee • G.S. Ghurye • M.N. Srinivas • Irawati Karve.

M.K. Gandhi

The detailed contents cover concepts such as:

Truth • Ahimsa • Satyagraha • Sarvodaya • Trusteeship • Varna System • Untouchability • Communal Unity • Women • Education • Religion • Ideal Society.

B.R. Ambedkar

Varna System • Caste System • Religion • Social Justice • Dalit Emancipation

Radhakamal Mukerjee

Social Values • Regional Sociology • Other Important Sociological Ideas

G.S. Ghurye

Indological Perspective • Caste • Tribe • Urbanisation • Religion • Race in Indian History • Nationalism

M.N. Srinivas

Structural-Functional Approach • Sanskritisation • Dominant Caste • Social Change • Comparative Study

Irawati Karve

Hindu Society • Kinship System • Major Sociological Contributions

Unit II – Research Methodology & Methods

6. Research & Social Reality

Research • Definitions • Characteristics • Nature • Types • Objectives • Stages of Research

The notes define social research as a systematic and scientific method of studying social phenomena, discovering new knowledge and re-examining existing facts and relationships.

7. Philosophy of Science & Scientific Method

Philosophy of Science • Sociology as Science • Scientific Method in Social Sciences • Characteristics & Stages of Scientific Method • Epistemology • Interpretative Traditions • Objectivity • Reflexivity • Ethics & Politics in Social Research

8. Research Design

Research Design • Stages • Exploratory Design • Descriptive/Explanatory Design • Experimental Design • Diagnostic Design • Nature & Objectives of Social Research

9. Data, Induction, Deduction & Theory

Data • Primary Data • Inductive Method • Deductive Method • Facts • Concepts • Theory • Relationship between Facts and Theory

10. Hypothesis & Research Questions

Meaning • Characteristics • Importance • Nature • Types of Hypothesis • Research Hypothesis • Null Hypothesis • Statistical Hypothesis • Sources of Hypothesis • Research Questions • Objectives

Quantitative & Qualitative Methods

11. Research Methods

Quantitative Method • Qualitative Method • Ethnography • Survey Method • Historical Method • Comparative Method.

The notes compare quantitative and qualitative research and discuss their characteristics, advantages and limitations.

Research Techniques

12. Sampling

Meaning • Advantages • Limitations • Probability Sampling • Non-Probability Sampling

13. Questionnaire & Schedule

Questionnaire – Meaning • Importance • Characteristics • Types • Construction • Administration • Reliability & Validity
Schedule – Characteristics • Types • Procedure • Utility • Limitations

14. Statistical Analysis

Meaning • Characteristics • Types • Utility • Importance • Limitations

15. Observation & Interview

Observation – Meaning • Characteristics • Types • Utility • Limitations
Interview – Meaning • Characteristics • Objectives • Types • Process • Importance • Limitations

16. Case Study

Meaning • Characteristics • Assumptions • Procedure • Sources of Information • Importance • Limitations

Data Analysis & Statistics

17. Measures of Central Tendency

Mean • Median • Mode

18. Measures of Dispersion

Range • Mean Deviation • Standard Deviation • Variance • Lorenz Curve • Quartile Deviation.

19. Correlation

Types of Correlation • Correlation Coefficient • Spearman Rank Correlation • Pearson Product-Moment Correlation

20. Reliability & Validity

The notes include dedicated coverage of Reliability, methods of determining reliability and different types of Validity.

21. Research Report Writing

Purpose of Research Report • Principles of Report Preparation • Criteria of a Good Research Report • Publication • Elements of Report Writing • Precautions

NTA UGC NET/JRF Previous Years’ Questions

The class notes include NTA/UGC-NET previous-year questions integrated with Sociological Theory and Research Methodology.

The Research Methodology section includes questions from December 2023 on areas such as theory, qualitative methodology, research design and characteristics of a usable hypothesis.

The Sociological Theory section also contains exam questions on thinkers and concepts such as Michel Foucault and Robert K. Merton.

Suitable For

NTA UGC NET Sociology • UGC NET/JRF Samajshastra Paper-II • Sociology Class Notes Hindi Medium • Sociological Theory • Classical Sociology • Indian Sociological Thinkers • Research Methodology • Social Research Methods • Sociology NET/JRF Preparation