Students rely on Social Science Class 10 Kerala Syllabus Important Questions Chapter 3 Social Analysis Through Sociological Imagination to help self-study at home.
Class 10 History Chapter 3 Important Questions and Answers Social Analysis Through Sociological Imagination
Kerala Syllabus Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 3 Social Analysis Through Sociological Imagination Important Questions
Social Analysis Through Sociological Imagination Class 10 Important Questions
Question 1.
State true or false.
a. Commonsense knowledge is formal knowledge.
Answer:
False. This is not a formal knowledge.
Question 2.
How can we acquire commonsense knowledge?
Answer:
This knowledge is acquired through observation, experience and socialisation.
Question 3.
Whose concept is sociological imagination?
Answer:
Charles Wright Mills
Question 4.
The sociological imagination was written by ………………………….. in 1959.
Answer:
Charles Wright Mills
Question 5.
………………………. is the study of society.
Answer:
Sociology
Question 6.
What kind of knowledge is not based on scientific observation?
Answer:
Commonsense
Question 7.
Give examples of social institutions.
Answer:
Family and education.
Question 8.
Who found that people commit suicide for social reasons more than personal ones?
Answer:
Emile Durkheim
Question 9.
Complete B by the connection of A.
| A. Anu’s family has no steady source of income. | Financial problem |
| B. Income varies with change of season. |
Answer:
Environment problems
Question 10.
………………….. is the process of examining how social relationships, social institutions, social structures and social problems affect individuals and society.
Answer:
Social analysis
Question 11.
Write the examples of social structure.
Answer:
The Norms and rules of society
Question 12.
What are the Problems caused on earth due to climate change?
Answer:
- Global warming
- Ozone depletion
- Water scarcity
- Ocean acidification
Question 13.
Write the human actions that cause global warming.
Answer:
- Burning of plastic
- Cutting Down Forests
- Using Refrigerators and Air Conditioners
- Burning Coal, Oil, and Gas
Question 14.
State any three points of commonsense knowledge approach.
Answer:
- Limited to personal views and experiences.
- Often provides only a superficial explanation based on stereotypes.
- Social realities and problems are not approached through critical thinking.
Question 15.
What are the major characteristics of Sociological Imagination?
Answer:
- Broader individual perspective
- Understanding of social issues in depth
- Self-reflection
- Empathy and tolerance
Question 16.
What were the personal problems that migrants experienced in common?
Answer:
- Unemployment and job insecurity in cities
- Lack of affordable housing
- Urban overcrowding
- Lack of awareness of legal rights
Question 17.
Define the term social problem.
Answer:
A social problem is a problem or condition that affects a large number of people in society. Problems that affect only a single or a few individuals are not considered as social problems. A social problem is considered as undesirable or detrimental to the society. Poverty, inequality, discrimination, and environmental pollution are some examples.
Question 18.
What are the major social factors?
Answer:
Social factors include various elements of society that influence the behaviour, attitude, opportunities and choices of individuals. These include family, education, peer groups, religion, caste system, economic status, environment, cultural norms, values, governance system, politics, technology, media and many more.
Question 19.
Explain the concept of social analysis and its importance in understanding society.
Answer:
Social analysis is the process of examining how social relationships, institutions, structures, and problems affect individuals and society. It helps us gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing various social situations. By studying these elements, social analysis provides valuable suggestions for solving social problems and improving society as a whole.
Question 20.
Discuss the importance of the study of sociology.
Answer:
- It helps to formulate real ideas about society.
- It studies social issues
- It is helpful in social planning and development
- It helps to find solutions to social issues.
Question 21.
Write the factors related to problems.
| PROBLEMS | FACTORS |
| Anu’s family has no steady source of income. | |
| Income varies with change of season. | |
| Limited employment opportunities during rainy season, (limitations of the administrative to provide alternative system to intervene and solve economic problems). | |
| Problems faced by people living in different geographical areas. |
Answer:
| PROBLEMS | FACTORS |
| Anu’s family has no steady source of income. | Financial |
| Income varies with change of season. | Environment |
| Limited employment opportunities during rainy season, (limitations of the administrative to provide alternative system to intervene and solve economic problems). | Administrative |
| Problems faced by people living in different geographical areas. | Geographical disparities |
Question 22.
Define the terms:
a. social relationship
b. social institutions
Answer:
a. Social relationships are the relations and interactions that individuals develop within society. The basis of social relations is social structures and social institutions. The cooperation, care and affection of the members of the family as a social institution and the deep bonds, contacts and togetherness formed through friendships are examples of social relations.
b. Social institutions are the framework of rules established by society to stabilise and regulate social relations. They define and shape our actions and behaviour while explaining society’s perspectives.
Along with that, it assimilates generally accepted values and reflects them in the actions of individuals, leading society to ‘Wards progress. Examples include family, marriage, religion, political institutions, economic institutions, educational institutions, judicial institutions and so on.
Question 23.
Explain any four characteristics of sociological imagination with examples.
Answer:
Sociological imagination has several key characteristics that help individuals understand the relationship between personal experiences and broader social factors:
- Broadened Individual Perspective: It helps people look beyond personal experiences and understand the wider social reasons behind issues. For example, road accidents may not only be due to careless driving but also poor road construction, legal system failure, or traffic congestion.
- Understanding Social Issues in Depth: It allows individuals to analyse complex issues like low female labour participation by linking it to gender norms, limited education, and societal expectations rather than blaming individual choices.
- Self-Reflection: Sociological imagination promotes self-reflexivity, helping individuals critically
examine their thoughts and actions and understand how society influences them. - Empathy and Tolerance: It encourages understanding others’ circumstances. For instance, instead of judging a child for poor academic performance, it helps us consider factors like family background, health issues, or lack of access to resources.
Question 24.
Differentiate between commonsense knowledge approach and Sociological imagination approach.
Answer:
| Commonsense Knowledge Approach | Sociological Imagination Approach |
| Limited to personal views and experiences. | Its scope is broad as it connects individual experiences to larger social structures. |
| Often provides only a superficial explanation based on stereotypes. | Analyses deeply the impact of social factors on individuals. |
| Social realities and problems are not approached through critical thinking. | Encourage critical thinking about interrelationships between personal experience and social structures. |
Question 25.
What are the limitations of commonsense knowledge?
Answer:
- Not based on scientific observations or studies
- Complex social problems cannot be understood
- Provides only partial knowledge
- Relies on speculations or practices
- Based it self on stereotypes
Question 26.
What is commonsense knowledge? How is it different from social analysis?
Answer:
Commonsense knowledge is the everyday understanding people gain from personal experiences, social practices, and cultural beliefs. It is based on assumptions, stereotypes and is often not scientifically tested. For example, thinking poverty is due to laziness is a commonsense view. In contrast, social analysis is a systematic and scientific way of studying how social relationships, institutions, and structures affect individuals and society. It looks deeper into the root causes of social issues using critical thinking. While commonsense is limited and personal, social analysis provides a broader and clearer understanding of social realities.
Question 27.
Define the terms.
a. Sociology
b. social structure
c. social analysis
Answer:
a. Sociology is the scientific study of society. Sociology can observe, analyse and interpret relationships, social institutions and structures in society. Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber were prominent among its early thinkers. Some important concepts used in sociology for social analysis are social relationships, social institutions, social structures, etc.
b. The social structure explains and implements the status, roles, existence and responsibility of individuals in the society. Norms and rules of society are examples of social structure. These provide order and stability to the society.
c. Social analysis is the process of examining how social relationships, social institutions, social structures and social problems affect individuals and society. Social analysis helps us to develop a deeper understanding of the factors that influence various social situations and provide suggestions for their improvement.
Question 28.
Explain how sociological imagination helps in understanding individual and social issues.
Answer:
Sociological imagination helps individuals to go beyond personal views and understand how wider social factors affect their lives. It broadens individual perspectives by showing how social issues like road accidents are influenced by factors such as traffic rules, poor road design, and legal failures. It also deepens the understanding of social issues, like how gender norms, educational inequality, and social expectations reduce women’s participation in the workforce. Sociological imagination enables self-reflection, allowing individuals to critically evaluate their thoughts and understand the social causes behind personal problems. It also develops empathy and tolerance, helping individuals look beyond common assumptions-for example, understanding a child’s poor academic performance as a result of social disadvantages rather than personal failure. This approach builds a more compassionate and informed view of society.
Question 29.
Explain how sociological imagination helps individuals to understand personal problems as part of broader social structures.
Hints:
• broadens an individual’s perspective
• deepens our understanding of social issues
• encourages self-reflection
• develops empathy and tolerance
Answer:
Sociological imagination is the ability to connect individual experiences with larger social structures and historical forces. This concept, introduced by C. Wright Mills, enables individuals to look beyond their personal circumstances and understand the influence of societal factors on their lives.
• One of the key roles of sociological imagination is that it broadens an individual’s perspective. For example, in the case of road accidents, instead of blaming individuals alone, sociological imagination reveals other contributing factors such as traffic rule violations, poor infrastructure, and legal failures. This approach helps people view their problems as part of a collective experience.
• Sociological imagination also deepens our understanding of social issues. Consider women’s low participation in the workforce. A commonsense view might blame women’s lack of interest or ability. However, through sociological imagination, we can identify deeper causes like gender norms, lack of education for girls, and societal expectations about gender roles. These social and cultural factors shape individual outcomes.
• Another benefit of sociological imagination is that it encourages self-reflection. By critically evaluating their own lives and choices, individuals become aware of how larger social forces shape their actions. This also helps them break free from narrow, commonsense-based thinking.
• Additionally, sociological imagination develops empathy and tolerance. For instance, if a student performs poorly in school, commonsense knowledge might label them lazy or unintelligent. However, sociological imagination urges us to consider factors such as family background, health issues, and lack of access to resources, leading to a more compassionate understanding.
Question 30.
Why is commonsense knowledge not enough to understand individual and social problems? How does
social analysis and sociology help in better understanding society?
Answer:
Commonsense knowledge refers to the ideas, beliefs, and explanations that people form through daily experiences, practices, and observations. Traditions, personal experiences, and social norms often shape it. However, commonsense knowledge is usually partial, speculative, and not scientifically verified, which limits its ability to understand complex individual and societal problems fully. One major drawback of commonsense knowledge is that it is often based on speculation and routine practices. For example, the belief that one can score high marks only by studying for long hours ignores other important factors like study methods, rest, and revision. Such knowledge is not grounded in scientific study and may mislead individuals. Commonsense also relies heavily on stereotypes.
The idea that all teenagers are rebellious is an example of a generalised belief that ignores the individuality and diversity among teenagers. These stereotypes create misconceptions and can lead to unfair treatment and lack of trust. In addition, commonsense is not capable of identifying the deeper causes of complex issues. For instance, saying that providing temporary shelters alone can solve housing problems ignores factors like unemployment, rising living costs, urban overcrowding, and administrative failure. Similarly, assuming poverty is caused by laziness does not take into account broader economic and social factors. This is where social analysis becomes important. Social analysis is the process of examining how social relationships, institutions, and structures affect individuals and society. It helps identify the deeper causes of issues, such as financial instability, geographical disparities, or institutional failures, that commonsense alone cannot explain.
Question 31.
Differentiate between commonsense knowledge and sociological imagination. How does sociological imagination help us better understand society?
Answer:
Commonsense knowledge and sociological imagination are two different ways of understanding society. Commonsense knowledge is formed through everyday experiences, beliefs, customs, and perceptions. It is often based on personal opinions, stereotypes, and assumptions. On the other hand, sociological imagination is a way of thinking that connects individual experiences to larger social structures. It encourages critical thinking and helps us see the relationship between personal issues and wider social problems. Commonsense knowledge is often limited to personal views and provides superficial explanations. For example, if someone is unemployed, commonsense might suggest that the person is lazy. But sociological imagination encourages us to look deeper maybe the person lost their job due to an economic crisis, lack of education, or structural inequality in society. It reveals the micro-macro connection, how small personal issues are linked to bigger societal forces.
Sociology goes beyond commonsense knowledge. It is a scientific study of society, and sociological enquiry helps explain commonsense ideas using evidence and research. While commonsense may help us in day-to-day situations, sociological imagination helps us engage critically with society and avoid narrow or biased viewpoints.
By using sociological imagination, individuals can:
- Understand how social structures like economy, education, and family affect their lives.
- Analyse social behaviour and problems more deeply.
- Participate meaningfully in social activities.
- Develop critical thinking, empathy, and tolerance.
Therefore, sociological imagination is not just a skill but a powerful tool. It helps individuals look beyond the surface and truly understand the causes behind social issues. This understanding can lead to better decision-making and positive social change.
Question 32.
Why is commonsense knowledge considered limited?
Answer:
Because it is often based on assumptions, stereotypes, and everyday observations. It lacks scientific study and doesn’t fully explain complex problems.
Question 33.
Name two important early thinkers in sociology.
Answer:
Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim.
Question 34.
What is meant by social structure?
Answer:
Social structure refers to the organised patterns of roles, norms, and institutions that shape society and individual behaviour.
Question 35.
What are social institutions? Give two examples.
Answer:
Social institutions are systems of rules and norms that organise social life.
Examples: Family and education.
Question 36.
Mention two human actions that cause global warming.
Answer:
- Burning of plastic
- Cutting down forests
Question 37.
How does sociological imagination broaden an individual’s perspective?
Answer:
It helps individuals see that problems like road accidents are not just due to individual carelessness but also due to social issues like poor infrastructure, overcrowded transport, and failure in law enforcement. This broadens their thinking beyond personal blame to systemic causes.
Question 38.
How does sociological imagination help in developing empathy and tolerance?
Answer:
It helps individuals understand that others’ behaviours, like a child performing poorly in school, may be influenced by social issues such as poverty, family background, or lack of resources. This awareness fosters empathy and reduces quick judgment based on stereotypes.
Question 39.
Why is sociological imagination important for policy-making and social change?
Answer:
Because it helps to identify the root social causes behind personal and public issues. With this understanding, policies can be made that address the actual problems rather than just symptoms, leading to more effective solutions and long-term social progress.
Question 40.
How does sociological imagination hels to connect personal troubles to public issues?
Answer:
Sociological imagination reveals that many personal troubles-such as unemployment, educational
failure, or poor health, are actually rooted in broader public issues like economic inequality, lack of social services, or systemic discrimination.
Question 41.
Write the characteristic feature of sociological imagination.
Answer:
- Sociological imagination helps us to understand how social structures influence our lives and that of others.
- Sociological imagination enables individuals to move beyond their life situations and view their experiences and personal problems in the context of a broader social structure.
- The social causes behind all personal problems can be identified through sociological imagination.
Question 42.
What is the main difference between commonsense knowledge and sociological imagination?
Answer:
Commonsense knowledge is based on personal experience, cultural beliefs, and everyday assumptions, while sociological imagination connects individual experiences to broader social structures, encouraging deeper and more critical understanding.
Question 43.
How does sociological imagination help individuals engage critically with society?
Answer:
Sociological imagination allows individuals to see the link between personal troubles and public issues. It helps people think beyond their personal experiences and understand the broader context of societal structures and institutions.
Question 44.
How are commonsense knowledge and sociological imagination interrelated?
Answer:
While they are distinct, they are also interrelated. Sociological enquiry helps clarify and critique
commonsense beliefs, turning everyday experiences into deeper sociological insights. Integrating both can lead to a more nuanced understanding of society.
Question 45.
How does sociological imagination enrich social life?
Answer:
Sociological imagination empowers people to understand the complexity of social life, make informed decisions, and actively participate in social change. It fosters empathy, awareness, and critical thinking about societal roles and responsibilities.