Question

What are social facts? How do we recognise them?

Answer 1

According to Emile Durkheim, sociology is the study of social facts. Social facts are things that are external to an individual and constrain their behaviour. They are general in nature, which means that they are collectiverepresentations of social behaviour of a group of people.

Answer 2

Social Facts are one of Emile Durkheim’s most significant contributions to sociology. Social facts are things such as institutions, norms and values which exist external to the individual and constrain the individual.

• Firstly, the suicide rate still varies according to various social factors.

• Secondly, the birth rate/ total fertility rate seem to be effected by a number of ‘social facts’

• Thirdly, educational achievement still varies enormously by (the social fact of) social class background