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Link – GCSE Sociology

GCSE Sociology aims to broaden students’ minds, allowing you to understand the world from different perspectives and explore pressing societal issues, such as the causes of crime or why some groups achieve higher results in education than others.

Sociology will give you knowledge and understanding of key social structures, processes, and issues through the study of families, education, crime and deviance, and social stratification. You will develop your analytic and communication skills by applying and comparing perspectives, such as Feminism and Marxism, to a variety of social issues, making judgements and drawing reasoned conclusions.

Course Content:

Paper 1: The Sociology of Families and Education

• The role and function of the family
• Family diversity
• Roles within the family
• Criticisms of the Family
  The role and function of the education system
• The differences in educational achievement by social class, gender, and ethnicity
• Education and Capitalism

Paper 2: The Sociology of Crime and Deviance and Social Stratification

• Explanations for crime and deviance
• Methods of social control
• The difference in criminal behaviour by social class, gender, and ethnicity
• The dark figure of crime
• Factors affecting life chances
• Poverty
• Power relationships

Both Papers: Research Methods:

• Research design
• Qualitative and quantitative methods
• Interpreting data
• Practical issues
• Ethical issues

Assessment:

Paper 1:

• Written examination of 1 hour 45 minutes
• Worth 50%
• Section A: Families and Research Methods
• Section B: Education and Research Methods
• Multiple choice questions, short response, extended response

Paper 2:

• Written examination of 1 hour 45 minutes
• Worth 50%
• Section A: Crime and Deviance and Research Methods
• Section B: Social Stratification and Research Methods
• Multiple choice questions, short response, extended response