Sociology lessons
Sociology: theory, family, education, research methods, crime & deviance, and exam skills.
Key topics
- Sociological theory
- Family
- Education
- Research methods
- Crime & deviance
- Exam skills
Lesson course
Work through each lesson, run the interactive practice, and tick it off as you go.
1. Sociological theory
Core
Functionalism
Explain the functionalist perspective.
Functionalism (Durkheim, Parsons) sees society as interrelated parts maintaining order through shared values (consensus).
Explain one functionalist view of an institution.
Marxism
Explain the Marxist perspective.
Marxism sees society as shaped by class conflict between the bourgeoisie (owners) and the proletariat (workers).
Explain how class conflict shapes society.
Feminism & interactionism
Explain feminism and interactionism.
Feminism examines patriarchy; interactionism focuses on small-scale meanings and labelling.
Contrast macro and micro perspectives.
2. Family
Core
Family structures
Describe family forms and diversity.
Family forms (nuclear, extended, lone-parent) have diversified over time.
List family types and a trend in each.
Roles & relationships
Analyse domestic roles and power.
Sociologists study the domestic division of labour and debate symmetry and power within families.
Evaluate whether families are symmetrical.
Childhood
Explain childhood as a construction.
Childhood is socially constructed and varies across time and cultures.
Explain how childhood varies across cultures.
3. Education
Core
Role of education
Explain perspectives on education.
Perspectives differ on education's role: socialisation and role allocation, or reproducing inequality.
Compare two views on education's purpose.
Achievement & class
Explain class differences in achievement.
Class differences in achievement are linked to material factors and cultural capital (Bourdieu).
Explain one external factor in achievement.
In-school processes
Explain labelling and subcultures.
Labelling, the self-fulfilling prophecy and pupil subcultures affect educational outcomes.
Explain the self-fulfilling prophecy.
4. Research methods
Skills
Methods & data
Distinguish methods and data types.
Methods are quantitative or qualitative; data is primary (first-hand) or secondary (existing).
Classify five sources as primary/secondary.
Choosing methods
Explain factors in method choice.
Method choice depends on practical, ethical and theoretical (PET) factors.
Apply PET factors to one study.
Methods in context
Apply methods to studying education.
Apply methods to research in education, weighing access, reliability and ethics.
Evaluate one method for studying schools.
5. Crime & deviance
Core
Explaining crime
Compare theories of crime.
Theories of crime include functionalist (Merton's strain), Marxist, labelling and subcultural approaches.
Apply one theory to a type of crime.
Patterns of crime
Interpret crime statistics.
Crime statistics vary by class, gender and ethnicity; the 'dark figure' is unrecorded crime.
Explain a pattern by class, gender or ethnicity.
Control & punishment
Explain crime control and punishment.
Crime control ranges from prevention to punishment; debates concern deterrence, rehabilitation and the role of prison.
Evaluate the aims of prison.
6. Exam skills
Skills
Using studies & theory
Support points with studies and theory.
Support points with named studies and theory, and evaluate competing perspectives.
Add a named study to one paragraph.
Evaluation
Evaluate perspectives and methods.
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of perspectives and methods to evaluate.
Write one evaluative paragraph.
Mock exam
Apply skills under timed conditions.
Answer the question, apply knowledge (AO2) and evaluation (AO3), and manage time by marks.
Answer one timed essay and self-mark.
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