Sociology

Studying sociology allows students to learn about the world in which we live in. Students should question the evidence they are presented with and they will be critical of the basic assumptions we may find in society. The aim of sociology is to ensure that citizens are made more aware of the issues that may exist in society.

Key Stage 4- WJEC
Students will know the following:

  • Key Concepts and processes of cultural transmission- this should include: nature versus nurture; socialisation; feral children; gender role socialisation; class, ethnicity and national identity; and formal and formal control.
  • Families- What is the family?; marriage and divorce; singlehood; Is the nuclear family under threat?; conjugal roles; sociological theories of the family.
  • Sociological research methods- different types of data; different forms of primary methods; secondary sources; sampling; practical issues; sampling issues.
  • Education- Social class and attainment; material deprivation; cultural capital; anti school subcultures; different types of schools; theories of education.
  • Crime and deviance- social construction of crime; social control; explanation for criminal behaviour; ways of measuring crime; patters of crime and victimisation;
  • Social Differentiation and stratification- Consensus versus conflict; power and authority; class, age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and disability; life-chances; poverty; social inclusion.

Key Stage 5- OCR
Students will know the following:

  • Socialisation, culture and identity- what is culture?; what is socialisation?; what is Identity?; an introduction to sociological theory.
  • Families and relationships- How diverse are modern families?; reasons for family diversity; demographic changes; the ‘nuclear family’; roles and relationships
  • Research methods: what is the relationship between theory and methods?; what are the stages of in the research process?; which methods are used in sociological research?
  • Understanding social inequalities- Class, age, gender and ethnicity (CAGE)- what are the patterns and trends in CAGE and how are these explained?
  • Crime and Deviance- How are crime and deviance defined and measured?; what are the patterns and trends in crime? how can crime and deviance be explained?; how can crime and deviance be reduced?

Enrichment activities:

All students will be expected to visit a Crown Court to understand how the criminal justice system operates. Students will given the opportunity to speak to professionals in the criminal justice system such as lawyers and police officers.

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