A Level Sociology Unit 1: Socialisation & Research Methods
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Questions and Answers

What term did Marx coin to describe the owners of workplaces such as factories?

  • Means of production
  • Bourgeoisie (correct)
  • Proletariat
  • False class consciousness

    • Marx believed that the proletariat was aware of their exploitation from the very beginning.

    False

    What phenomenon causes workers to mindlessly repeat a meaningless task?

    Alienation

    Marx argued that the __________ will eventually become conscious of their situation and unite against the ruling class.

    <p>proletariat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following concepts with their descriptions:

    <p>Bourgeoisie = Owners of the means of production Proletariat = Working class exploited by capitalism False class consciousness = Belief that one is receiving a fair deal Communism = Society with no classes and communal ownership</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Marx see as the 'engine of capitalism'?

    <p>Profit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Marx's view, a communist society is characterized by the presence of multiple classes.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Identify a system that Marx opposed due to the conditions it created for the working class.

    <p>Capitalism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT considered an agent of socialisation?

    <p>Government</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Primary socialisation occurs primarily in educational institutions.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the systems that enforce social norms?

    <p>Agents of Socialisation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    _____ socialisation takes place in the workplace for adults.

    <p>Secondary</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following agents of socialisation with their main function:

    <p>Family = Initial teaching of norms Media = Influencing public attitudes Religion = Instilling moral values Education = Social skills development</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do agents of socialisation typically penalise unwanted behaviour?

    <p>By imposing legal consequences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Social control ensures that societal order is maintained.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pivotal role of socialisation in sociological study?

    <p>To understand how individuals learn norms and values within society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory suggests that society is portrayed in perfect harmony without conflict?

    <p>Functionalism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to feminists, Functionalism accurately reflects the position of women in society.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Marxism emphasize as a key element in society?

    <p>Conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Functionalism is criticized for being an ______ discipline.

    <p>unscientific</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their correct descriptions:

    <p>Functionalism = Assumes social harmony Marxism = Focuses on class conflict Feminism = Critiques traditional gender roles Interactionism = Emphasizes individual agency</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who established the ideology of Marxism?

    <p>Karl Marx</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under Functionalism, social institutions are believed to have no functions.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do Postmodernists suggest about Functionalism?

    <p>It is irrelevant today.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Functionalism, the concept of deviance is considered both ______ and ______ to society.

    <p>functional, dysfunctional</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one potential issue sociologists may face when conducting structured interviews?

    <p>Respondents may feel pressured to give socially acceptable answers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Official statistics include data collected by agencies outside the government.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one type of data included in official statistics.

    <p>Birth rates, number of marriages, GCSE results, or number of crimes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Marxists tend to criticize official statistics because they believe the government _____ the data.

    <p>manipulates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following data types with their descriptions:

    <p>Birth rates = Statistics on pregnancies over a period Crime rates = Total reported offenses within a community GCSE results = Academic performance at secondary education level Marriage data = Statistical information about marital unions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common limitation of official statistics mentioned?

    <p>They may omit certain groups and perspectives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Structured interviews are known for being very quick and not time-consuming.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Describe one sociological research method favored by positivists.

    <p>Surveys, observational studies, or any quantitative method.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do positivists argue about the nature of sociology?

    <p>Sociology should be value-free and objective.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Weber, values can produce social facts.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who believed that a value-free sociology is a myth?

    <p>Gouldner</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Marx identified himself as a __________.

    <p>positivist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the sociologist with their stance on values in research:

    <p>Marx = Positivist, scientific approach Weber = Values have a place in sociology Gouldner = Value-free sociology is a myth Interpretivists = Research influenced by personal values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect do structured methods in research help to ensure?

    <p>Objectivity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Researchers should strive for their values to influence the data collection process.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'value relevance' refer to in the research process?

    <p>The influence of researchers' values on their choice of research topics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method might a researcher use when time is limited and unexpected research opportunities arise?

    <p>Participant observation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ethics in sociological research only concerns physical harm to participants.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one ethical consideration that must be taken into account in sociological research.

    <p>Privacy and confidentiality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The theoretical approach that emphasizes quantitative methods is known as __________.

    <p>Positivism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following ethical issues in sociological research with their definitions:

    <p>Harm = Risking physical, emotional, or social injury to participants Privacy = Participants' right to know the purpose of the research Honesty = Ensuring informed consent from the participant Confidentiality = Information given by participants cannot be traced back to them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential barrier for a male researcher studying domestic violence?

    <p>Difficulty gaining female trust</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Confidentiality is easier to maintain when conducting observations involving a small number of participants.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one factor that influences the choice of research method used by sociologists?

    <p>The age, sex, race, or class of the researcher</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    A Level Sociology Unit 1: Socialisation, Identity, and Methods of Research

    • This unit covers the importance of socialisation and research methods within sociology
    • Socialisation: A process by which individuals learn the norms and values of society.
    • Research Methods: Various techniques sociologists use to gather data.

    Sociological Perspectives

    • Consensus Theories: Believe society works in agreement; functionalism is an example
      • Shared goals and outcomes maintain social order.
    • Conflict Theories: Assume society is ordered by a dominant group; Marxism and feminism are examples
      • Inequality and conflict exist between social groups.

    Functionalism

    • A structuralist perspective focusing on the wider frameworks of society
      • Society functions like a body with different interlocking parts
    • Key thinkers: Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons
    • Key concepts: Organic analogy, social order, functional prerequisites (adaptation, goal attainment, integration, latency)
      • Adaptation (Economic Function): Every society must have some degree of control over its environment.
      • Goal Attainment (Political Function): All societies must develop ways of making decisions and setting goals.
      • Integration (Social Harmony): Ways of limiting conflict in society.
      • Latency (Pattern Maintenance): Maintaining values and norms in society.
    • Critiques: Outdated, non-inclusive, over-emphasizes consensus, lacks nuance, assumes everyone agrees.

    Marxism

    • A structuralist perspective that sees society in terms of conflict between the bourgeoisie (owners) and proletariat (workers)
    • Key thinker: Karl Marx
    • Concept: Class struggle, means of production, false consciousness, hegemony.
    • Critiques: Oversimplifies social dynamics, doesn't always accurately predict societal changes

    Feminism

    • A social theory that looks at how society operates based on gender roles.
    • Liberal feminism: Aims for equality of legal rights and equal opportunity
      • Focuses on equal rights and opportunities for women.
    • Radical feminism: Sees the patriarchy as the root cause of inequality; suggests that the end of the patriarchy is the answer.
    • Gender inequality is caused by patriarchal structures.
    • Difference feminism: Recognizes the diversity of experiences among women.
      • Emphasizes the unique struggles and perspectives of women that different perspectives.

    Interactionism

    • Focuses on how people interact and construct meaning within society
      • People actively shape their identity and understanding of society through their interactions
    • Key thinkers: George Herbert Mead, Herbert Blumer, Erving Goffman
    • Key concepts: The 'looking glass self', impression management, labelling theory
      • The 'looking glass self' is the idea that people develop their sense of self through how others see them.
      • Impression Management refers to how people present themselves to others to manage their impressions.
    • Critiques: Neglects wider social structures, difficult to generalize studies, often based on limited observations.

    Postmodernism

    • Critical theory focusing on how knowledge, truth, and rationality are formed in the context of society.
    • Highlights how societies are culturally diverse, interconnected and shaped by different values.
    • Key arguments: Objective truths are relative; scientific methods do not adequately capture the reality of the social world.
    • Critiques: Critics question whether the concept of "grand narratives" (big stories) has been replaced—this view is that it has been replaced by "micro-narratives"—smaller stories and viewpoints.

    Methods of Research

    • Positivist: Scientific approach focused on objective observation and measurement.
      • Quantitative data, experiments (Laboratory and Field), statistical analysis
    • Interpretivist: Understands meaning-making within society, focused on qualitative data,
      • Unstructured interviews, participant observation, personal documents.

    Research Considerations

    • Practical (Time constraints, funding, access to participants)
    • Ethical (Confidentiality, informed consent, harm)
    • Theoretical (Theoretical approach, values of researcher).
    • Triangulation: Using multiple methods to gain a more complete picture.

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    A Level Sociology Unit 1 - Socialisation, Identity, and Methods of Research PDF

    Description

    Explore the fundamental concepts of socialisation and research methods in sociology with this quiz. Delve into various sociological perspectives, including consensus and conflict theories, while examining functionalism and key thinkers. Test your understanding of how these elements shape society and individual identity.

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