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Y13 Sociology
Theory and Methods – Past Paper Questions.
Paper 1 (SAM1)
Paper 1 (SAM 2)
Paper 3 (SAM1)
Paper 3 (SAM2)
10-markers - Theory & Method Questions
Could be outline and explain or analyse – different markscheme
1.
2.
3.
4.
Outline and explain two functionalist concepts. (10 marks)
Outline and explain two criticisms of Marxist views of society. (10 marks)
Outline and explain two feminist views on the position of women in society. (10 marks)
Outline and explain two concepts that symbolic interactionists use to understand social life. (10
marks)
5. Outline and explain two reasons for globalisation. (10 marks)
6. Outline and explain two views of the role of social policy. (10 marks)
7. Outline and explain two criticisms of postmodernism. (10 marks)
8. Outline and explain two problems with using documents in sociological research. (10 marks)
9. Outline and explain two reasons why positivists prefer to use quantitative research methods. (10
marks)
10. Outline and explain two ethical problems often associated with research methods. (10 marks)
11. Outline and explain two reasons why some people argue that sociology cannot be a science. (10
marks)
12. Outline and explain two criticism of the claim that sociologists can keep values out of research. (10
marks)
20-Markers - Theory & Method Questions
1. Evaluate the claim that quantitative methods may have many advantages but tell us little about
what people really think.
(20 marks)
2. Evaluate the claim that qualitative methods are the most appropriate ones for the study of
society. (20 marks)
3. Evaluate the claim that whether sociology can be a science depends on what we mean by
science in the first place. (20 marks)
4. Evaluate the view that sociologists should take the side of the underdog and be committed to
changing society. (20 marks)
5. Evaluate the claim that functionalism underestimates both the extent of conflict in society and
the ability of social actors to create society through interaction. (20 marks)
6. Evaluate the contribution of different Marxist theorists to an understanding of society. (20
marks)
7. Evaluate the contribution of feminists to our understanding of society. (20 marks)
8. Evaluate the contribution of action approaches to our understanding of social behaviour (20
marks)
9. Evaluate the claim that we are now living in the postmodern age. (20 marks)
10. Evaluate different sociological perspectives’ views of the relationship between sociology and
social policy. (20 marks)
11. Evaluate the usefulness of questionnaires in sociological research. (20 marks)
Theory and Methods - Legacy Questions 2009 - 2016
Paper 1:
Methods in Context:
1. Assess the strengths and limitations of one of the following methods for investigating the effects of streaming:
EITHER field experiments
OR unstructured interviews. (20 marks) June 12
2.
Assess the strengths and limitations of using one of the following methods for investigating applications and
admissions to secondary schools:
EITHER documents
OR official statistics. (20 marks) Jan 12
3.
Assess the strengths and limitations of one of the following methods for investigating truancy from school:
EITHER official statistics
OR participant observation. (20 marks) June 11
4.
Assess the strengths and limitations of one of the following methods for investigating the role of parents in
pupils’ achievement:
EITHER questionnaires
OR unstructured interviews. (20 marks) Jan 11
5.
Assess the strengths and limitations of one of the following methods for investigating anti-school subcultures:
EITHER group interviews
OR non-participant observation. (20 marks) Jun 10
6.
Assess the strengths and limitations of one of the following methods for investigating the effect of material deprivation
on educational achievement:
EITHER (i) unstructured OR (ii) official statistics. (20 marks) Jan 10
7.
Assess the strengths and limitations of one of the following methods for investigating teachers’ attitudes
towards minority ethnic group pupils:
EITHER participant observation
OR questionnaires. (20 marks) Jun 09
8.
Assess the strengths and limitations of one of the following methods for investigating boys’ underachievement:
EITHER (i) official statistics OR (ii) unstructured interviews. (20 marks) Jan 09
Sociological Theory
1.
Assess the view that interpretivist methods are the most appropriate methods for
researching society. (33 marks) Jun 12.
2.
Assess the contribution of functionalist and New Right theories and research to our
understanding of society today. (33 marks) Jan 12
3.
Identify and briefly explain two problems of using experiments to investigate the
relationship between the mass media and juvenile delinquency. (6 marks) Jun 11
4.
‘Sociology can be value-free and should be value-free.’
To what extent do sociological
arguments and evidence support this claim? (33 marks) Jun 11.\
5.
Identify and briefly explain one problem of using official statistics to measure the extent
of green crime. (3 marks) Jan 11
6.
Identify and briefly explain two advantages of using covert observation to study criminal
gangs. (6 marks) Jan 11
7.
Assess the view that positivist methods are inappropriate for investigating society. (33
marks) Jan 11.
8.
Assess the strengths and limitations of
overt participant observation as a means of
investigating police attitudes. (15 marks) Jun 10
9.
Assess the relative importance of the different factors that affect sociologists’ choice of
research methods and of topics to investigate. (33 marks) Jun 10
10.
Identify and briefly explain three problems of using qualitative methods and/or sources
of data to study suicide. (9 marks) Jan 10
11.
Assess the strengths and limitations of unstructured interviews as a means of
investigating victims of crime. (15 marks) Jan 10
12.
Feminism has revolutionised sociology by placing women at the centre of its analysis of
society. However, while all feminists share this starting point, there are now many
different ‘feminisms’ within sociology.”
13.
Assess the contribution of feminist theorists and researchers to an understanding of
society today. (33 marks) Jan 10
14.
Assess the strengths and limitations of using covert participant observation as a means
of investigating ‘edge work as a motivation for crime’ (Item C, line 10). (15 marks)
Specimen
15.
‘Sociology cannot and should not be a science.’
To what extent do sociological
arguments and evidence support this view? (33 marks) Specimen.