Download GCSE Revision Guide

OCR GCSE Sociology Revision Material
Units to be examined in May 2016 – Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3 (100% exam)
For each of the units you have already been given a revision checklist which details all of the areas you need to study. These
have also been uploaded to Fronter so that you can access extra copies. Additionally you have been provided with the textbook
‘OCR GCSE Sociology’ to use at home to further your understanding and to support your revision. Each of the three units are
examined separately and each paper is slightly different. The following information outlines what you must know and the type
of questions that will appear for each particular unit.
Unit 1 - Sociology Basics (25% of your final GCSE grade)
Length of the Exam – 1 hour
This paper is divided into two sections – research methods and evidence and key concepts in Sociology.
1a Research Methods and Evidence
You will need to know:
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Primary and secondary methods of research
How to conduct research
The ethical issues with certain research
The different types of data
Quantitative and Qualitative evidence
How to evaluate research (you must know the strengths and weaknesses of each method)
You will be asked to respond to short mark questions. These will usually ask you to identify, identify and explain or identify and
describe.
You will also be asked to complete a 12 mark question response. You will be given a hypothesis and you will be asked to explain
how you would investigate this. You must be able to apply two relevant primary methods, a secondary method, discuss sampling
and justify your selections.
You should spend 30 minutes completing this section.
Unit 1b Key concepts in Sociology
You will need to know:
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Concepts in Sociology
Culture and identity
The process of socialisation
Agents of socialisation (and the associated concepts)
Social control
Gender identity
You will be asked to respond to short mark questions. These will usually ask you to identify, identify and explain or identify and
describe.
You will also be asked to complete a 12 mark question response. You will be given a claim and you will then be asked to evaluate
this claim. You should write an introduction explaining the claim and giving context. You must then write two paragraphs
agreeing with the claim and two disagreeing with the claim. You should apply PEELE to each of these. You must then write a
distinct personal conclusion.
You should spend 30 minutes completing this section.
Unit 2 – Socialisation, Culture and Identity (50% of your final grade)
Length of Exam – 1 hour 30 minutes
This unit is split into three areas: ‘Family’, ‘Crime and Deviance’ and ‘Youth’.
Family
You will need to know:
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Family and identity
Traditional definitions of the family
Structural changes in the family
Changing family relationships
Crime and Deviance
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Definitions of crime and deviance
Controlling crime and deviance
Patterns of crime
Explanations of crime
Youth
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Definitions of youth
Control through peer groups and gangs
Youth subcultures
Gangs
Exam paper structure:
For each topic, you will be asked to complete short questions, an 8 mark question (you must identify and explain two things with
evidence) and you will be asked to respond to a 24 mark question. You will be given a claim and you will then be asked to
evaluate this claim. You should write an introduction explaining the claim and giving context. You must then write three
paragraphs agreeing with the claim and three disagreeing with the claim. You should apply PEELE to each of these. You must
then write a distinct personal conclusion. You must spend a maximum of 30 minutes on each topic.
Unit 3 – Applying Sociological Research Techniques (25% of your final grade)
Lengths of the exam – 1 hour
For this exam you will be provided with two investigations (pre-release material). You will analyse these investigations during
lesson time and by the examination you will need to be able to:
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Identify and describe the methods and techniques used in the investigations.
Explain how the methods and investigations have been used.
Interpret the data or results gained from the methods and suggest conclusions which could be drawn from them.
Explain how well the methods and techniques have been applied and identify and explain any problems or weaknesses.
Evaluate the investigations and make suggestions as to how the research in the investigations could be changed and
developed further.
Compare all or any parts of the two investigations.
You will be asked to answer short questions on each investigation and you will be asked to respond to a 12 mark question about
one/both of the investigations. You will not be able to take the pre-release paper you received in lesson into the exam, but you
will be provided with a new copy of the same two investigations.
Top Tips for success:
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Create key concept glossaries – you will need to know all of the key concepts outlined during lessons and in the
textbook.
You must know trends – you must be able to explain statistics and trends associate with certain groups.
Apply studies – you should be able to apply sociological studies to prove the points you make.
Understand theories – sociologists have different theories about how society works. You must know and apply these.
Understanding debates – there are many debates in Sociology and so it’s important that you know what they are.
Attempt past questions to ensure you have attempted to answer questions on as many topics as possible.