Sociology AS/A Level

Sociology is the systematic and scientific study of society and its constituent parts (eg the family, the education system, the workplace, mass media, and its various religious, political and legal institutions etc).  It examines both how it operates and how individuals and groups act and interact within it.  It focuses on society’s key institutions and on the ways in which they affect and are affected by different groups of people. In the process, it also explores and explains the huge and decisive impact our social class, gender, ethnicity, and various other group memberships have upon every aspect of our everyday lives.

It is important to note, however, that Sociology differs from other forms of comment on society such as those expressed in journalism, literature or commonsense and does so in three main ways:

• It is systematic. Sociologists have many rules of investigation, which lead to a relatively objective view of social phenomena.
• It is evidential. Sociologists, unlike journalists or novelists, must provide evidence for their observations, which can be checked by other sociologists.
• It is critical. By this is meant that sociologists do not just accept that what people say is true, is true. Rather they probe beneath the surface of society to find out what is actually going on.  [Tony Lawson,1995 – Former Chief Examiner]

In terms of future careers, it is of interest to anyone who might want to work in education, media, social work, police, nursing, management, personnel and the law.

AS Sociology will examine in depth:

1) Families and Households in Contemporary British Society.

Questions which will be addressed include: Is there a ‘typical’ type of family? Has the ‘New Man’ arrived in British society? Is family life changing and if so, in what directions? What are the reasons for divorce?

2) The Education System and Research Methods.

Questions which will be addressed include: Which factors affect students’ academic performance? What effect does our social class/gender/ethnicity have on our level of academic success?

A2 course topics cover:

1) The changing role of Religion in Modern Societies.

Questions which will be asked: Is Britain a less religious society in the new millennium than in previous decades? Religious fundamentalism – is it a healthy return to traditional values or a threat to world peace?

2) Crime and Deviance together with Research Methods and Sociological Theories.

Questions which will be tackled include: What causes crime? Why do males seem to commit more crime than women? Does prison ‘work’?