1. Paper
Question types 1
2 hours / 80 marks
Education
‘outline 2’ (4)
‘outline 3’ (6)
‘applying material from item _, analyses … ’ (20)
‘Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that… (30)
Methods in context
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge of research methods, evaluate… (10)
Research methods
Outline and explain two (10) 2
= 1 hour for each section.
= 1.5 minutes per mark
Section A: Poverty and Welfare
Outline and explain two (10) = 15 mins
Applying material from Item A, analyse two reasons why … (10) – 15 mins
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that … (20) = 30 mins
Section B: Global development
Outline and explain two ways in which … (10)
Applying material from Item A, analyse two reasons why … (10)
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that … (20) 3
= roughly 1hr 15 mins on section a
and 45 mins on section b
Crime and Deviance
Outline two ways in which … (4)
Outline three reasons why… (6)
Applying material from Item A, analyse two reasons why… (10)
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of … (30)
Theory and methods
Outline and explain two advantages/ disadvantages of … (10)
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness (20)

2. Sociological theories
Research methods
Sociological debates
Sociological theories
Secondary data
Official publications –statistics
Official publications –
reports and government
inquiries
Diaries and letters
Previous sociological research.
Novels
Oral History
The Media
Quantitative methods of primary research
Surveys
Experiments
Comparative research
Case Studies
Formal interviews
Closed questionnaires
Qualitative methods of primary research
Ethnographic research
Observations
Informal interviews
Focus groups
Is Sociology a Science? (the status of sociology + different views on the natural sciences)
The relationship between theory and methods
Debates about subjectivity, objectivity and value freedom
The relationship between Sociology and social policy
Marxism (different forms e.g. critical criminology, neo-Marxism)
Functionalism
Social Action Theory
New Right
Feminism (different forms e.g. liberal, radical)
Subcultural theories
Late modernism
Post modernism

3. Paper 1 T&M questions: Outline and explain two arguments against the view that Sociology is a science. (10 marks)
Sociological debates –
Outline and explain two ways in which Sociology can influence Social Policy.
Outline and explain two arguments against the view that theoretical perspective should dictate what research methods are used.
Outline and explain arguments against the involvement of values in sociological research
Sociological theories-
Outline and explain two radical feminist ideas.
Outline and explain two Postmodern ideas.
Research methods–
Outline and explain two problems with positivist methodologies.
Outline and explain two issues with using personal documents in sociological research.

4. Paper 3 Theory and methods Outline and explain two advantages/ disadvantages of … (10)
Secondary data
Official publications –statistics
Official publications –
reports and government
inquiries
Diaries and letters
Previous sociological research.
Novels
Oral History
The Media
Quantitative methods of primary research
Surveys
Experiments
Comparative research
Case Studies
Formal interviews
Closed questionnaires
Qualitative methods of primary research
Ethnographic research
Observations
Informal interviews
Focus groups
Specimen exam paper - Outline and explain two advantages of using official statistics in sociological research. [10 marks]

5. Paper 3 Theory and methods Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of… (20)
Specimen exam paper-
Read Item C below and answer the question that follows.
Item C Marxists see society as based on conflict between social classes. Those who own the means of production are able to exploit those who do not and are also able to impose their views on society. However, different Marxists have different views about the nature of capitalist society and about how social change occurs.
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of Marxist approaches in understanding society. [20 marks]
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of Feminist approaches in understanding society.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of Late modern approaches in understanding society.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of Postmodern approaches in understanding society.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of Functionalist approaches in understanding society.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of New Right approaches in understanding society.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of Social Action approaches in understanding society.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of critical criminological approaches in understanding society.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of subcultural theories in understanding society.

6. Theory and methods Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of… (20)
Specimen exam paper-
Read Item C below and answer the question that follows.
Item C
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of approaches in understanding society. [20 marks]
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the view that Sociology is a Science.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the relationship between sociological theories and methods.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the view that Sociology can not and should not be value free.
Applying material from item C and your knowledge, evaluate the view that there is a positive link between Sociology and Social Policy.