1. Standard Grade Modern Studies Exam Technique - Enquiry Skills-

2. Enquiry Skills These questions are worth 60% of your final grade. There are two types: Source based questions – use all the sources as fully as you can. Non-source based investigation questions – use your own knowledge as well as applying a technique.

3. Enquiry Skills There are four types of source based questions: ‘Exaggeration’ questions (General) or ‘Selective in the use of facts’ questions (Credit) ‘Conclusion’ questions Express support for a view/arguments for and against. Identifying differences between sources (General).

4. ‘BUS’ The Question B = Box Put a box around the type of question it is U = Underline Underline exactly what you have to do e.g. give two reasons why. S = Sources Circle the sources you have to use

5. Identifying Exaggeration Use the sources you are told to use Identify which part of the person’s statement is exaggerated. Provide evidence from the source(s) which proves this.

6. Sample Answer – 2006 General Denis Baxter is exaggerating when he says that ‘most grandmothers use very little technology’. Source 2 shows that 55% have a home computer and 75% have a mobile phone. He is also exaggerating when he states that ‘when most people retire, they just want….to play golf’. Source 1 shows that only 11% of elderly people want to play golf when they retire.

7. Identifying Differences Between Sources Read the sources Highlight/underline where the sources talk about the same thing but have a different view. Write out the differences in your own words. Compare the sources point for point i.e. Source 1 says ……but Source 2 says ….

8. Sample Answer Source 1 says illegal immigration is a major problem for the US Government however Source 2 says the problem of illegal immigration has been exaggerated. Source 1 says that the Government needs to take action to deal with illegal immigrants. However Source 2 says there is no need for any Government action to deal with illegal immigrants.

9. Evidence For/Against Read the sources Identify evidence for/against the view State which source you are using. Write down specific evidence from the source.

10. Sample Answer One reason to support the view of Kelly Halcomb is that she says the USA has the highest average income (Statement) and Source 1 shows that this is true as the USA has the highest average income of $41,400 (Evidence). One reason to oppose her view is that she says that the USA enrolls less of its children in primary school than most other major countries (Statement). However Source 2 shows that Russia enrolls less of its children in primary school at 90% compared to the USA at 92% (Evidence).

11. Sample Answer – 2007 General One reason to support the view of Eva Kaye is she Said the 2004 election showed greater participation in politics by voters (Statement) and the sources shows that the percentage of voters turning out to vote has risen from 49.3% in 2000 to 59.8% in 2004. (Evidence). One reason to oppose her view is that she says the winner had a large majority in the 2004 election. (Statement). However the source shows that Bush won the election with 51% of the vote and this was only a small majority of 3%. (Evidence).

12. Conclusion Questions A conclusion is a decision or judgement that you reach based on the evidence. Study the sources – What is the main trend or pattern e.g. up, down, the same? State your conclusion Give evidence from the source to support this. At credit level, draw your conclusion together at the end

13. Sample Answer – Credit Level In both central city and suburban areas, Whites are more likely to own their own Homes (Conclusion). 56% of Whites own their homes compared to 33% of Hispanics in central cities and 74% of Whites own their own homes compared to only 51% of Hispanics in suburban areas (Evidence). The houses lived in by Whites are worth more than the houses lived in by Hispanics in both central city and suburban areas (Conclusion). In central areas the average value of a house owned by whites is $76,200 and for Hispanics it is a lower figure of $66,300. In suburban areas the average value of a house owned by whites is $107,100 and for Hispanics it is a lower figure of $99,200 (Evidence).

14. Sample Answer – Credit Level Hispanics houses are also more overcrowded (Conclusion). 29% of Hispanic homes in central cities and 27% in suburban areas have more than one person per room, while the figure for Whites is only 2% (Evidence).

15. Selective in the Use of Facts Questions In this type of question you have to work out how much is true and how much is not true in what the person is saying. Identify what is true and support this with evidence from the sources. Identify what is not true and support this with evidence from the sources. Try to cross-reference information from different sources. This means say how evidence from on+e source backs up or does not back up information in another source. Give an overall judgement of how selective the person actually is.

16. Sample Question Norman MacPhail is being selective in the use of facts when he says ‘the elderly are the biggest users of the NHS in Scotland’. Source 1 show that the 65+ age group make up just over 15% of the population but the 45-64 age group make up 23.7% of the population. Table 1 from Source 2 shows that the over 65s have far more consultations with primary health care workers e.g. For the over 65s there are over 1600 consultations with practice nurses each year but on 1567 for the 45- 64 age group. The only exception to this is the number who go to visit their doctor. Among the over 65s there are 3769 consultations each year but for the 45-64 age group there are 4239, therefore Norman MacPhail is being selective in his use of facts.

17. Table 2 from Source 2 shows the 65+ age group are more likely to use the NHS because they make up a higher number of day patients and inpatients e.g. for the 45-64 age group there were 216 admissions as a day patient per 1000 of the population but for the over 65s the figure was 560 admissions per 1000. For emergency admissions the figures for the 45-64 age group was 204 per 1000 of the population. For the over 65s the figure was 1014 per 1000 of the population.

18. Norman MacPhail also says that the elderly are satisfied with the quality of health care they receive. Source 3 shows this is the case in some areas but not others. 70% of over 65s think that the quality of treatment by your local doctor is satisfactory or good and 58% think that the quality of nursing care is satisfactory or good. However 51% think that the quality of medical treatment in hospitals is in need or some or a lot of improvement and 57% think that the general condition of hospital buildings are in need of some or a lot of improvement.

19. Overall, Norman MacPhail is being slightly selective in his use of facts. Elderly people are in most cases the biggest users of the NHS but they are not entirely satisfied with the quality of care (CONCLUSION).

20. Expressing Support For A View - Decision-Making Exercise (DME) Either option can be justified. State your choice clearly. Provide evidence from the sources to justify your answer. Remember evidence from one source may back up another – so link the sources! Criticise the alternative option if asked to do so.

21. Sample Answer: I would choose Option B, a nursing home for Mrs Wilkie. Source 1 tells us Mrs Wilkie needs to be careful with her diet because of her diabetes. Source 2 shows that in the nursing home, residents receive 24 hour care, there is a nurse on duty at all times who would be able to help with medical problems. The nursing home also provides all meals with individual menus to suit residents. Source 1 also tells us that Mrs Wilkie is finding it difficult to clean her house. In Source 2 the nursing home does all the cleaning for residents.

22. Source 1 also says that Mrs Wilkie’s nearest relatives are 75 miles away. Source 2 tells us that there are regular visiting opportunities for family and friends. Also each resident shares a bedroom and lounge facilities which would provide Mrs Wilkie with other peoples’ company. I would not choose Option A – sheltered housing because Mrs Wilkie would have to do her own cleaning and since Source 1 tells us she is struggling to cope this, Option A would not meet her needs. Although there is a warden on duty 24 hours, Mrs Wilkie is becoming forgetful and may forget to call for help when she needs it. Therefore Option B is the most suitable option for Mrs Wilkie.

23. Investigating-Type Questions This type of question asks you to use your knowledge and understanding. There are no sources involved. You will be asked to: Make up an appropriate hypothesis (Credit) Give aims or headings for an investigation. Justify an enquiry method and state the advantages and disadvantages.

24. Making Up An Appropriate Hypothesis A hypothesis is: An educated guess at what you might find out. Always a statement and never a question Always relevant to the title of the investigation. Developed (to get two marks)

25. Making Up An Appropriate Hypothesis Always aim to mention Modern Studies concepts in your hypothesis: Representation Rights and Responsibilities Participation Ideology Power Need Equality Try to include some of the following if relevant: - Social Factors, Economic Factors, Political Factors

26. Giving Aims or Headings For An Investigation Aims are the key questions that you want to answer. Aims can start with phrases such as ‘What’, ‘Why’, ‘How’. They should be relevant to the investigation. The words you use should make sense and your aim should end with a ?

27. Example 1 – You are investigating the issue of housing for the elderly. Hypothesis: The housing needs of the elderly are met in different ways. Aims: How does sheltered housing meet the needs of elderly people? What types of housing meet the needs of the elderly who can no longer live alone?.

28. Example 2 – You are investigating the issue of inequalities in the USA. Hypothesis: Ethnic minorities suffer greater social and economic inequality than white Americans. Aims: Why do ethnic minorities suffer from higher rates of poverty? What evidence is there of inequalities in housing?

29. Other Examples To Try: You are investigating the issue of: Inequalities among the elderly The difficulties faced by lone parent families Unemployment among different groups Participation in US politics The work of an MP Voting in the UK The work of UN agencies in Africa

30. Methods of Enquiry The main methods of enquiry you should revise for your exam are: Internet Writing a structured letter Using a Library Using a television programme