October november 2018 / 11

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Health Data 2010.

From the evidence in Source A, identify the two countries with the lowest male life

expectancy. [2]

(b) Identify two reasons for conducting a pilot study. [2]

Using information from Source A describe two problems sociologists might have conducting

research on a global scale. [4]

(d) Describe two limitations of using open questions in sociological research. [4]

(e) Describe two strengths and two limitations of feminist views about society. [8]

(f) Explain why ethical issues may be a problem when conducting sociological research. [10]

(g) To what extent is sampling representative? [15]

Section B: Culture, identity and socialisation

In England there is a custom to eat using a knife and fork. Should people not conform to this custom

they often suffer negative informal sanctions from others, which may include receiving angry looks

or even negative comments. Customs such as this are culturally relative.

(a) What is meant by the term ‘custom’? [2]

(b) Describe two ways rewards can be used to make people conform. [4]

(c) Explain how agencies of secondary socialisation transmit norms. [6]

Explain why minority ethnic groups may not share the norms and values of the country they

live in. [8]

(e) To what extent do the working class still have a distinct social identity? [15]
 October november 2018/ 12

Section A: Theory and methods

Answer Question 1.

1 Source A

A famous study by Elton Mayo was conducted in the USA in the 1920’s. The study was done in

the Hawthorne factory. Mayo was asked to observe a group of workers and conduct a series of

experiments. This was to allow the owners of the factory to create the best possible working

conditions for them to get the most amount of work completed by their employees. To do this Mayo

experimented with:

• the levels of heating

• the levels of lighting

• the length of rest breaks.

Mayo discovered that, no matter how the working conditions changed, the amount of work
completed

always increased. The possible explanations for this were:

1. The working conditions make little difference to the way people work.

2. Mayo’s presence changed the behaviour of the workers.

(a) From the evidence in Source A, identify the two research methods being used. [2]

(b) Identify two problems researchers might have when interviewing people about their job. [2]

Using information from Source A, describe two factors affecting the validity of the research.[4]

(d) Describe two strengths of using telephone questionnaires in sociological research. [4]

(e) Describe two strengths and two limitations of structured interviews. [8]

(f) Explain why findings from participant observation may be valid. [10]

(g) To what extent is the functionalist view of society correct? [15]

Section B: Culture, identity and socialisation

Some researchers have claimed that traditional working class identity has declined because of the

decrease in manual work. Other researchers have claimed there is now a new working class who

have a clear social identity.

(a) What is meant by the term ‘social identity’? [2]

(b) Describe two processes through which children learn social expectations. [4]

(c) Explain how conformity is rewarded in the workplace. [6]

Explain why individuals from different social classes may not experience the same socialisation

as each other. [8]

(e) To what extent is social class the most important factor in creating social identity? [15
 2019 maj june / 11

1 Source A
Devising sociological research can be affected by various factors such as: the researcher’s social

identity, their personal experiences and interests as well as their theoretical perspective and

preferences for particular sociological approaches. Other factors affecting research design include:

ethical issues, time constraints, accessing samples and funding. Doing research can be expensive

so getting funding is important. Many sociologists get their funding from governments or charities.

Although all parts of the research process are important pilot studies are considered essential by

many researchers. A pilot study is a preliminary small scale study that is carried out before the

main research. It can help researchers decide how to carry out a large scale study as well as identify

potential problems with the method, sample or research question.

(a) From Source A, identify two ways sociologists get their funding. [2]

(b) Identify two examples of sampling frames used by sociologists. [2]

Using information from Source A, describe two reasons why researchers like to use pilot

studies. [4]

(d) Describe two strengths of using semi-structured interviews in sociological research. [4]

Describe two strengths and two limitations of using snowball sampling in sociological research.[8]

(f) Explain why sociologists should follow ethical guidelines when carrying out research. [10]

To what extent are positivist methods the most effective way of carrying out sociological

research? [15]

Section B: Culture, identity and socialisation

Norms and values in modern industrial societies are changing rapidly. Migration patterns have led

to multicultural societies. Gender expectations are less fixed and feminine and masculine roles

vary across societies. Also, due to increased life expectancy and different types of family, society

is changing the way it sees the elderly.

(a) What is meant by the term ‘gender’? [2]

(b) Describe two stereotypes of elderly people. [4]

(c) Explain how agencies of secondary socialisation control individuals. [6]

(d) Explain why conflict may occur in multicultural societies. [8]

(e) To what extent are masculine roles changing in modern industrial societies? [15]
 2019 maj june/ 12

Answer Question 1
1 Source A
Feminist researchers are often concerned that the balance of power between the researcher and

respondent is likely to affect any data gathered. They argue that the interviewer and the interviewee

should be seen as equals in the research process. Feminists prefer unstructured interviews which

give time and space for the interviewee to offer their views.

In structured interviews the interviewer is the one in control, they direct the questioning and record

the data. In unstructured interviews the interviewees describe their experiences in their own words

with the interviewer acting only as a guide. This is why feminists prefer to use unstructured
interviews.

Feminists also like to use focus groups in their research.

Positivists select objective methods that avoid interviewer bias but feminists reject this approach.

Instead feminists claim that developing a relationship with respondents is an essential part of

establishing trust and respect. Positivists also argue that unstructured interviews are very difficult

to repeat.

(a) From Source A, identify two research methods used by feminists. [2]

(b) Identify two types of observation used by sociologists. [2]

Using information from Source A, describe two reasons why some sociologists like to use

unstructured interviews. [4]

(d) Describe two strengths of using a social survey in sociological research. [4]

Describe two strengths and two limitations of using focus groups in sociological research.[8]

(f) Explain why sampling is important for sociological research. [10]

(g) To what extent is validity the most important aspect of sociological research? [15]

Section B: Culture, identity and socialisation

Peer groups are an important part of growing up and are an agency of informal social control,

particularly for gender identity. Peer pressure can make individuals conform to the norms of the

peer group and may cause role conflict for young people.

(a) What is meant by the term ‘informal social control’? [2]

(b) Describe two examples of norms expected of students in schools. [4]

(c) Explain how young people may experience role conflict. [6]

(d) Explain why some young people join sub-cultures. [8]

(e) To what extent is social identity influenced by gender? [15]

 OCT NOV / 2022/11

Section A: Theory and methods

Answer Question 1

1 Source A

Sociology is the study of social change. One change sociologists are interested in is the way people

interact on social media platforms. To research this topic, two researchers sent an online

questionnaire to a random sample of 1000 young people. The researchers accessed their sample

through an online tutoring company. The researchers received 377 responses. The personal details

of the young people in the sample were kept anonymous. The online questionnaire used pre-coded

questions and was highly standardised. The researchers aims were to investigate which social

media platforms were used, how much time was spent online and what interactions took place.

From the quantitative data, the researchers were able to detect patterns and trends in social media

use by young people.

(a) From Source A identify two aims of the research. [2]

Identify two types of sampling that might be used to research social media use, apart from

random sampling. [2]

Using information from Source A, describe two reasons why the researchers’ data might not

be valid. [4]

(d) Describe two strengths of using pilot studies when planning sociological research. [4]

(e) Describe two strengths and two limitations of using case studies in sociological research. [8]

(f) Explain why some sociologists criticise official statistics. [10]

(g) To what extent is objectivity possible in sociological research? [15]

Section B: Culture, identity and socialisation

According to Functionalists, socialisation is important for society. Both primary and secondary

socialisation help individuals to learn the norms and values of society. If people do not learn the

norms and values of society then social order may not exist. However, agents of social control are

also important for maintaining social order, such as the workplace.

(a) What is meant by the term ‘social identity’? [2]

(b) Describe two processes of primary socialisation. [4]

(c) Explain how social order is maintained in modern industrial societies. [6]

(d) Explain why inadequate socialisation might cause problems for society. [8]

(e) To what extent is the workplace the most effective agent of social control? [15]
 Oct nov 2022/ 12

Section A: Theory and methods

Answer Question 1
Some sociologists prefer to look at society as a whole and take a macro approach while others

prefer a micro approach where they can record the thoughts and feelings of individuals.

Taking a micro approach, a researcher began to investigate why young people smoke. After

discovering a younger relative had become a smoker, the researcher was interested to learn why

young people start to smoke and how it affects their identity. The researcher’s first task was to gain

access to a sample.

Finding a sample is not always easy if there is not a sampling frame. As young people are unlikely

to want to speak to a professional researcher with very different social characteristics, a snowball

sample was used. Once a sample was gained an overt participant observation was conducted.

(a) From Source A identify two approaches used by sociologists. [2]

(b) Identify two types of historical document. [2]

Using information from Source A, describe two reasons why the researcher chose to use

snowball sampling. [4]

(d) Describe two strengths of using focus groups in sociological research. [4]

Describe two strengths and two limitations of using field experiments in sociological

research. [8]

(f) Explain why longitudinal studies can be useful for sociological research. [10]

(g) To what extent are official statistics useful for sociological research? [15]

Section B: Culture, identity and socialisation

Children and young people have to learn how to behave in society. Negative sanctions are often

used to teach children right from wrong and help to create value consensus in society. Sanctions

have an important influence on lifestyles. However, societies are becoming more culturally diverse

and definitions of masculinity and femininity continue to change.

(a) What is meant by the term ‘masculinity’? [2]

(b) Describe two sanctions used to control young people. [4]

(c) Explain how societies are culturally diverse. [6]

(d) Explain why traditional femininity is changing. [8]

(e) To what extent does value consensus exist in modern industrial societies? [15]