IGCSE Sociology
- Theory and method
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understand the main theoretical approaches to the study of sociology
describe the main stages in sociological research
describe the main methods used in sociological research and be able to evaluate them referring to practical, ethical and theoretical issues
understand the main types of information and data that sociologists use, including quantitative and qualitative data and primary and secondary data.
- Culture, Identity and socialization
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understand the key terms culture, norms, values, roles, beliefs and identity, appreciate that these are social constructions and understand how they influence human behaviour
describe and account for diversity and variations in human behavior and culture, including issues related to cultural relativism and multiculturalism
understand the terms conformity and non-conformity and how agencies of social control work
know examples of rewards and sanctions applied in different societies and organisations
explain the nature of sub-cultures and how these impact on consensus and conflict
assess the view that globalization is creating a global culture
explain the ways in which childhood is socially constructed
describe the processes of learning and socialization, both primary and secondary
explain the different agencies of socialization and their impact on individuals, including the consequences of inadequate socialization
assess the different views in the nature /nurture debate
assess role, age, gender, ethnic group and class as influences on social identity
- Social inequality
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explain the difference between achieved and ascribed status
explain the main features of inequality and how it is created
assess evidence of and reasons for the distribution of wealth and income in different societies
assess the impact of the welfare state and other government measures, including equal opportunities legislation, to reduce inequality
explain the problems involved in defining wealth and poverty
describe social stratification and the different forms that stratification can take in modern industrial society: class, age, ethnicity and gender
describe life chances and account for differences in life chances among and within stratified groups
explain the causes of poverty and the consequences of being rich or poor in a global context
discuss examples of racial prejudice and discrimination in education, employment and housing
discuss scapegoating and the consequences of racism for ethnic group
discuss the effects of gender on the life chances of males and females and the changing role of women in modern industrial societies, including gender discrimination in employment
assess explanations of gender discrimination
discuss the nature, extend and significance of social mobility
discuss the changing nature and role of different classes and class cultures
assess different ways of defining and measuring class
- the Family
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describe the main types of family
discuss the influence of social stratification and ethnicity on family diversity
describe the functions of the family and understand the 'loss of functions' debate
describe alternatives to the family
describe cross-cultural differences in marriage and alternatives to marriage
explain roles and relationships within families, how these have changed and how they vary, reflecting social stratification and ethnicity
discuss negative aspects of family life
explain how industrialization and urbanization affect families
outline demographic trends and how they affect families, including the consequences of an ageing population
- the education
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understand the difference between formal and informal education
describe how education can be an agent of socialization and of social control
describe the relationship between education and social mobility
describe different types of schools
assess explanations for different levels of achievement by gender, social class and ethnicity, including cultural, material and linguistic factors
assess the influence of schools, teachers and peer groups on achievement
understand issues about the measurement of intelligence and the relationship between intelligence and achievement
describe the official curriculum, the hidden curriculum and vocationalism
- Crime, Deviance and social control
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understand the difference between crime and deviance and how definitions of these vary between societies and across time
explain the difference between informal and formal social control and the role of agencies of social control such as the media, religion, the police, courts and the penal system
understand and describe the strengths and limitations of the ways in which crime can be measured
explain patterns of crime by age, class, gender and ethnicity and assess explanations of these patterns
describe policing, law enforcement and policing strategies such as targeting, surveillance and crime prevention
describe crimes related to new technologies such as the internet
explain ways in which crime is dealt with, including community sentencing, punishment, prison, rehabilitation and deterrents
assess sociological explanations of deviant and criminal behavior
explain the role of law enforcement agencies and the media in defining crime and deviance
explain the development of sub-cultures and how these link to crime and deviance, with particular reference to youth
- The Media
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understand the various forms the media take, including differences between old and new media
explain the role of advertising in the media
understand the debates about ownership and control and freedom and censorship in the media
understand Pluralist, Marxist and postmodernist perspectives on the nature and role of the media
explain patterns of media use by gender, age, social class and ethnicity
explain media representations of social groups and their influence on audiences
assess the role of the traditional and new media in shaping values, attitudes and behavior
explain the selection and presentation of news, including agenda setting, gate-keeping and stereotyping
assess different explanations of the influence of the media
explain bias and distortion in the media
explain developments in the media
discuss the influence of media representations on the audience