IGCSE Sociology

  1. 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.

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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