A Level Sociology CAIE

This subject is broken down into 21 topics in 6 modules:

  1. The Family 4 topics
  2. Theory and Methods 5 topics
  3. Education 3 topics
  4. Global Development 3 topics
  5. Media 3 topics
  6. Religion 3 topics
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  • 6
    modules
  • 21
    topics
  • 8,531
    words of revision content
  • 1+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Sociology

The Family

The Family and Social Change

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The Family and Social Change

The Family and Social Change

Characteristics of Pre-industrial Families

  • Extended families were common, and multiple generations lived together.
  • Homes were also places of economic production, where families engaged in farming or craftwork.
  • Marriages were often arranged for economic or social reasons rather than love.
  • High infant mortality rates led to lack of emotional attachment to children.

Changes during the Industrial Revolution

  • The industrial revolution led to a shift to nuclear families due to urbanisation and mobility required for factory work.
  • The family home transformed from a place of production to a place of consumption.
  • Childhood became a distinct phase of life with the advent of compulsory education, better healthcare and laws against child labour.

Contemporary Family Structures

  • There has been a rise in diversity of family structures, including single-parent families, reconstituted or blended families, and cohabitating couples.
  • There's an increase in childless couples and individuals living alone, both by choice or due to factors like divorce or death of a partner.
  • Creation of 'Beanpole' families, which are long and thin with few aunts, uncles and cousins, but many living generations due to increased life expectancy.

Role of Social Policies in Family Changes

  • Government policies like welfare benefits, laws regarding marriage and divorce, and family planning have significantly impacted family structures and roles.
  • Equal opportunities legislation has narrowed the gender gap in work and education, influencing family dynamics and gender roles.

Impact of Social Change on Family Roles and Relationships

  • The shift of women into the workforce and the removal of gender barriers have led to changes in family roles and relationships.
  • There's debate around the concept of 'symmetrical family', where both genders share roles equally in childcare and housework.
  • There's a rise in 'negotiated families' where roles and rules are openly discussed and agreed upon.

Theories of Family and Social Change

  • Functionalist theories consider the family as an institution that fulfils vital functions for society, and changes in family are seen as an adjustment to societal needs.
  • Feminist theories focus on the gender inequalities within families, and have highlighted the impact of women's liberation movement on family structures.
  • The New Right perspective believes in the traditional nuclear family and blames social policies for encouraging 'non-traditional' family types.
  • Postmodernist theories emphasise the diversity and fluidity of contemporary family structures and relationships.

Course material for Sociology, module The Family, topic The Family and Social Change

Sociology

Education

Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

The Role of Education

  • Education serves multiple functions within a society, including preparing the younger generation for adult roles.
  • The functionalist perspective sees education as beneficial for society, providing essential skills and contributing to social solidarity.
  • A conflict perspective might view education as reproducing social inequalities, with privileged groups having access to higher quality education.

School Structures and Processes

  • Schools tend to operate using a hierarchical structure, with defined roles for everyone involved.
  • Schools enforce the hidden curriculum, the unwritten rules and norms of behaviour that pupils must adhere to.
  • Formal and informal interactions within the school setting shape student behaviours, relationships, and experiences.

Educational Achievement and Inequality

  • Issues of class, gender, ethnicity, and education play a significant role in educational outcomes.
  • The educational system can reinforce and perpetuate existing social inequalities, with privileged individuals often achieving better outcomes.
  • Government policies aimed at promoting educational equality could involve affirmative action or investment in underprivileged areas.

The Curriculum and Assessment

  • The curriculum is centrally controlled by educational authorities, shaping what is taught in schools.
  • Different types of assessment methods, such as formal examinations and continuous assessment, impact pupils’ experiences and outcomes.
  • Controversies surround the curriculum regarding its content, relevance, breadth, and inclination.

Societal Influences on Education

  • Cultural capital can play a significant part in educational achievement. Parents with higher education can provide an enriched early educational experience.
  • The materialist perspective emphasises economic factors, such as poverty, as key determinants of educational achievement.
  • The interactionist perspective focuses on daily experiences within schools, recognising that teacher expectations and student labels can significantly impact a pupil’s achievement.

Whilst revising, consider how these concepts interlink and reinforce one another, as well as the critiques associated with each perspective.

Course material for Sociology, module Education, topic Key Concepts

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