Sociology

Curriculum Area: Social Studies - Sociology
Curriculum Leader: Ms D Duffy

Year 10 | Year 11 | Year 12 | Year 13

Year 10

This is the first year of the GCSE qualification in Sociology. Over the duration of the course students will complete three units of study.

Unit 1: Sociology Basics (External Examination 25% of GCSE)
Unit 2: Socialisation, Culture and Identity (External Examination 50% of GCSE)
Unit 3: Applying Sociological Research Techniques (External Examination 25% of GCSE)

External examinations will be taken at the end of the two year course.

Please refer to the information below for details of the course content for this school year. You will also find information in each section relating to the assessments that will take place during each term. Please contact me at school if you require additional information.

Term 1: Unit 1 Sociology Basics-Section A Investigating Society

Primary Research Methods:

  • Questionnaires
  • Interviews
  • Observations
  • Content Analysis

Conducting Research:

  • Staged of Sociological Research
  • Aims and Hypothesis
  • Practical Issues
  • Sampling-random, stratified, snowball and systematic 
  • Social Surveys, Pilot Studies, Case Studies and Longitudinal Studies
  • Ethical Issues

Assessment- All students will take end of topic tests on each of the above areas. Students will be assessed using previous exam questions and will be graded against the examination grade boundaries for this unit.

Term 2: Unit 1 Sociology Basics-Section B Key Concepts

  • Culture
  • Socialisation
  • Identity

Assessment- All students will take end of topic tests on each of the above areas. Students will be assessed using previous exam questions and will be graded against the examination grade boundaries for this unit.

Students will take a formal mock examination at the end of this unit which will cover all topics they have studied up to this point.

Term 3: Unit 2 Socialisation, Culture and Identity

Topic 1: Crime and Deviance

  • Definitions of crime and deviance;
  • Controlling deviance and crime;
  • Patterns of crime;
  • Explanations of crime.

Assessment- All students will take end of topic tests on each of the above areas. Students will be assessed using previous exam questions and will be graded against the examination grade boundaries for this unit.