“THE STUDY OF PEOPLE AND SOCIETY”
Areas of Study
This course allows you to study society and the role of people in society. It allows us to discover how people think, how they form views and how they act. It overlaps and helps with work undertaken in Modern Studies and History. This course makes you think about the way people behave and helps develop an understanding of theory and why people behave in certain ways.
Topic 1: Human Society
This is a study of human behaviour and how it shapes our society. It examines some of the key sociological ideas about society including those by Feminists and Marxists. It looks at how research is conducted and the influence of such institutions as media, religion, schools and the family. It also looks at the structure involved in sociological research and some of the methods that are used.
Topic 2: Culture and Identity
This topic looks at the way a person’s identity is formed and what actually influences a person’s identity. It examines the role of peer groups, family, education and the media. It examines what an identity is and what makes up a culture. It also looks at the role of subcultures with studies of Mods, Rockers, Skinheads and Boy Racers.
Topic 3: Social Issues
Some of the key social issues that exist in society are examined in this topic. The focus is on the issue of whether true social mobility exists in the UK today. Other issues included are: the role of social class and inequality in Britain. Educational attainment amongst boys and girls is also examined.
Progression Pathway
Many universities value Higher Sociology as an excellent qualification; such is the emphasis on problem solving, essay writing and independent research.
Assessment
There is an exam at the end of the course based on Knowledge and Understanding questions, plus analysis style questions. There is also an Assignment – an individual study accounting for 27% of the overall course award. Here, students have autonomy over a ‘Social Issue’ of their choice. This is not completed under timed conditions; therefore, the onus is on the student to produce a quality study by the Easter deadline.
