Longitudinal studies and social policies What are longitudinal studies? How can sociologists influence social policy?

Starter Work in pairs to complete the A-Z of Sociology by working out what the key concept is from the definition.

Objectives To define longitudinal studies and explain how they are different to social surveys. To explain how sociologists can influence social policy. To practice answering exam questions.

Home learning Continue to revise for the exam on Tuesday, 19th June at 8:30 am. Every booster is different so attend them all! There will be no boosters next week so this is your last chance to come to learn how to answer exam questions.

Longitudinal studies Longitudinal study is a study of the same group of people conducted over a long period of time during which the researchers meet with the participants once every, e.g., 5 years and interview them. Advantages - it allows Sociologists to examine social changes over time. Disadvantages - as they take many years to conduct, they are very expensive. Also, as people move home, the researcher can lose contact with them so the sample may become unrepresentative. Social survey is any other type of research method such as questionnaires and interviews.

Task 1 Use the statements at the bottom of the worksheet to fill in the gaps in the grid.

Solution Survey Longitudinal Type of research Definition Example Advantages Disadvantages Survey Longitudinal This method takes a cross-section of the population and questions them on relevant issues only once. A questionnaire asking students about their attitudes towards education. This method is less time consuming and it is cheaper. This method only gives us a snapshot view - it only tells us about people at one particular point in time. This is a study of the same group of people over a period of time. A questionnaire is given students in their first year at school about their attitudes to education. A questionnaire is then given to them every year until they finish school. This method allows us to examine social change over time. This method is very time consuming and expensive to carry out.

Social policy Social policy refers to the plans and actions put in place by the government to deal with social problems such as poverty and racism. When Sociologists carry out research, their findings can be used by the government to decide social policy.

Example In 1993 an 18-year-old A Level student was murdered at a bus stop on his way home. Hi name was Stephen Lawrence and he was murdered by a group of 6 thugs because he was black. The 6 were put on trial, but it collapsed because of the way the police investigated the case. In 1997 the government ordered an inquiry into the reasons why the police failed to successfully bring the murderers to justice. Sociologists played a key role in this inquiry. They submitted evidence from their research to show that policing methods are racist and that the police force has poor community relations with ethnic groups. Sociologists were also involved in defining the term ‘institutional racism’. So the work of Sociologists helped prove that the police force is racist. As a result, the government introduced changes in how new police officers are trained so that they are not racist. Also, new laws were created to make racism illegal.

Task 2 Explain one way in which sociological research might help educational authorities to design policies to reduce educational underachievement in Britain. (4 marks) One way in which sociological research might help educational authorities to design policies to reduce educational underachievement is...

Possible answer One way in which sociological research might help educational authorities to design policies to reduce educational underachievement is by carrying out research into the reasons who some children, e.g. working class, some ethnic minorities and boys underachieve. For example, Sociological research has shown that some ethnic minorities underachieve because they face racism in school from other children and even teachers. The government can use this information to create a policy of training teachers how not to label children negatively.

Task 3 Work in pairs. Take turns telling each other the answers to these questions: What is a pilot study? (2 marks) Identify and explain one reason why Sociologists use pilot studies. (4 marks) Explain, with examples, one difference between primary and secondary sources of data. (4 marks) Identify two different ways of delivering questionnaires. (2 marks) Explain what is meant by the term ‘response rate’. (4 marks) Explain the difference between data that is valid and data that is reliable. (4 marks)

Plenary Play the game on research methods, one side of the class (blue) against the other (red). http://www.teachers-direct.co.uk/resources/quiz-busters/quiz-busters-game.aspx?game_id=41075