1. Extended writing questions
In Paper 1 (Education) and Paper 3 (Crime and Deviance) – you will be asked 2 types of 10 mark questions:
Theory and Methods: ‘Outline’ and ‘Explain’ two…
Education/C&D: ‘Analyse’ two…question with an Item
In Paper 2 – you will be asked two 10 mark questions:
‘Analyse’ question with an Item

2. 10 mark questions…..

3. Extended writing questions
Consider what you think the AO’s are referring to for this question:
AO1
AO2
AO3
AO1 – What is the reason
AO2 – Why is it not effective in reducing crime
AO3 – Are situational crime preventions effective in reducing crime?
For example:
“One reason why it may not be effective is through displacement theory. This is….”
“This will therefore not be effective in reducing crime because….”
“However, it can be criticised that situational crime prevention is effective in reducing crime…”

4. Extended writing questions
Consider what you think the AO’s are referring to for this question:
AO1
AO2
AO3
AO1 – What is the reason
AO2 – How will values enter research?
AO3 – Can sociology be value free?
For example:
“One reason is….”
“There values may enter sociological research because….”
“However it is possible that sociological research can be value free…”

5. Can sociology be value free? Can sociology be value-free?
Positivism
Interpretivism
Postmodernism
Can sociology be value-free?
Yes, by adopting the methods of the natural sciences
(positivism)
Yes, by carefully interpreting the meanings behind people’s actions (verstehen)
Never, because all theories are ideological
Subjectivity
Objectivity
Sociologists are part of the society they are studying, and therefore involved in what they are researching and that their own values and beliefs will affect the research in some way; it is therefore impossible for them to be completely objective and detached.
More commonly associated with interpretivists and feminists – believe it is necessary to have interaction, personal involvement to those they are study in order to fully understand the meanings and interpretations they hold.
Researchers approach topics with a totally open mind and with complete detachment, separation and distance from those being researched. They are uninfluenced by the personal feelings, prejudices, beliefs or interpretations of researchers. Research should be unbiased knowledge about the world.
Associated with positivism and using quantitative scientific methods.

6. Sociology is value free
Modern positivists:
Values were irrelevant to research for two reasons because (1) the desire the appear scientific. Science is concerned with fact, not value. Sociologists should remain morally neutral - to establish truth about people's behaviour, not to praise or condemn it. (2) The social position of sociology: Alvin Gouldner (1975) sociology became 'problem takers' -solve their (e.g. government) problems for them. Values = irrelevant and didn't want to question those paying the research.
Objectivity and relativism:
Relativism argues in no objective truth - just truths plural. What you believe is true, is true - for you. If one person thinks the earth is flat and another it is round, there is no way of saying of who is right and wrong. There is a real factual work 'out there' - regardless of the sociologists' values, we can observe and record these facts. Once we have established the existence of these facts, they can be used to judge the value of competing theories and perspectives. In the end, it matters less whether a theory contains certain values, than whether it can explain the world that we observe.
Weber – Data collection and hypothesis testing:
Weber states we need to be objective and unbiased as possible when we are collecting the facts, keeping values and prejudices out of the process e.g. not ask leading questions. Once we have gathered the facts, we can use them to test a hypothesis – the hypothesis must stand or fall solely on whether or not it fits the observed facts.
Marx:
Scientist – believed his method of historical analysis, historical materialism could reveal the line of development of human society e.g. society moving towards a classless communist society where exploitation, poverty and alienation would end.
The role of Marx’s sociology, was to reveal the truth of his development, especially to the proletariat. He argues the scientific approach will show us how to reach it (communism). He sees science as helping to ‘deliver’ the good society.

7. Sociology is NOT value free
Weber – values as a guide to research
Weber states we need to study certain ‘facts’ to uncover social reality. But how do we choose which facts to study? Weber said we can only select them in terms of what we regard as important based on our own values – their value relevance to us. Values are essential to select what aspects of reality to study e.g. feminists value gender equality and this leads them to study women’s oppression and to develop concepts such as patriarchy.
Weber – values in the interpretation of data:
Values are important again when we come to interpret the data we have collected. The facts need to be set in a theoretical framework so that we can understand their significance and draw conclusions. In Weber's view, our choice of theoretical framework or perspective is influenced by out values. Therefore, we must be explicit about them, spelling out our values so that others can see if unconscious bias is present in our interpretation of our data.
Funding and careers:
Most sociological research is funded by someone else such as government departments, businesses and voluntary organisations. Those who pay take control in what is studied and what kinds of questions that it asks - and fails to ask. Therefore the sociologists' work is likely to represent the values and interests of their paymasters. Funding organisations may also prevent publication of their research if its' findings prove unacceptable e.g. Black Report. Also sociologist themselves may wish to further their careers with research and therefore may censor themselves for fear that being too outspoken will cost them their career.
Perspectives and values:
Different perspectives have different values about society. For example:
Feminism sees society as based on gender inequality
Functionalism sees society as harmonious that values that favour the status quo
Marxism sees society as conflict-ridden and strives for a classless society.
These assumptions and values influence the topics that sociologists of different perspectives choose to research and the conclusions they reach, e.g. Marxists conclude that inequality produces exploitation of the poor by the rich. There is also a link between the kinds of methods sociologists prefer and their value-stance. For example, Interactionists prefer qualitative methods and these are criticised as these methods produce facts that reflect their values and outlook when interpreting results.

8. Extended writing questions
Consider what you think the AO’s are referring to for this question:
AO1
AO2
AO3
AO1 – What is the reason
AO2 – Why will sociologists not influence government policy
AO3 – Can they actually influence policy?
For example:
“One reason is….”
“This may not influence government policy because….”
“However sociologists may inform government policy such as…”

9. The influence of sociology on policy
Many factors may affect whether or not sociological research succeeds in influencing policy:
Electoral popularity – a policy popular/unpopular with voters
Ideological and policy preferences of governments – researcher’s values are similar to the ideology of the government
Interest groups – pressure groups that influence government policy e.g. business groups which persuade the government to no raise the minimum wage.
Globalisation – The Interactional organisations (e.g. EU) may influence social policies of individual governments e.g. IMF’s ‘Structural adjustment programmes’ to introduce fees for education and health care as a condition for aid
Cost – not sufficient funds to implement a policy
Funding sources – sociologists may tone down their findings and policy recommendations to fit in with their paymasters wishes; r research findings may be used to justify what policymakers intend to do.

10. Perspectives on social policy and sociology
Positivism and functionalism – saw that science would discover the cause of social problems and provide their solutions. For both, the sociologist’s role is to provide the state with objective, scientific information on which it can base its policies.
Social democratic perceptive – favours major redistribution of wealth and income from the rich to poor. Sociologists should be involved in researching social problems and making policy recommendations to eradicate them e.g. Townsend’s research on poverty has led him to make recommendations for policies such as fairer, higher benefit levels.
Marxism – social policies serve capitalism, not society as whole. Policies provide ideological legitimation for capitalism e.g. welfare state gives it a ‘human face’. They maintain the labour force for further exploitation e.g. the NHS keeps workers fit to work. They are a means of preventing revolution e.g. the creation of the welfare state was a way of buying off w-c opposition to capitalism. The sociologist’s role is to reveal the exploitation that underpins capitalism and the way in which the ruling class use policies to mask this.

11. Perspectives on social policy and sociology
Feminism – see society as patriarchal, benefitting men at women’s expense. They see the state’s social policies perpetuating women’s subordination. Research by liberal feminists has had an impact in a number of policy areas e.g. anti- discrimination and equal pay policies. Some radical feminist ideas have led to an influence of policy e.g. the establishment of women’s refuges for women escaping domestic violence. However, Marxist and many radical feminists reject the view that policies can liberate women and call for more radical changes that the existing state cannot deliver.
The New Right – state should have a limited involvement in society e.g. welfare provision should be minimal. State intervention undermines people’s sense of responsibility. Murray argues that policies such as benefits and council housing for lone parents acts as ‘perverse incentives’ that encourage a dependency culture. The NR see the role of the sociologists as being to propose policies that promote individual responsibility and choice. Also support strong ‘law and order’ policies e.g. Broken windows and zero tolerance policies.

12. Secure it Write a 10 mark answer: E
Analyse two school factors which may explain the differences in achievement between gender (10 marks) E
“One school factor which explains the differences in achievement between gender is…..” D
“There is evidence from which states ” C
“Therefore this explains why girls do better than boys because…..” B
“However, there is evidence to suggest that it is only school factors which explains the differences in achievement between genders………..” A
Therefore, schools factors could/could not be an issue to explain the gender differences in achievement because.…

13. Analyse two reasons why boys underachieve at school (10 marks)
Secure it
Write a 10 mark answer:
Analyse two reasons why boys underachieve at school (10 marks) E
“One reason why boys underachieve in school is…..” D
“There is evidence from which states ” C
“Therefore this explains why boys underachieve because because…..” B
“However, there is evidence to suggest that not all boys underachieve in school………..” A
Therefore, (reason) could / could not be an issue to explain the boys underachievement in school because.…