1. M2 and D1 Unit 7- Sociological Perspectives Task M2 and D1
M2 Use different sociological perspectives to discuss patterns and trends of health and illness in two different social groups.
D1 Evaluate different sociological explanations for patterns and trends of health and illness in two different social groups.
Task 3
IIn P3 you have identified patterns and trends of health and illness in different social groups.
n order to achieve M2 and D1, you will need to write an essay answering the following question:
“Discuss the patterns and trends of health and illness within two social groups in relation to the sociological perspectives.”

2. Years people are expected to live in ‘Very good or good’ health at birth, 2010 to 2012

3. Choose your groups and patterns and trends1. 2
Group 2 =
Is anyone doing the same?

4. M2 Identify and explain the trends for social group 1 M2
What is the first pattern or trend __________________
Explanation – why is it occurring?
Link to Socio perspective(s)
What is the second pattern or trend ________________

5. Example What is the first pattern or trend __________________
Point Morbidity rates vary due geographical location for example research has shown there are regional trends in the incidence of lung cancer across the UK (ONS, 2017)
Explanation This could be due to socio-economic status and class. Social class can influence health due to lower income and ability to afford appropriate health care, nutrition and hygiene.
Perspective This agrees with a Marxist approach that suggests that there is a clear divide between two classes. A person of upper class would be able to access private care. Individuals who are of lower class will have to undergo publically provided health care which may involve longer waiting times impacting their ill health.
What is the first pattern or trend __________________
Explanation – why is it occurring?
Link to Socio perspective(s)

6. Write up your 4 template paragraphs for your patterns and trends
What is the first pattern or trend __________________
Explanation – why is it occurring?
Link to Socio perspective(s)
What is the second pattern or trend ________________

7. D1- Recap of the Sociological Explanations for patterns and trends
The Statistical Artefact Explanations
Natural Social Selection
Cultural or Behavioural Explanations
The Material or Structural Explanations

8. Natural Social Selection
Complete the following
What the explanation is
Example referring to one of your patterns or trends
Why this is a useful explanation for patterns and trend
What the issues are with this explanation

9. Natural Social Selection Explanation
Point- Natural Social selection suggests that it is not a person’s low social class that determines the cause of higher morbidity or mortality rates. It suggests that individuals are in lower class because of their poor health as ill health causes absenteeism. Evidence For example in reference to the research showing a link between lower class and lung disease (ONS, 2017) instead of explaining this correlation due to poor housing conditions which may include damp as a cause of the morbidity rates or smoking behaviours in the lower class causing the disease the natural Social selection explanation would suggest individuals are of lower class as a result of their lung condition. An advantage of this explanation is that advances in health care, health promotion and prevention could have a positive impact on tackling the divide in social class. However this explanation is weak as it is difficult to test and prove the true cause and effect as correlation does not necessarily mean causation

10. Complete the following
What the explanation is
Example referring to one of your patterns or trends
Why this is a useful explanation for patterns and trend
What the issues are with this explanation

11. Three Groups Statistical Artefact Cultural or Behavioural
Material of structural

12. Statistical Artefact
By understanding potential bias it helps us to then challenge Bias and consider other factors that may contribute to the stats. It helps to identify the complexity of health and illness
 However knowledge that research may be bias may result in individuals not considering the severity of inequalities and statistics may be ignored. For example even when bias is accounted for there are still links between class, morbidity and mortality.

13. Cultural or Behavioural
 Health promotion. Lifestyle and behaviour can be changed. Postive
 Blames the individual. Promotes stigma and discrimination. May be too simplistic and ignores the role of biology

14. Material of structural
 Supported by evidence
 Can inform policy and legislation to tackle social structure and inequality e.g changes in smoking
Takes responsibility away from the individual
Argument that socialism is not achievable or good for the economy