Year 13 Summer Homework. Sociology

Transcription

1 Year 13 Summer Homework Sociology Deadline: Monday 12th September 2016

2 Sociology AQA Year 2 Sociology Theories & Methods Objectives: To consolidate knowledge and understanding on theoretical perspectives and apply understanding assessment skills to A2 exam questions. Tasks: To complete an A level Sociological Theories Booklet. Students must complete the following: Complete revision summary topic sheets (A3 booklet) 5 hours Complete two 10 mark questions: 1. Outline and explain two reasons why sociologists may not influence government policy. [10 marks] 1 hour 2. Outline and explain two reasons why values may enter sociological research. [10 marks] 1 hour Assessment Summary revision pages (20% of final grade) Activities/Tasks will be assess on level of effort and detail A Grade all topics have been completed and show detailed responses throughout. B Grade all topics have been completed, with examples and some detailed explanation C Grade all topics have been completed and correct D Grade all topics have been completed but some inaccuracies E Grade Topics have been completed and are correct/ or some inacuracies U Topics are incomplete and/or largely inaccurate Exam Questions (80% of final grade) Exam questions are worth a total of 20 marks A Grade 80% B Grade 70% C Grade 60% D Grade 50% E Grade - 40% U Below 40% PLC Summer homework task links to PLC topic Theories & Methods Resources/Research: AQA Sociology Book Two Webb,Westergaard,Trobe,Townend - Website with sociology articles, podcasts and videos - Revision website that provides overview of key terms. - The Guardian Newspaper Hazeley academy sociology twitter page Google classroom code a5f0ym (12C) nawutc (12D) Wider Reading: Sociology is constantly changing so reading a newspaper is vital if you don t get one add a few of these sites to your favourites and browse. BBC Office for National Statistics The Daily Telegraph The Government (for details of social policies, etc) The Guardian Market and Opinion Research International (MORI) The Observer Submission Date: All work must be submitted by Monday 12 th September 2016 Social Science Information Gateway (Sociology) Sunday Times The Times Sociology Central

3 Theory and methods A2 Topic Revised green/red/amber 1. Quantitative and qualitative methods of research; their strengths and limitations; research design. 2. Sources of data, including questionnaires, interviews, observation (participant and nonparticipant), experiments, documents, and official statistics; the strengths and limitations of these 3. The distinction between primary and secondary data, and between quantitative and qualitative data. 4. The relationship between positivism, interpretivism and sociological methods; the nature of social facts. 5. The theoretical, practical and ethical considerations influencing choice of topic, choice of method(s) and the conduct of research. 6. Consensus, conflict, structural and social action theories. 7. The concepts of modernity and post-modernity in relation to sociological theory 8. The nature of science and the extent to which sociology can be regarded as scientific 9. The relationship between theory and methods 10. Debates about subjectivity, objectivity and value freedom 11. The relationship between sociology and social policy 1-5 AS you will need to recap this. You can make synoptic links when looking at the theories and the broad terms socialisation, culture and identity, social differentiation, power and stratification, Summer homework Complete summary A3 booklet on Sociological Theories and answer the two questions below. Due Mon 12 th Sept Outline and explain two reasons why sociologists may not influence government policy. [10 marks] 2. Outline and explain two reasons why values may enter sociological research. [10 marks] Concepts consensus, conflict, determinism, structuralism, social action approaches, interpretivism, integrated approaches, macro, micro, positivism, anti-positivism, functional prerequisites, collective conscience, organic analogy, systems needs (goal attainment, adaptation, integration, latency), structural differentiation, manifest and latent functions, dysfunction, base, superstructure, means of production, relations of production, false consciousness, capitalism, communism, hegemony, ideological state apparatus/repressive state apparatus, verstehen, rational action, value rational action, traditional action, affectional action, labelling, looking glass self, typifications, dramaturgical model, structuration theory, globalisation, metanarrative, hyperreality, simulacra, patriarchy, separatism, consciousness raising, political lesbianism, reserve army of labour, essentialism, principles of falsification, hpothetico-deductive method, paradigms, scientific revolutions, closed systems, open systems, reconstructed logic, logic in use, objectivity. subjectivity, value-free, value-laden

4 Functionalism CONSENSUS STRUCTURALISM(organic analogy): Durkheim (Collective conscience, also see study on suicide): Parsons (Functional prerequisites, GAIL model, structural differentiation): Strengths/weaknesses Prerequisite or description Sub-system system need Goal attainment Adaptation Integration Latency Merton (manifest and latent functions, dysfunction): Marxism CONFLICT STRUCTURALISM Traditional Marxism Base and superstructure: Means of production and relations of production: Exploitation and surplus value: Capitalism, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat: Labour power: Dominant ideology and false class consciousness: Revolution and communism: Neo Marxists Althusser (RSA/ISA): Gramsci (hegemony and relative autonomy):

5 Strengths of Marxism Weaknesses of Marxism Action theories 1. Weber (verstehen, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, types of action rational, value rational, traditional, affectional) Social action or interpretivist theories (includes WEBER, SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM, PHENOMENOLOGY AND ETHNOMETHODOLOGY). How does this theory see society? Evaluation: Weber advocates verstehen but we cannot ever be that person, so can never be sure we have truly understood their motives

6 Action theories 2. Symbolic interactionism Mead: Giddens structuration theory combining structure and action Becker labelling theory: Cooley looking glass self: Goffman dramaturgical model: 3. Phenomenology Schutz typifications: 4. Ethnomethodology Garfinkel: Postmodernism what is modernism? What is postmodernism? Globalisation, metanarratives, media saturated society (Baudrillard), simulacra, hperreality, pick n mix identities, Buaman, Lyotard Evaluation:

7 Postmodernism evaluated Feminism (include Liberal Oakley. Marxist Ansley, Barrett. Radical Firestone, Brownmiller, Greer. Dual systems Walby. Difference feminism) Feminism evaluated

8 Yes, sociology is a science and wants to be a science the scientific method, Merton CUDOS, Popper, positivism, Durkheim, social facts, realist view, closed systems/open systems, Sayer (realist), Baskhar criticising Popper (he s a realist too), objectivity, value freedom Hold up science isn t very scientific Kaplan, reconstructed logic, logics in use, values and beliefs of researcher, funding, deadlines, time/money, desire for researcher to prove hypotheses Sociology shouldn t be a science and isn t a science Kuhn, Paradigms, scientific revolutions, interpretivism, subjectivity, meaning, verstehen, no such thing as value freedom, pick a side(becker) Sociology and science

9 1.Is a value-free sociology possible? (Yes Comte, Durkheim, Marx, positivists) Sociology and the value freedom debate (some elements of the sociology and science debate can also be used) 3. Is a value-free sociology desirable? (Gouldner, Becker, Myrdal) Value freedom = Value laden = Objectivity = Subjectivity = 2. Values have an essential role in sociological research (WEBER) A) Values as a guide to research: B) Data Collection and hypothesis testing: Factors influencing values funding bodies, Politics affecting the publishing of research (e.g. The Black Report 1980), sociologists own personal values, sociologists own perspective (e.g. Marxist, Feminist ), sociologists preference for methods (interactionists = qualitative methods) 4. Feminist sociology doesn t try to be value free (see CGP revision guide) C) Values and interpretation of data: D) Values and the sociologist as a citizen: Weber sees values as relevant to the sociologist in choosing what to research, in interpreting the data collected, and as a citizen and member of society in deciding the use to which the findings should be put. However, the sociologists values should be kept out of the actual process of gathering the facts.

10 1. The difference between social problems and sociological problems (Worsley) Sociology and social policy 3. But not all sociological research succeeds in influencing policy because. 5. Sociologists shouldn t be involved in applied social policy research Also see different sociological perspectives are going to have different views on the state and social policy functionalism, positivist, the social democratic perspective, Marxism, feminism and the new right 2. The contribution/influence of sociology on social policy 4. Sociologists should be involved in applied social policy research