AQA_2024: A-level Sociology - Paper 2 Topics in Sociology. (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)

AQA_2024: A-level Sociology - Paper 2 Topics in Sociology. (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme) A-level SOCIOLOGY Paper 2 Topics in Sociology Tuesday 4 June 2024 Materials For this paper you must have:  an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions  Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Morning Time allowed: 2 hours  Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7192/2.  Answer all questions from one topic in Section A and all questions from one topic in Section B.  Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked. Information  The marks for questions are shown in brackets.  The maximum mark for this paper is 80.  Questions should be answered in continuous prose. You will be marked on your ability to:  use good English  organise information clearly  use specialist vocabulary where appropriate. IB/M/Jun24/G4004/E3 7192/2 For A-level Sociology Paper 2 on Topics in Sociology, focus on the following key areas: 1. Family:  Functions of the Family: o Functionalism: Murdock and Parsons argue the family performs essential functions like socializing children and stabilizing adult personalities. o Marxism: The family serves the interests of capitalism, socializing children into acceptance of inequality (e.g., Engels). o Feminism: Argues the family perpetuates gender inequality and patriarchy, with Zaretsky suggesting the family serves capitalism by reproducing labor power. o Postmodernism: Family structures are diverse, and there is no single "norm" (e.g., Stacey).  Family Structures and Changes: o Nuclear Family vs. Extended Family: Shift from traditional extended families to more nuclear and diverse family forms. o Divorce and Cohabitation: Increased divorce rates, rise in cohabitation, and changing attitudes toward marriage. o Family Diversity: Chester's idea of the "neo-conventional family" and the impact of same sex relationships. 2. Education:  The Role of Education: o Functionalism: Education promotes social cohesion, role allocation, and prepares individuals for the workforce (e.g., Durkheim, Parsons). o Marxism: Education reproduces class inequality and socializes children into accepting their place in society (e.g., Bowles and Gintis). o Feminism: Education reinforces gender roles, with Heath analyzing gendered subject choices. o Social Class and Educational Achievement: Bourdieu's cultural capital and Bernstein’s language codes explain the relationship between class and success.  Policy Changes: The effects of marketization and privatization in education (e.g., Thatcher’s reforms, New Labour policies on academies). 3. Crime and Deviance:  Theories of Crime: o Functionalism: Durkheim sees crime as an inevitable part of society, providing functions such as social change and boundary setting. o Strain Theory: Merton argues crime arises when individuals cannot achieve societal goals by legitimate means. 4. Social Inequality:  Class Inequality: o Weberian Theory: Weber sees class as determined by economic position, status, and power, and argues inequalities exist within all of these dimensions. o Marxism: The capitalist system inherently produces social class divisions, with the bourgeoisie and proletariat in conflict. o Social Mobility: Barriers to mobility, especially for working-class people, including the role of education and class-based discrimination. IB/M/Jun24/G4004/E3 7192/2 2 Section A Choose one topic from this section and answer all the questions on that topic. Topic A1 Culture and Identity 0 1 Outline and explain two reasons why gender may affect consumption choices. 0 2 Read Item A below and answer the question that follows. Item A [10 marks] Popular culture is easily accessible and enjoyed by many people. Popular culture broadly reflects mainstream norms and values of society, which some people may reject. Popular culture may affect an individual’s sense of self. Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways that popular culture may affect an individual’s sense of self. [10 marks] 0 3 Read Item B below and answer the question that follows. Item B Social class refers to a group of people who share a socio-economic status. Some sociologists argue that social class is the most important factor in shaping identity. Social class affects life chances, leisure activities and consumption patterns, as well as values and beliefs. Other sociologists disagree and suggest that other factors such as gender and ethnicity are more important than social class in shaping identity. Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that social class is the most important factor in shaping identity. [20 marks] IB/M/Jun24/7192/2 3 IB/M/Jun24/7192/2 Topic A2 Families and Households 0 4 Outline and explain two ways that falling birth rates may affect gender roles and relationships within families. [10 marks] 0 5 Read Item C below and answer the question that follows. Item C In the UK today, there are a range of social policies aimed at protecting vulnerable groups. There are also social policies which impose age restrictions on certain activities, such as paid employment. It can be argued that social policies may have affected the status of children. Applying material from Item C, analyse two ways that social policies may have affected the status of children. [10 marks] 0 6 Read Item D below and answer the question that follows. Item D Some sociologists argue that there is growing family diversity in the UK today. They argue that there are now more family types and structures. They also claim that these changes bring greater individual choice. However, some functionalist sociologists argue that there is limited evidence to support family diversity. They suggest the conventional nuclear family is still the dominant family type and the one that best fits society’s needs. Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of the nature and extent of family diversity in the UK today. [20 marks] Turn over ► 4 Topic A3 Health 0 7 Outline and explain two ways in which use of health care provision may vary between ethnic groups. [10 marks] 0 8 Read Item E below and answer the question that follows. Item E Men are more likely to be in full-time employment than women. Women are socialised into performing a caring role which prioritises family life. There are gender differences in health chances. Applying material from Item E, analyse two reasons for gender differences in health chances. [10 marks] 0 9 Read Item F below and answer the question that follows. Item F Conflict sociologists argue that powerful groups contribute to inequalities in health and illness. For example, Marxists claim that the medical profession and health care industries reinforce class inequalities in health and illness. Other sociologists argue that the medical profession has lost power. Individuals now have increased choice when monitoring health and treating illness. Applying material from Item F and your knowledge, evaluate the extent to which powerful groups control health and illness. [20 marks] IB/M/Jun24/7192/2 5 IB/M/Jun24/7192/2 Topic A4 Work, Poverty and Welfare 1 0 Outline and explain two reasons why rates of unemployment vary between social groups. [10 marks] 1 1 Read Item G below and answer the question that follows. Item G Changes in technology have led to an increase in production lines. There have also been developments in information and communication technology (ICT). Changes in technology may affect skills required in the workplace. Applying material from Item G, analyse two ways that changes in technology may affect skills required in the workplace. [10 marks] 1 2 Read Item H below and answer the question that follows. Item H Functionalists suggest that poverty has various functions in society today. For example, one function is that the fear of poverty encourages people to work hard to achieve upward social mobility. They also argue that poverty is inevitable as some individuals lack the skills and work ethic to perform higher earning jobs. However, other sociologists argue that poverty is a source of conflict and the outcome of inequalities in the class structure. Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is functional and inevitable in society today. [20 marks] Turn over ► 6 Section B Choose one topic from this section and answer all the questions on that topic. Topic B1 Beliefs in Society 1 3 Outline and explain two ways in which social change may contribute to secularisation. [10 marks] 1 4 Read Item I below and answer the question that follows. Item I Ideologies can be oppressive forces that protect the interests of powerful groups in society. Ideologies can also inspire protest and social change. Religion may be seen as an ideology. Applying material from Item I, analyse two ways in which religion may be seen as an ideology. 1 5 Read Item J below and answer the question that follows. I