A-level SOCIOLOGY Paper 2 Topics in Sociology

A-level SOCIOLOGY Paper 2 Topics in Sociology Tuesday 4 June 2024 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours Materials For this paper you must have: • an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions • Use black ink or black ball-point pen. • 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. Section A Choose one topic from this section and answer all the questions on that topic. Topic A1 Culture and Identity Outline and explain two reasons why gender may affect consumption choices. [10 marks] 0 2 Read Item A below and answer the question that follows. Item A 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] Topic A2 Families and Households 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 ► Topic A3 Health 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] Topic A4 Work, Poverty and Welfare 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 ► Section B Choose one topic from this section and answer all the questions on that topic. Topic B1 Beliefs in Society 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. [10 marks] 1 5 Read Item J below and answer the question that follows. Item J Globalisation refers to the increased interconnectedness of the world involving technological and cultural changes. Postmodernists suggest that this has changed the ways in which we interact with religious organisations, as well as allowing new types of beliefs to emerge. However, other sociologists disagree and believe that globalisation has resulted in the rise of religious fundamentalism. It is also claimed that the process of globalisation has led to the decline of religious belief in some areas. Applying material from Item J and your knowledge, evaluate sociological views on the relationship between religion and globalisation. [20 marks] Topic B2 Global Development Outline and explain two ways in which industrialisation may affect employment in developing countries. [10 marks] 1 7 Read Item K below and answer the question that follows. Item K Most transnational corporations (TNCs) need raw materials and resources to produce goods. They are not usually concerned with what happens to the goods after they have been sold. TNCs may harm the environment. Applying material from Item K, analyse two ways that transnational corporations may harm the environment. [10 marks] 1 8 Read Item L below and answer the question that follows. Item L There are gender differences in the experience of development and underdevelopment. For example, the process of development often provides women with more opportunities for education, better health and paid employment. Early theories of development, such as modernisation theory, often saw gender issues as unimportant. However, feminists have emphasised that gender is central to development and underdevelopment. Applying material from Item L and your knowledge, evaluate sociological views of gender differences in the experience of development and underdevelopment. [20 marks] Turn over ► Topic B3 The Media Outline and explain two ways in which the ownership and control of the media may have been affected by the growth of the new media. [10 marks] 2 0 Read Item M below and answer the question that follows. Item M There is now a very wide range of different media available. The media may also be less trusted sources of information than they used to be. The media may not always have a direct influence on their audiences. Applying material from Item M, analyse two reasons why the media may not always have a direct influence on their audiences. [10 marks] 2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N Some sociologists suggest the media have often presented stereotypical representations of social classes. For example, working class people are often represented negatively in comparison to other social classes. Marxists suggest the ruling class use the media to present ideas that suit their interests. However, others argue that new media platforms are being used to challenge stereotypes presented by the mass media. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of the ways in which the media represent people from different social classes. [20 marks]