GCSE Sociology Introduction
- 1. GCSE Sociology Introduction •What is sociology? •Course structure •Some key terms
- 2. Learning Outcomes At the end of the session you will be able to: • Describe the features of a sociological approach to social issues. • Recognise the difference between sociology and other social sciences. • Discuss the potential impact of sociological research on people who introduce social policies.
- 3. Sources • AQA GCSE Sociology (2009) by Grahame Coates et al Nelson Thornes • Sociology GCSE for AQA (2010) by Wilson, P. & Kidd, A. Collins
- 4. What is Sociology? • Sociology is the study of the society in which we live. • It examines how we are influenced and shaped through being members of groups and organisations. It concentrates on: • the way we make society what it is, and • the way society makes us what we are.
- 6. Sociology • Very few of us live our lives on our own – we are all in regular contact with other people and we interact with other people in groups and in various organisations. • Take two minutes to list all the people, group you come into contact with.
- 7. Sociology • We are all members of groups such as families, peer groups and friendship groups and we will come into contact with organisations such as the: – school/college – workplace – church – legal system – political system – mass media
- 8. Sociology... ...examines the ways in which these forms of social structure: – groups, – organizations, – communities, – social categories (such as class, sex, age, or race), – various social institutions (such as family, economic, political, media or religious) ...affect human attitudes, actions, and opportunities.
- 9. Is asks us to question... For example: • Why is the number of years you can expect to live still associated with your occupation? • The way that your gender, religion, and ethnic background open up or close down opportunities in your life? • What kinds of spiritual faith do people have in Britain today? • How far do the media affect how personal lifestyle choices are viewed by wider society?
- 10. Question • Is it just gossip in a modern form? • Is it that it provides endless, easily obtained content for our multiplying TV channels, newspaper pages and magazines? • Could it be both? • Or even something much more profound about the class system of modern Britain? Do you wonder what fuels our apparent fixation with celebrity?
- 11. Sociology isn’t journalism! • Journalists ask similar questions to the ones we’ve just discussed – and like sociologists they carry out research; however sociology is different from journalism as: – Journalists’ research is less systematic – They are often biased or one sided in their reports – Sociological research is subject to peer review.
- 12. Sociology isn’t psychology! • Psychologists also study people, drawing on key concepts such as personality or aggression and using research techniques and experiments. • However, while psychologists focus on the behaviour of individuals, sociologists focus on group behaviour, social structures and social processes that influence us.
- 13. Sociology is a Social Science • Sociologists try their best to be objective in the work they do. They develop theories, do practical research, collect and analyse data. • In this way sociology is seen as a social science.
- 14. Social Policy • The work that sociologists do helps to ‘bring into the open’ some of the serious social issues that are challenging our society at any particular time. • They sometimes result in political discussions that lead to the development of social policy and sometimes to new laws that affect everyone. • Can you recall any changes in social policy that have taken place in the last few years?
- 15. Example • Debate, discussion and social research could consider the importance of good parenting. • This might lead to changes in paid maternity and paternity leave or might lead to changes in the tax and benefits system for families with young children.
- 16. Summary • Social science: the systematic study of society and of human relationships within society. • Social policy: important decisions made by the government that aim to improve the conditions of people living in their society.
- 17. Course Structure GCSE Sociology - Full Course
- 18. Unit 1 Exam Jan 2012: 1hr 30mins 1. Studying Society – culture, values, norms, roles, laws, socialization, social structures, research 2. Education – Why we have schools, measuring success/failure, different types of schooling, hidden curriculum, social class 3. Families – Different family structures, marriage and divorce, roles, social class
- 19. Unit 2 Exam June 2012: 1hr 30mins 1. Crime and Deviance – Difference between the two terms, measuring crime, explaining behaviour (biological/ psychological/ sociological), control. 2. Mass Media – What is it? Who owns it? How do we use it? Stereotypes. Impact. 3. Social Inequality – Social stratification, class societies, slavery, life chances, social mobility, gender and racial barriers, poverty.
- 20. Some Key Terms 1.1 Studying Society
- 21. Culture • Being a member of a society means that we all have something in common, and that common thread is our culture • It includes the laws, norms, values, roles, customs, beliefs and languages of a society. Culture is not the same everywhere and you can often see this by looking at food and diet For example, roasted guinea pig is enjoyed as a delicacy in Ecuador, while they are kept as family pets in the UK.
- 22. Laws & Norms • Our everyday behaviour is shaped and guided by a set of: – formal, written rules (laws) – and informal, unwritten rules (norms) ...that are special to our particular culture. • Breaking a law would lead to punishment; breaking a norm would be disapproved of.
- 23. Roles • We all perform a number of roles in our society. • These are special patterns of behaviour expected of people in different situations. • A teacher in front of a class will take on a completely different role from when she is interacting as a mother with her own children. • A group of students will behave differently when they are in the classroom, out with their friends or at home with their parents.
- 24. Values • To feel a part of the society in which we live there are likely to be a set of values that are shared by most members. • We all have beliefs about what is right and wrong, what is good and bad, what is important and not important and these form the basis of our values.
- 25. Activity • Work through the task on – “Living with the British”
- 26. Activity • With a partner, agree on and note down four norms that apply when: 1. Getting on a bus 2. At a party 3. In a doctor’s surgery 4. In a classroom
- 27. Class Contracts • What will be the norms and values of this group? – Be punctual – Attend – Respect – listen to each other, don’t speak over others, treat people the way you want to be treated – No eating or drinking – Manners – Don’t be stereotypical / don’t use stereotypical language – It’s OK to have your own opinion but it’s important to share it in a way that doesn’t offend others – Appreciate each others’ opinions or views – Be patient – Don’t use mobile phones / keep them on silent – Please speak up if you don’t understand something or if you don’t agree with something.
- 28. Homework • Questions – relating to content from Nelson Thornes textbook.