Access Sociology Theory & Methods

For this course the student should be able to:

1.                 Demonstrate an understanding of the  differences between the main sociological perspectives

2.                 Apply a variety of competing sociological perspectives to a substantive topic or issue

3.                 Recognise a variety of different sociological methods, an give examples of their use

4.                 Evaluate sociological methods according to a range of criteria

5.                 Demonstrate an understanding of sociological research methods

In key point one:

Sociological perspectives in model tests are: Functionalism

Y           New right

Y           Marxism

Y           Feminism

Y           Interactions

Y           Post-Modernism

Key point two:

Y            Persuasive account of selected topic or issue from at least two sociological perspectives, using appropriate terminology

Y            Evaluate perspectives and their applicability

Key point three:

Y            List a variety of methods which a sociologists use to gather data such as observation, participant observation, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups and secondary data

Y            Locate and summarise a range of actual sociological studies which between them have used at least four of the above methods

Key point three:

Y            Differentiate between Quantitative and qualitative data, and apply this to methods of data collection

Y            Evaluate data, according to criteria such as validity, replicability, objectivity and generalisabilty.

Y            Evaluate methods and research schedules according to practical considerations such as time, cost and expertise and according to ethical consideration

Key point five:

Y            Justify an area of sociological interest

Y            Plan a research schedule and justify its components