Assessment overview

Students must complete all question papers (01, 02 and 03) to be awarded the OCR A Level in Sociology.

* Indicates the inclusion of synoptic assessment.

Content overview

Sociology focuses on the study of social life and how our environment shapes our futures. Looking at how society is organised and how humans experience their lives, helps students to be able to question why our world is as it is.

Component 1: Socialisation, culture and identity

Introduces learners to the key themes of socialisation, culture and identity.

Learners will also study one out of the following sociology options:

Families and relationships

• How are family life and relationships changing?
• To what extent are roles and relationships within families and households changing?

Youth subcultures

• How are youth subcultures formed? Why do they develop?
• Why do some young people participate in deviant subcultures?

Media

• How are different social groups represented in the media?
• What effect do the media have on audiences?

Component 2: Researching and understanding social inequalities

Learners will need to be familiar with research methods and researching/understanding social inequalities. This will include the relationship between theories and methods, the main stages of the research process, methods used in sociological research, and patterns and trends in social inequality and difference.

Component 3: Debates in contemporary society

Learners will study globalisation and the digital social world and one of the following options:

Crime and deviance

• How are crime and deviance defined and measured in the UK?
• What are the patterns and trends in crime?
• How can crime and deviance be explained and reduced?

Education

• What is the role of education in society?
• What are the patterns and trends of educational inequalities?
• How can differential educational achievement and experiences be explained?
• How has the UK education system changed?

Religion, belief and faith

• How are religion, belief and faith defined and measured?
• What is the role of religion, belief and faith in contemporary society?
• What are the patterns and trends of religion, belief and faith?
• Is secularisation occurring?

Assessment overview

Students must complete both components (01 and 02) to be awarded the OCR AS Level in Sociology.

* Indicates the inclusion of synoptic assessment.

Content overview

Component 1: Socialisation, culture and identity

Introduces learners to the key themes of socialisation, culture and identity.

Learners will also study one out of the following sociology options:

Families and relationships

• How are family life and relationships changing?
• To what extent are roles and relationships within families and households changing?

Youth subcultures

• How are youth subcultures formed? Why do they develop?
• Why do some young people participate in deviant subcultures?

Media

• How are different social groups represented in the media?
• What effect do the media have on audiences?

Component 2: Researching and understanding social inequalities

Learners will need to be familiar with research methods and researching/understanding social inequalities. This will include the relationship between theories and methods, the main stages of the research process, methods used in sociological research, and patterns and trends in social inequality and difference.