Specification points

Cambridge Cambridge O Level Sociology 2251

107 points in 6 topics, with Cambridge's codes and titles.

Grade boundaries·Cambridge command words

Codes and titles are read by a script from Cambridge's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: Cambridge’s specification.

1 Research Methods

1.1 How do sociologists approach the study of society?
1.1.1 The positivist approach
1.1.2 The interpretivist approach
1.1.3 Approaches that combine different research methods and evidence
1.1.4 The analysis and evaluation of research choices
1.2 What types of data and evidence do sociologists use?
1.2.1 Sources of data
1.2.2 Secondary evidence
1.2.3 Analysis, interpretation and evaluation of data from qualitative and quantitative sources
1.3 How do sociologists investigate society?
1.3.1 The stages in research design
1.3.2 Sampling
1.3.3 Quantitative and qualitative primary research methods
1.3.4 Types of question
1.3.5 The theoretical and practical issues affecting research
1.3.6 Ethical issues affecting research

2 Identity: self and society

2.1 How do we learn our identity?
2.1.1 Society as a social construction
2.1.2 The social construction of our identity
2.1.3 Primary and secondary socialisation
2.1.4 Processes used by agencies of socialisation
2.1.5 The debate between sociological perspectives and theories on socialisation
2.2 How does society control us?
2.2.1 Social control
2.2.2 The debate between consensus and conflict views of social control
2.2.3 The effectiveness of agencies of formal social control
2.2.4 Methods of control used by formal agencies in achieving social conformity
2.2.5 The effectiveness of agencies of informal social control
2.2.6 Methods of control used by informal agencies in achieving social conformity
2.2.7 Resistance to social control through protest groups and sub-cultures
2.3 What influences our social identity?
2.3.1 Social identity
2.3.2 The digital self and online identities
2.3.3 Globalisation
2.3.4 Postmodernist views of identity as chosen rather than given

3 Social stratification and inequality

3.1 What is social stratification?
3.1.1 Social stratification in open and closed societies
3.1.2 Differences in life chances affected by age, gender, ethnicity and social class
3.1.3 Intersectionality and inequality
3.1.4 Different sociological theories on social inequality
3.2 What attempts have been made to reduce social inequalities?
3.2.1 The use of legislation within societies to reduce inequality
3.2.2 The development and impact of welfare states on life chances
3.2.3 The global work of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to reduce inequalities
3.2.4 Sociological views of the success of attempts to reduce social inequalities
3.3 How has globalisation affected inequalities between societies?
3.3.1 The impact of migration on societies
3.3.2 The impact of global ecological issues on societies
3.3.3 Sociological explanations for global inequalities

4 Family

4.1 What are the different types of families?
4.1.1 Different family structures
4.1.2 Variations and diversity in the family
4.1.3 Sociological views on family diversity
4.1.4 Alternatives to the family
4.1.5 Variations in types of marriage
4.2 What is the role of the family for the individual and society?
4.2.1 Functionalist views
4.2.2 Marxist views
4.2.3 Feminist views
4.2.4 Functionalist, Marxist and feminist views of the family
4.2.5 Is family life positive or negative
4.3 How is family life changing?
4.3.1 Demographic factors and their effects on family life
4.3.2 The impact of industrialisation and urbanisation on family structures and roles
4.3.3 Explanations of changing patterns and trends in marriage, divorce and cohabitation
4.3.4 Alternatives to marriage
4.3.5 Changing family roles

5 Education

5.1 What is education and schooling?
5.1.1 Formal and informal education
5.1.2 Different types of schools
5.1.3 Alternative approaches to education
5.2 What are the roles and functions of education?
5.2.1 The functionalist view
5.2.2 The Marxist view
5.2.3 The feminist view
5.3 What factors help to explain differences in educational achievement and experience?
5.3.1 Patterns in educational achievement and experience
5.3.2 Explanations for differences in educational achievement and experience based on social class
5.3.3 Explanations for differences in educational achievement and experience based on ethnicity
5.3.4 Explanations for differences in educational achievement and experience based on gender
5.3.5 Global differences in educational achievement and experience
5.3.6 Explanations for differences in educational achievement

6 Crime, deviance and social control

6.1 What are crime, deviance and social control?
6.1.1 The difference between crime and deviance
6.1.2 Formal social control
6.1.3 Informal social control
6.1.4 Effectiveness of social control
6.1.5 Different types and examples of crimes
6.1.6 Measuring crime
6.2 What are the patterns of and explanations for crime and deviance?
6.2.1 Patterns of crime and victimisation
6.2.2 Explanations for crime and deviance based on age
6.2.3 Explanations for crime and deviance based on ethnicity
6.2.4 Explanations for crime and deviance based on gender
6.2.5 Explanations for crime and deviance based on social class
6.2.6 Sociological theories on crime and deviance
6.2.7 Strengths and limitations of the different explanations for crime and deviance
6.3 How is crime dealt with in different societies?
6.3.1 Aims of punishment
6.3.2 The effectiveness of different types of punishment
6.3.3 The effectiveness of policing and law enforcement