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AQA GCSE Sociology (8192) · 3.1 The sociological approach
Mini-Lesson

Sociological theories & approaches

This mini-lesson covers AQA's sociological approach (Topic 3.1) and the key perspectives that run through the whole course: functionalism, Marxism, feminism and interactionism, plus core ideas like culture, socialisation, norms, values and the structure–action debate.

Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Some questions are multiple-choice, some are sort-and-match games, and a few use simple research-methods maths (percentages and sample figures). Press Start when you're ready.

Approach · core concepts

The sociological approach

  • Culture — the whole way of life of a society: its norms (rules of behaviour), values (shared beliefs about what matters), customs and roles.
  • Socialisation — how we learn culture. Primary socialisation (family, early years) and secondary socialisation (school, peers, media, religion, workplace).
  • Nature vs nurture — sociologists stress nurture: 'feral child' cases show how much behaviour is learned, not instinctive.
Quick check

Key term

?The shared rules of behaviour in a society — like queuing or not talking loudly in a library — are called…
Approach · consensus vs conflict

Consensus vs conflict theories

  • Consensus theory — functionalism. Society is like a body of interlinked institutions working together; a value consensus holds it together. Associated with Durkheim and Parsons.
  • Conflict theory — Marxism. Society is divided by class conflict between the bourgeoisie and proletariat (Marx).
  • Conflict theory — feminism. Society is divided by patriarchy; strands include liberal, Marxist and radical feminism.
Sort it

Sort the perspective

Tap a claim, then the perspective it belongs to.

🤝 Functionalism

🏭 Marxism

♀ Feminism

Quick check

Consensus or conflict?

?A perspective sees society as held together by a shared value consensus, with institutions working like organs of a body. This is…
Approach · interactionism

Interactionism & the structure–action debate

  • Structural theories (functionalism, Marxism, feminism) are top-down: society shapes individuals.
  • Interactionism (interpretivism) is bottom-up: it focuses on small-scale interactions and the meanings people give to situations (e.g. labelling).
  • This is the structure vs action debate: are we shaped by society, or do we shape it through our actions?
Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 200 students who preferred qualitative studies, 90 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.
%
Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (90 ÷ 200) × 100.
Approach · feminism strands

Strands of feminism

  • Liberal feminists — want gradual reform and equal opportunities; optimistic 'march of progress'.
  • Marxist feminists — link women's oppression to capitalism (unpaid domestic labour benefits the system).
  • Radical feminists — see patriarchy as the fundamental division and often the family as central to it.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage change

✎The percentage of managers who are women in a firm (index) rose from 40 to 62 over ten years. Calculate the percentage increase. Give a whole number.
%
Hint: % change = (change ÷ start) × 100 = ((62 − 40) ÷ 40) × 100.
Match it

Match the perspective to its core idea

Tap a perspective, then its core idea.

Statement
Answer
Calculate

Your turn — response rate

✎A researcher posts 600 questionnaires and 456 are completed and returned. Calculate the response rate as a percentage. Give a whole number.
%
Hint: response rate = (returned ÷ sent) × 100 = (456 ÷ 600) × 100.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 350 respondents who identified as conflict theorists, 84 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.
%
Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (84 ÷ 350) × 100.
Quick check

Whose approach?

?Which approach is 'bottom-up', focusing on small-scale interactions and the meanings people attach to situations?
Calculate

Your turn — sample size

✎A sampling frame lists 1000 people. The researcher takes a one-in-ten (1/10) sample. How many people are in the sample?
people
Hint: sample = 1000 × 0.1.
Quick check

Feminism strand

?Which feminist strand argues women's unpaid domestic labour mainly benefits capitalism?
Recap

Theories & approaches — the big ideas

Core concepts: culture, norms, values, roles; primary & secondary socialisation; nurture over nature

Consensus: functionalism (Durkheim, Parsons) — value consensus, organic analogy

Conflict: Marxism (class conflict) · feminism (patriarchy: liberal, Marxist, radical)

Structure vs action: top-down structural theories vs bottom-up interactionism

You've covered AQA's sociological approach and key theories. Press Finish to see your score.

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