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OCR GCSE Sociology (J696) — legacy/withdrawn spec · Crime & deviance
Mini-Lesson

Crime & deviance

This mini-lesson covers crime and deviance: definitions, social control, functionalist (Durkheim, Merton, Cohen), interactionist (Becker) and Marxist theories, and the distribution of crime.

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.

Basics

Crime, deviance & social control

  • Crime breaks the law; deviance breaks norms and is relative.
  • Formal control (police, courts) vs informal control (family, peers).

Spec note (please read): OCR withdrew GCSE Sociology (J696); its final exams were in summer 2018 and it was not redeveloped for the current 9–1 GCSEs. This lesson teaches mainstream GCSE Sociology content that matches the old J696 topic. If you are sitting a current exam, check whether your school uses AQA or Eduqas instead.

Quick check

Crime or deviance?

?Talking loudly to yourself on a train breaks norms but no law. It is…
Functionalism

Functionalist theories

  • Durkheim: crime is functional (boundary maintenance); anomie.
  • Merton: strain theory. Cohen: status frustration → subcultures.
Sort it

Sort the theory

Tap a claim, then the perspective.

⚖️ Functionalist

🏭 Marxist

🏷️ Interactionist

Quick check

Whose theory?

?Who explained crime as strain between goals and legitimate means?
Labelling

Interactionism

  • Becker: deviance is a label. Master status; moral panics; deviancy amplification.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 250 reported offences, 180 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.
%
Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (180 ÷ 250) × 100.
Marxism

Marxist theories

  • Capitalism is criminogenic; selective law enforcement favours the powerful.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage change

✎Recorded thefts rose from 120 to 156 over ten years. Calculate the percentage increase. Give a whole number.
%
Hint: % change = (change ÷ start) × 100 = ((156 − 120) ÷ 120) × 100.
Match it

Match concept to theory

Tap a concept, then its theory.

Statement
Answer
Calculate

Your turn — response rate

✎A researcher posts 400 questionnaires and 260 are completed and returned. Calculate the response rate as a percentage. Give a whole number.
%
Hint: response rate = (returned ÷ sent) × 100 = (260 ÷ 400) × 100.
Statistics

Patterns & the dark figure

  • Offending peaks in the teens/twenties; more male offenders in stats.
  • The dark figure — unreported/unrecorded crime.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 500 crimes reported to police, 45 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.
%
Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (45 ÷ 500) × 100.
Quick check

Statistics

?The 'dark figure' of crime is crime that is…
Calculate

Your turn — sample size

✎A sampling frame lists 600 people. The researcher takes a one-in-five (1/5) sample. How many people are in the sample?
people
Hint: sample = 600 × 0.2.
Quick check

Social control

?Police, courts and prisons are examples of…
Recap

Crime & deviance — the big ideas

Definitions: crime (law) vs deviance (norms); formal + informal control

Functionalism: Durkheim, Merton, Cohen

Interactionism: Becker (labelling), moral panics

Marxism: criminogenic capitalism; selective enforcement; dark figure

You've covered crime and deviance. Press Finish.

🏆

Mini-lesson complete!

⭐⭐⭐

You've worked through Crime & Deviance for GCSE Sociology (OCR J696 legacy). 🎉

Your stars: 0 / 0

Next: test yourself in the Evaluate stage Confidence Quiz, then lock it in with Verify.

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