CAIE A Level 9699

Sociology 2023 · Oct/Nov · Paper 12

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7 Questions Q&A Available
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This CAIE A Level Sociology paper focuses on core areas of social identity, deviance, and research methods, with questions on working-class identity, age and identity, positivism, structured interviews, social resistance, and group interviews. Students can expect a mix of short-answer “describe” and “explain” questions, followed by longer evaluative essays that require balanced arguments, sociological evidence, and clear judgement; there are no calculations, but there is a strong emphasis on precise sociological knowledge and application.…

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Questions & Model Answers 7 Qs

Q1
Short Answer 4 marks
Describe two features of working-class identity.
Working-class identity may be based on shared experiences of manual or low-paid work, which can create a sense of common interests and solidarity.
This is a valid feature because class identity is often shaped by occupation and shared economic position.
Working-class identity may involve values such as collectivism, loyalty to family and community, and a stronger sense of belonging to a local group.
These are commonly cited sociological features of working-class identity.
Q2a
Short Answer 8 marks
Explain two features of the positivist approach to sociological research.
Positivists believe sociology should use scientific methods similar to those used in the natural sciences, such as observation, measurement and hypothesis testing.
A key feature of positivism is the use of scientific, systematic methods.
Positivists aim to produce objective and reliable data that can identify patterns, causes and general laws of social behaviour.
Positivism seeks objective knowledge and generalisable explanations.
Q2b
Short Answer 6 marks
Explain two limitations of structured interviews as a research method.
Structured interviews may lack flexibility because the interviewer must follow a fixed schedule, so they cannot easily explore unexpected answers in depth.
This limits the depth and richness of the data collected.
Responses may be less valid because the format can encourage brief or socially desirable answers, and the interviewer may influence how respondents answer.
Structured interviews can reduce validity if respondents do not give fully honest or detailed answers.
Q3a
Structured 10 marks
'The main cause of deviant behaviour is social resistance.' Explain this view.
This view argues that deviance is often a response to inequality, oppression or exclusion. People may break rules because they resist the power of dominant groups or reject norms that they see as unfair.
The explanation should show how deviance can be understood as resistance to social control or domination.
For example, subcultures may develop deviant behaviour as a form of protest against mainstream values, such as rejecting school authority, consumer culture or middle-class expectations.
This links deviance to collective resistance and subcultural responses.
Marxist and neo-Marxist approaches may argue that working-class deviance reflects resistance to capitalist exploitation, while labelling theory suggests that some deviance is a reaction to being labelled and controlled by authorities.
These sociological perspectives support the idea that deviance can be caused by resistance.
Q3b
Short Answer 6 marks
Using sociological material, give one argument against this view.
One argument against this view is that deviant behaviour may be caused by socialisation into deviant norms and values rather than resistance. For example, some people learn criminal behaviour through association with deviant peers or family members.
This challenges the idea that resistance is the main cause by offering an alternative explanation based on learning.
Sutherland's differential association theory suggests that deviance is learned through interaction with others, so deviant behaviour can result from exposure to pro-crime attitudes rather than opposition to social control.
This is a clear sociological argument against the view.
Q4
Essay 26 marks
Evaluate the view that age is the most important influence on a person's identity.
A strong answer would assess the extent to which age shapes identity through life stages, generational experiences and age-related expectations, while also considering other influences such as class, gender, ethnicity, family, education and media.
This is the expected focus of the evaluation question.
Q5
Essay 26 marks
Evaluate the use of group interviews in sociological research.
A strong answer would evaluate group interviews in terms of their strengths, such as generating rich data and interaction between participants, and their limitations, such as dominance by some participants, lack of confidentiality and possible reduced validity.
This captures the main evaluative issues for group interviews.
Paper Details
Board CAIE
Level A Level
Subject Sociology
Code 9699
Year 2023
Session Oct/Nov
Paper No. Paper 12
Q&A 7 questions
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