Cambridge IGCSE Sociology: every topic, by paper

What is sociology?

The study of society, social groups and how people's behaviour is shaped by social structures and relationships.

What is a social structure?

The organised pattern of institutions and relationships in society, such as the family, education and the economy.

What is functionalism?

A consensus perspective seeing society as a system of parts (institutions) that work together to keep society stable, based on shared norms and values.

What is primary data?

Data collected by the researcher for their own study, such as questionnaires or interviews.

What is secondary data?

Data already collected by someone else, such as official statistics or documents.

What is quantitative data?

Numerical data that can be counted and shown in tables and graphs.

What is a questionnaire?

A list of written questions answered by respondents, often with closed questions.

What is the difference between closed and open questions?

Closed questions have fixed answers and give quantitative data; open questions let respondents answer in their own words and give qualitative data.

Give one strength and one weakness of postal or online questionnaires.

Strength: reach many people cheaply and anonymously. Weakness: low response rates and no chance to explain questions.

What is culture?

The shared way of life of a group, including its norms, values, language, beliefs and customs.

What is socialisation?

The process of learning the norms and values of society.

What is primary socialisation?

Socialisation in early childhood, mainly by the family.

What is social stratification?

The division of society into layers (strata) with unequal wealth, power and status.

What is social class?

A form of stratification based on economic factors such as occupation, income and wealth.

What is social mobility?

Movement of people up or down the social class structure.

What is a nuclear family?

A family of two parents and their dependent children living together.

What is an extended family?

A family that includes relatives beyond the nuclear family, such as grandparents, aunts or cousins.

What is a lone-parent family?

A family of one parent and their dependent children.

What are conjugal roles?

The roles of husband and wife (or partners) in the home.

What are segregated conjugal roles?

Partners have separate roles, e.g. the man as breadwinner and the woman as housewife.

What are joint conjugal roles?

Partners share tasks, decisions and leisure more equally.

What is formal education?

Learning in official institutions, such as schools, with a set curriculum and qualifications.

What is informal education?

Learning outside official institutions, such as from family, friends and the media.

What is the functionalist view of education?

Education passes on shared values (secondary socialisation), teaches skills and sorts people into jobs by ability (role allocation).

What is crime?

Behaviour that breaks the law and can be punished by the state.

What is deviance?

Behaviour that breaks the norms of society, which may or may not be illegal.

Why is deviance relative?

What counts as deviant depends on the time, place and situation; e.g. drinking alcohol is normal in some cultures but deviant in others.

What is the mass media?

Forms of communication that reach large audiences, such as television, newspapers, radio, films and the internet.

What is new media?

Digital, interactive media such as the internet, social media and streaming services.

Give three differences between new and traditional media.

New media is digital, interactive and user-generated, available anywhere, anytime, while traditional media is one-way and scheduled.