NZQA registered unit standard
8991 version 3
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Title
Evaluate sociological theories
Level
3
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to evaluate
sociological theories.
Classification
Social Science Studies > Sociology
Available grade
Achieved, Merit, and Excellence
Criteria for Merit
Evaluate sociological theories in detail.
Criteria for Excellence
Comprehensively evaluate sociological theories.
Explanatory notes
1
Sociology is the rigorous and methodical study of society. Sociologists investigate
the structure of groups, organisations, and societies, and how people interact in
these contexts.
2
This unit standard can be awarded with an Achieved, Merit, or Excellence grade as
specified below.
Evaluate sociological theories means to form a critical opinion, based on reason and
evidence, of the usefulness of at least two sociological theories. The evaluation will
explain the key concepts of the theories; explain how the theories are applied to an
aspect(s) of society; and identify strengths and weaknesses of the theories.
Evaluate sociological theories in detail means to: analyse and compare the theories
in detail; apply the theories to an aspect(s) of society; and evaluate the theories in
terms of their relative strengths and weaknesses.
Comprehensively evaluate sociological theories means to present a coherent,
perceptive analysis, comparison and evaluation of the theories which are applied to
an aspect(s) of society.
3
Definition
A sociological theory is a body of ideas that attempts to explain the structure of
groups, organisations, and societies, and how people interact in these contexts.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
NZQA registered unit standard
4
8991 version 3
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Assessment support material related to this unit standard can be found at
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/assessment-andmoderation/assessment-of-standards/assessment-support-material/.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Evaluate sociological theories.
Range
at least two theories are required.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Sociological theories are evaluated in terms of their key concepts, their
strengths and weaknesses, and their application to an aspect(s) of society.
Range
same aspect(s) for each theory.
Planned review date
31 December 2018
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
6 December 1996
31 December 2015
Revision
2
7 July 1999
31 December 2015
Review
3
22 August 2014
N/A
0119
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
NZQA registered unit standard
8991 version 3
Page 3 of 3
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014