Research
Project
Your task is to develop an understanding of the nature
of British society through researching the life stories of
two people who, in the last century, have changed
some part of British society.
Having researched the life stories of two people you
will then use sociological concepts to analyse what the
lives of these two people tell us about British society.
The purpose of this task is to evaluate the usefulness
of the sociological concepts and perspectives we will
use throughout the Sociology course.
The police force
Consumerism
Homosexuality
Masculinity
Religion
Child welfare
Women’s
rights
Political
protest
Domestic
violence
Festival culture
Youth culture
The legal system
Aspects of society and the
people you can use to
illustrate them.
1. The police force and British society
From Blair Peach
2.
to
Ian Tomlinson
Consumerism and British society
From Mary Quant
to Anita Roddick
3. Homosexuality and British society
From Alan Turing
to Peter Tatchell
4. Youth culture and British society
From John Lydon
to Dizzie Rascal
5. Festivals and British society
From Claudia Jones
to Michael Eaves
6. Masculinity and British society
From Vinnie Jones
to Pete Andre
7. Religion and British society
From Christina Rees
to Zaki Badawi
8. Child welfare and British society
From Neil Morrissey
to Baby P
9. The legal system and British society
From David Chaytor
to Jordan Blackshaw
10. Women’s rights and British society
From the Ford, Dagenham strikers
to Caroline Lucas
11. Political protest and British society
From Greenham Common Peace camp
to Alan Lake and the EDF
12. Domestic violence and British society
From Sherly Gascogne to
to Kerry Katona
13. Corporations and British society
From Richard Branson
to Levi Roots
14. Trade unionism and British society
From Arthur Scargill
to Bob Crow
15. Social Justice and British society
From Betty Williams
to Shami Chakrabarti
Notes
Examines how society
is based on shared
experiences which act
like a ‘social glue’.
1.
Functionalism
Contrasting
Viewpoints
2. Marxism
Examines how society
is shaped by class
inequalities and class
conflict.
Examines how women
are disadvantaged by
men’s dominance of
the economy, culture
and politics.
3. Feminism
Contrasting
Viewpoints
4. Postmodernism
Examines how
individuals are faced
with choices and
risks when deciding
on how to shape
their own identity.
Twelve concepts
1. Social solidarity
A sense of togetherness; whereby
members of society share similar values
and expectations about social life.
2. Value consensus
A general agreement about what
are the things of worth in society.
3. Interdependence
A state of balance between parts of
the social system. A change in
one institution will lead to changes
elsewhere.
4. Meritocracy
Society rewards individuals who
have talent and who work hard to
develop that talent.
5. Ruling Class
The group who have a powerful
influence over the rest of society.
Also known as the aristocracy or
bourgeoisie.
6. Class conflict
Beneath the surface of society
there is an ongoing struggle
between two groups because of
opposing interests.
7. Exploitation
Achieved by forcing the working
class to work beyond what is
necessary for survival and then
taking the excess profit from them.
8. Ideology
A set of beliefs which serve the interests
of the dominant group in society. Media
and schools disseminate these beliefs
as right and natural.
9. Patriarchy
Feminist sociologists claim that
society is built on male domination
and that men benefit from the
exploitation of women
10. Dark side of the family
Evidence shows that the lives of
many families are scarred by
domestic violence, child abuse and
poverty. All too often this is hidden
from public view.
11. ‘Pick and mix’ identity
Postmodern sociologists argue
that individuals have limitless
choice over how to shape their
identity
12. Risk and uncertainty
Postmodern sociologists argue
that the loss of traditional values
creates anxiety and leaves the
individual with a sense of
rootlessness.
Notes
In A level Sociology there are certain themes that we will
look at again and again. One theme is;
1. Social Conflict
Many sociologists argue that opportunities to participate
in society are not equally shared.
Vast differences in wealth shape, for better or for
worse, fundamental aspects of peoples lives in
Britain today – from which school you attend, the
job you have and even how long you live.
This viewpoint sees
society shaped by
social conflict.
A second theme is;
2. Social consensus
On the other hand, many other sociologists argue that
there is a ‘social glue’ which holds society together.
Families, schools and religion all work together to
promote a general agreement about the things of
worth in Britain today – values such as tolerance,
equality, freedom and cooperation.
This viewpoint sees
society shaped by
social consensus.
Your presentation to the class must include the following
four headings;
Life Stories
Your introduction should include a basic biography of the
two people.
Aspect of British Society
Provide a context so the audience understands the role
your chosen ‘institution’ plays in British society.
Sociological Concepts
You will need to identify and define two or three relevant
concepts that help you make sense of your life stories.
The nature of British society
Having researched the life stories you will then need to come to
a conclusion about what these two people tell us about
British society – is it based on social conflict or social
cohesion or do we live in a ‘pick n mix’ culture?
Step 1
Select your life stories
They are: __________________________________
__________________________________
Step 2
Focus on one aspect of British society
This is: _______________________________
Step 3
Identify two or three relevant sociological concepts that will
help you explain what the life stories tell us about British
society.
They are: ________________________________________
________________________________________
Step 4
Pick a broader theme that you think your life stories will
illustrate.
The broader theme is: _____________________________
Life Stories
Stephen Lawrence
Bobby Sands
Died in prison in Northern
Ireland following a hunger
strike. He was a member
of the IRA.
This young black youth was
murdered whilst waiting for a
bus by a white gang. The
police investigation into his
murder was so poorly
organised and given so little
priority that the police were
labelled ‘institutionally racist’.
Aspect of British Society - Social Injustice
1,817 deaths in police custody in the last 10
years. In five of these cases there has been a
conviction of a police officer.
No office has served a prison sentence
Sociological Concepts
Conflict – in Britain there is long history of struggle for basic
human rights.
Ideology – the mass media often ignore and even
misreport the problems faced by many communities
across British society.
The nature of British society
The life stories of these two people suggest that British
society is .... based on social conflict rather than social
cohesion.
In both cases the individuals experienced oppression and
injustice and paid the price of inequality with their lives.
Bobby Sands felt that the Catholic community in
Northern Ireland was being denied basic human rights of
equality, respect and dignity.
Stephen Lawrence was denied justice because the
police officers leading the investigation saw him as ‘just
another dead black kid’.
In conclusion it can be argued that .... the Marxist view
of society as being based on inequality and exploitation is
more valid and useful ... than the functionalist view of
society as being based on a sense of togetherness and
shared values.