Sample SY2 answers analysed
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For simplicity, note that errors of spelling and grammar have mostly been removed, but
they are taken into account in marking scripts.
1a)
Using material from the item and elsewhere, explain the meaning of the term survey.
Answer A
A survey is a research method used by many sociologists. It consists of handing out
questionnaires or even interviews on a chosen sample of people. The survey used a
random sample of nearly 1800 people. Using a large sample makes it more
representative for the population which makes the data more valid.
AO1 – 3
AO2 – 1
Total 4/10
Answer B
The meaning of a survey is the breaking down of a topic into questions. A survey is a
quantitative method. There are different types of surveys such as structured interviews
which are a face to face conversation between an interviewer who asks the questions
and an interviewee who answers the questions. Another survey is postal
surveys/questionnaires where a topic has been broken down into questions and either
posted out or given out. Another survey is a longitudinal survey where a survey is taken
over a long period of time, e.g at 10 years old, 20 years old, 30 years old etc. This type of
survey is normally taken every ten years. These questions are normally asking about a
person, e.g. how many people live with you etc. A survey is questioning a group of
members from the population. Surveys generally look at groups such as age, class and
gender so on. This can be seen in a survey of the UK population. A survey is to find out
answers and details about the population and its members.
AO1 – 4
AO2 – 3
Total 7/10
1|June 2010 SY 2
1b)
With reference to the item and sociological studies, explain why different forms of
sampling are used in sociological research.
Answer C
Sampling is when a small or certain section of the population is chosen to study or to
research. There are many different types of sampling such as stratified sampling. This is
when every 5th, 10th or 20th name is selected from a list and they may form the sampling
frame. Random sampling is when a list of people is randomly assigned numbers.
Numbers are then drawn at random which creates the sample.
Snowball sampling is when a researcher finds a participant who fits the bill. They
are then asked to find another person who also does and so on.
Volunteer sampling is when advertisements and leaflets are published saying
what the research is about and people respond to the advert therefore volunteering to
participate. Quota sampling is when a certain section of the population is chosen, such
as gender, class or race.
The advantage of using sampling in research is that some samples are already
available such as the Household Survey or the Electoral Register. This saves a researcher
a huge amount of time.
Another advantage is that it is an easy way to gain participants. You do not have
to construct a huge and difficult way to select participants. Most sampling techniques
are easy to carry out and will not take a lot of time to complete.
The disadvantages of sampling techniques are that they could generate a biased
sample for example it is hard to control for class differences of the people asked for
directions. Also, quota sampling cannot be applied to the rest of the population as it
only represents that certain group. Random sampling may not provide the researcher
with a varied group of people, therefore halting the process.
Another advantage of sampling techniques is that they can provide statistical
data of a certain type of section of the population therefore making it easy to compare
with other data.
Another disadvantage would be that only by producing statistical data, it lacks
detailed explanations and reasons.
In my opinion, sampling techniques such as random and volunteer sampling are
easy to carry out and random sampling usually provides a general selection of the
population
AO1 – 8
AO2 – 6
Total 14/10
2|June 2010 SY 2
4b)
Discuss the extent to which the media promote gender stereotypes.
The media promotes gender stereotypes. This would be the view of the Marxistfeminists. Marxist feminists say that women are oppressed still by men so society is still
very patriarchal. This would mean that women still conform to gender stereotypes such
as the female being seen as the victim and the male seen as the aggressor. This is
exemplified in Tuchman’s 1978 study. Tuchman said that women are being marginalised
in society and have a limited range of social and media roles allocated to them whereas
men have the choice to have whatever role in society that they want.
The view that the media promotes gender stereotypes would also be the view
held by the neo-Marxists. The neo-Marxists believe that women prepare men for work
in society. Without the woman, the man would not be able to work properly. The media
creates gender stereotypes in order to make profits, and so women are seen as sex
objects. For example, page 3 girls modelling. In our society, sex sells so the media
creates stereotypes in order to get their money. However, this means that women have
to commit to Naomi Wolf’s theory of the ‘beauty myth’. This means that women are
judged on their attractiveness to men. For example, a female news reader will lose her
job as soon as she gets older whereas male news readers can carry on no matter how
old they are.
The liberal-feminists would not really agree with the idea that the media creates
gender stereotypes because liberal feminists say that times have changed. Women have
been given increasing and the same opportunities as men in society. For example, the
television programme, The Apprentice, has both males and females competing for the
same high profile jobs and both genders have won.
However the media does promote gender stereotypes for both males and
females but change has taken place. It would not be socially acceptable to show
attitudes from the past.
Men are also under pressure to conform to their gender stereotypes. This is
known as conforming to hegemonic masculinity. This is the stereotype that men have to
conform to. The stereotype is that all men are strong, intelligent, and rugged and it is
not socially acceptable to be anything else. This was pointed out in Bob Connell’s study.
However, over time, this view of Bob Connell’s hegemonic masculinity has
changed. As Frank Mort says, men have also become more feminised with the huge
ranges of beauty products and cosmetics which have been specifically designed for men.
This could mean that there are no long any gender stereotypes which could mean that
society has become less interested in the stereotypes of gender which have been
3|June 2010 SY 2
painted by the media. Men and women are now viewed on equal levels. This is known
as gender convergence.
In today’s post modern society, gender and gender stereotypes are not
important. In society, style is more important than conforming to old, outdated
stereotypes. As shown in Sarah Thornton’s study on Manchester club culture, Thornton
found that in music class, gender and ethnicity boundaries have blurred and converged
together. Things such as gender stereotypes are not necessary any more in society. The
media therefore promote gender stereotypes but they are not as important in society
and so they are not important in some forms of media.
AO1 – 20
AO2 – 20
Total 40/40
4|June 2010 SY 2