AQA A-Level Sociology | Paper 1 | 2027 Predicted Paper |Mark Scheme Methods in Context
Question 05: Methods in Context
Item C
Investigating patterns of school exclusion
Pupils may be excluded from school for a variety of reasons. Patterns of exclusion may differ between groups of pupils, and sociologists may be interested in whether factors such as social class, gender or ethnicity are associated with these patterns.
One way of investigating school exclusions is to use official statistics. These can provide quantitative data covering large numbers of pupils and may allow sociologists to identify patterns and changes over time. However, official statistics depend upon the categories and recording procedures used by organisations. They may provide limited information about the meanings and circumstances surrounding individual exclusions.
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge of research methods, evaluate the strengths and limitations of using official statistics to investigate patterns of school exclusion.
[20 marks]
What is expected?
Evaluate the strengths and limitations requires students to make a balanced assessment of how useful official statistics specifically would be for investigating patterns of school exclusion. For 20 marks, generic statements such as "official statistics are reliable" or "statistics lack validity" are not enough. The method needs to be continually applied to this particular educational issue.
Published Methods in Context mark schemes reserve the 17 to 20 mark band for conceptually detailed methodological knowledge that is applied accurately to the specific educational investigation, with explicit evaluation and clear analysis. The specification requires students to apply research methods to education and includes official statistics among the relevant sources of sociological data.
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