Modernity | AQA A-Level Sociology

For Specification 7192

AQA A-Level Sociology | Free Revision Notes

Estimated study time: 30 minutes

exam questions by topic 👇

Modernity is part of the compulsory Theory and Methods content in AQA A-Level Sociology. This Modernity A-Level Sociology revision page examines where the concept fits within sociological theory and how it relates to attempts to understand contemporary society. The lesson follows debates about social action [Social action theories] and prepares you for the contrasting concept of post-modernity [Post-modernity]. AQA specifically requires students to examine the concepts of modernity and post-modernity in relation to sociological theory.

Learning Objectives 🎯

By the end of this revision page, you should be able to:

• Explain where the concept of modernity fits within AQA's sociological theory requirements.

• Explain the relationship between modernity and sociological theory at the level required by the supplied specification.

• Examine how theories of modern society can be connected to substantive sociological issues.

• Compare the theoretical study of modernity with the study of post-modernity.

• Apply ideas about modernity to the study of contemporary society.

• Evaluate the usefulness of modernity as a theoretical concept within the limits of the supplied source material.

Revision Notes 📚

Modernity A-Level Sociology revision: what AQA requires

In Theory and Methods, AQA requires students to examine:

• consensus, conflict, structural and social action theories

• the concepts of modernity and post-modernity in relation to sociological theory

• the nature of science and whether Sociology can be regarded as scientific

• the relationship between theory and methods

• subjectivity, objectivity and value freedom

• Sociology and social policy.

The revision plan separates modernity and post-modernity into two lessons.

For Modernity, the learning objectives are to:

• explain the concept of modernity in relation to sociological theory

• examine how sociological theory interprets modern society

• evaluate the usefulness of modernity for understanding contemporary society.

This makes modernity part of the wider theoretical task of explaining the nature of society.

What does AQA mean by modernity?

The specification explicitly names modernity as a concept students must examine in relation to sociological theory.

Modernity and sociological theory

Modernity does not appear in isolation in the specification. It follows four broad theoretical categories:

• consensus theories

• conflict theories

• structural theories

• social action theories.

The revision sequence therefore moves from different approaches to explaining society and behaviour towards broader theoretical questions about the nature of society itself.

You should already have considered:

• consensus explanations [Consensus theories]

• conflict explanations [Conflict theories]

• structural explanations [Structural theories]

• social action explanations [Social action theories].

Modernity adds another theoretical question:

Modernity and contemporary society

AQA places strong emphasis on contemporary society throughout the Sociology specification.

The central focus of the course should be on UK society today, while also considering:

• comparative dimensions where relevant

• the position of UK society within a globalised context.

This makes the question of whether modernity is useful for understanding contemporary society especially important.

When evaluating modernity, students can therefore frame their thinking around questions such as:

1. Does the concept help sociologists interpret contemporary UK society?

2. Can it be applied to the social processes and changes studied elsewhere in the course?

3. How does it compare with the concept of post-modernity?

4. Does the concept help explain evidence from substantive sociological topics?

5. What judgement can be reached about its usefulness?

These questions provide an exam-focused framework without adding unsupported substantive theory.

Modernity and social change

AQA states that Sociology should develop students' understanding of:

• contemporary social processes

• social changes

• theoretical and conceptual issues in sociological debate.

The concept of modernity therefore sits within a wider concern with how sociologists understand societies and social change.

When considering modernity, it is useful to distinguish two questions:

What is happening in society?

and

How should sociological theory interpret what is happening?

The second question is the central theoretical issue.

Modernity is therefore not simply a descriptive label to memorise. Students need to understand its role in sociological interpretation.

Modernity and post-modernity

The specification pairs the concepts of:

• modernity

• post-modernity.

They should therefore be studied in relation to one another.

The next lesson, post-modern society [Post-modernity], requires students to examine claims about changes in contemporary society and evaluate post-modern interpretations.

Concept	Requirement in the revision plan
Modernity	Explain modernity in relation to sociological theory and examine how theory interprets modern society.
Post-modernity	Explain post-modernity, examine claims about changes in contemporary society and evaluate post-modern interpretations.
Comparison	Consider how different theoretical interpretations help explain contemporary society.

⚠️ The supplied specification does not provide detailed differences between modernity and post-modernity, so it would be inaccurate to invent a list of contrasting characteristics here.

Applying modernity to substantive Sociology

AQA expects sociological theories and perspectives to be integrated throughout topic study rather than treated as isolated content.

Students should also make links between different parts of Sociology.

This means ideas about modernity may be connected to substantive topics where relevant.

Education

AQA requires students to study:

• the role and functions of education

• educational inequalities

• relationships and processes within schools

• educational policies

• globalisation and educational policy.

When studying globalisation and educational policy [Globalisation and educational policy], students encounter contemporary social change that can potentially be connected to wider theoretical interpretations of society.

The supplied specification does not state exactly how a theory of modernity should interpret educational change, so a detailed theoretical application cannot be added from the source alone.

Families and households

Families and Households includes:

• the relationship between family and social structure

• social change

• changing family and household patterns

• demographic change

• migration and globalisation.

These are examples of substantive sociological changes that may provide contexts for theoretical questions about contemporary society.

A modernity question should not simply turn into a description of family change. The student would need to explain how the relevant theory of modernity interprets those changes.

Culture and identity

Culture and Identity includes:

• different conceptions of culture

• socialisation

• identity and difference

• production

• consumption

• globalisation.

These are also contemporary sociological issues that can be considered in relation to wider theoretical debates about society.

Work, poverty and welfare

Students may study:

• organisation and control of work

• technology

• skill and de-skilling

• work and worklessness

• globalisation.

These substantive topics again provide possible contexts in which wider sociological theories about society could be applied.

The media

The Media includes:

• new media

• ownership and control

• globalisation

• popular culture

• representations

• audiences.

These are contemporary processes that can potentially be used when considering theories of society, provided the theoretical connection itself is supported by appropriate course material.

Crime and deviance

AQA also requires students to examine:

• globalisation and crime

• media and crime

• crime control

• surveillance

• prevention and punishment.

The revision plan later revisits modernity and post-modernity through modernity, post-modernity and crime [Modernity, post-modernity and crime], where students apply ideas concerning both concepts to crime and social control.

This is an important synoptic link.

Moving from description to theoretical application

A common problem in theory questions is describing social change without actually using sociological theory.

Consider a question about changes in contemporary society.

Description

A student identifies a change covered by the substantive specification.

This may demonstrate knowledge of that topic, but it does not necessarily demonstrate understanding of modernity.

Theoretical application

The student:

1. identifies a relevant feature or change

2. explains how the theory of modernity they have studied interprets it

3. relates the interpretation to appropriate sociological evidence

4. considers an alternative interpretation

5. reaches a judgement about the usefulness of the theory.

The detailed theory needed in step two is not included in the provided specification, but the process of application and evaluation is supported by AQA's assessment requirements.

Modernity and the core themes

The study of modernity should also remain connected to AQA's two core themes.

Socialisation, culture and identity

Students should consider how theoretical interpretations of contemporary society relate, where relevant, to:

• socialisation

• culture

• identity.

Social differentiation, power and stratification

Students should also consider how theoretical interpretations relate to:

• social differentiation

• power

• stratification.

These themes are intended to run throughout the course and should be applied to substantive areas rather than treated as separate topics.

Modernity, structure and action

The previous two lessons examined:

• social structure [Structural theories]

• social action [Social action theories].

AQA requires students to understand the significance of both structure and action when explaining social issues.

When examining theories of modernity, students should therefore remain alert to wider theoretical questions about how society itself and individual behaviour are explained.

However, the supplied specification does not state that theories of modernity must necessarily be structural or social action theories.

⚠️ Avoid automatically classifying a theory unless you have supporting material for doing so.

Evaluating the usefulness of modernity

The learning objective specifically requires you to evaluate the usefulness of modernity for understanding contemporary society.

1. Consider explanatory usefulness

Ask whether the theory of modernity you have studied helps explain:

• contemporary social processes

• social change

• substantive sociological evidence.

The question is not merely whether the theory can describe society, but whether it helps sociologists understand and explain it.

2. Apply it to contemporary UK society

AQA makes contemporary UK society the central focus of the specification.

An evaluation can therefore consider whether a theory of modernity provides a convincing interpretation of the social issues covered by the course.

3. Compare with post-modernity

AQA explicitly requires both modernity and post-modernity.

A developed evaluation can therefore compare different interpretations of contemporary society.

Rather than writing:

"Post-modernity disagrees with modernity."

you need to establish exactly what the disagreement concerns using supported theoretical content.

4. Use sociological evidence

The specification repeatedly requires students to consider both:

• evidence

• sociological explanations.

The usefulness of a theory can therefore be evaluated by considering how successfully it interprets evidence studied in substantive topics.

5. Reach a reasoned judgement

AQA's Assessment Objective 3 requires students to:

• present arguments

• make judgements

• draw conclusions.

A conclusion could therefore consider:

• how useful the concept is for interpreting contemporary society

• whether an alternative theoretical interpretation is more convincing

• whether its usefulness varies according to the sociological issue being studied.

The detailed judgement must depend on the theoretical evidence available to the student.

Modernity and globalisation

AQA repeatedly includes globalisation across the specification.

The course also states that contemporary UK society should be understood within its globalised context.

Globalisation appears in:

• educational policy

• identity

• family and demographic change

• work

• religion

• development

• media

• inequality

• crime.

This means globalisation provides an important contemporary context when considering how useful a broader theory of society is.

Modernity and the relationship between theory and methods

Later in Theory and Methods, students study the relationship between theory and methods [The relationship between theory and methods].

This involves:

• explaining relationships between sociological theory and research methods

• examining how theoretical perspectives may influence methodological choices

• evaluating the extent to which theory determines methods.

Modernity is primarily included here as a theoretical concept, rather than as a research method.

Do not confuse:

a theory about society

with

a method used to research society.

The relationship between the two becomes an explicit focus later in the course.

Exam application: AO1, AO2 and AO3

AQA assesses three objectives.

AO1: Knowledge and understanding

Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts and evidence.

For modernity, this requires accurate knowledge of the relevant theory taught within the course.

AO2: Application

Students apply sociological theories, concepts and evidence to issues.

A response should therefore connect modernity directly to the social issue or context in the question.

AO3: Analysis and evaluation

Students analyse and evaluate in order to:

• present arguments

• make judgements

• draw conclusions.

A strong theoretical response therefore moves through:

theory → application → analysis → comparison → judgement

📌 Exam focus: Do not write a list of contemporary social changes and assume that this answers a question about modernity. The key task is to explain how sociological theory interprets those changes.

Key Words 🔑

Key word	Student-friendly definition	How it may be used in an exam
Modernity	A concept that AQA requires students to examine in relation to sociological theory. The supplied specification does not give a more detailed formal definition.	Explain and evaluate a theory of modern society using supported course material.
Post-modernity	A second concept that AQA explicitly requires students to study alongside modernity.	Compare alternative theoretical interpretations of contemporary society.
Contemporary society	Society in the present period, with AQA placing particular emphasis on UK society today.	Apply theories of society to contemporary sociological issues.
Sociological theory	Theoretical explanations and perspectives used in Sociology.	Use theory to interpret social issues rather than simply describing them.
Social structure	One of the issues AQA requires students to consider when explaining social behaviour and issues.	Connect modernity to wider theoretical debates where supported.
Social action	AQA identifies social action alongside social structure as significant in sociological explanations.	Consider different approaches to explaining social issues.
Globalisation	A process included across several areas of the AQA specification and within the global context of contemporary UK society.	Provide a relevant contemporary context where supported by the question and theory.
AO3	Analysis and evaluation used to present arguments, make judgements and draw conclusions.	Evaluate how useful a theory of modernity is for understanding contemporary society.

Common Mistakes ⚠️

Mistake: Treating modernity as simply another word for "today"

Why this is incorrect: AQA specifies modernity as a concept in relation to sociological theory. It is therefore a theoretical concept, not merely a general reference to the present.

How to improve: Make sure your answer explains how the relevant sociological theory interprets society rather than simply describing current social conditions.

Mistake: Inventing a definition from general knowledge

Why this is incorrect: The supplied AQA specification does not provide a detailed definition or list of characteristics of modernity.

How to improve: Use the detailed definition and theory only when it comes from supported course material. Do not add unsupported theorists or characteristics.

Mistake: Describing social change without applying theory

Why this is incorrect: A question about modernity requires theoretical explanation, not simply a list of changes in education, family life, media or crime.

How to improve: For every example, explain how the particular theory of modernity interprets it.

Mistake: Treating modernity and post-modernity as interchangeable

Why this is incorrect: AQA names them as two separate concepts.

How to improve: Keep them distinct and use post-modern interpretations [Post-modernity] as a later basis for comparison.

Mistake: Forgetting contemporary society

Why this is incorrect: The learning objective specifically requires evaluation of modernity for understanding contemporary society, while AQA places contemporary UK society at the centre of the qualification.

How to improve: Keep returning to how useful the theory is for understanding present-day sociological issues.

Mistake: Giving evaluation as an undeveloped disagreement

Why this is incorrect: AO3 requires arguments, judgements and conclusions.

How to improve: Explain why an alternative interpretation challenges the theory, use evidence where appropriate and reach a supported overall judgement.

Exam-Style Questions ✍️

Question 1

Identify the concept that AQA requires students to study alongside modernity. [1 mark]

Question 2

Identify two theoretical categories studied immediately before modernity in the Theory and Methods section of the revision plan. [2 marks]

Question 3

Outline two reasons why modernity forms part of sociological theory rather than being a research method. [4 marks]

Question 4

Explain two ways in which the concept of modernity can be connected to the wider AQA Sociology course. [6 marks]

Question 5

Item A

A sociologist is examining changes in contemporary UK society. The sociologist is interested not only in describing these changes but also in how sociological theory interprets them.

Using Item A, explain why the concept of modernity is relevant to sociological theory. [6 marks]

Question 6

Item B

A student studying education identifies changes associated with educational policy and globalisation. The student wants to use these changes as evidence when evaluating a wider theory of contemporary society.

Using Item B and your knowledge of Theory and Methods, analyse how substantive sociological evidence can be used when examining modernity. [10 marks]

Question 7

Item C

Two sociological interpretations offer different explanations of contemporary society. One is based on the concept of modernity, while the other uses the concept of post-modernity.

Using Item C, analyse why comparing theoretical interpretations is important when studying contemporary society. [10 marks]

Question 8

Evaluate the usefulness of the concept of modernity for understanding contemporary society. [10 marks]

Answers and Mark Scheme

Question 1

Award one mark for:

• post-modernity.

Question 2

Award one mark for each appropriate response, maximum two marks.

Possible answers include:

• structural theories

• social action theories

• conflict theories

• consensus theories.

The revision sequence immediately preceding Modernity covers consensus, conflict, structural and social action theories.

Question 3

Award up to two marks for each developed reason, maximum four marks.

Possible content includes:

• AQA explicitly lists modernity under sociological theory and requires students to examine it in relation to sociological theory.

• Modernity concerns theoretical interpretation of society rather than a technique used to collect sociological data.

• Research methods are separately specified, including questionnaires, interviews, observation, experiments, documents and official statistics.

• Modernity therefore belongs to theoretical debate rather than the list of research methods.

Question 4

Award up to three marks for each developed connection, maximum six marks.

Possible responses include:

• modernity can be applied to understanding contemporary UK society, which AQA identifies as the central focus of the course

• it can be connected to substantive social processes and changes studied in education, families, media, crime or another specification topic

• it can be compared with post-modernity

• it forms part of wider theoretical debate alongside consensus, conflict, structural and social action theories

• relevant sociological evidence can be used when evaluating theoretical interpretations.

Higher marks require explanation of the connection rather than simply naming a topic.

Question 5

Indicative content includes:

• Item A concerns contemporary UK society, which is central to the AQA specification.

• AQA explicitly requires students to examine modernity in relation to sociological theory.

• The question therefore involves more than describing social changes.

• Sociological theory attempts to interpret those changes.

• Modernity provides one theoretical concept through which society may be interpreted.

• Its usefulness can be evaluated by considering how successfully it explains contemporary sociological evidence.

Higher marks require direct use of Item A.

Question 6

Possible analysis includes:

• AQA expects students to consider both sociological explanations and evidence.

• Item B provides substantive evidence from Education.

• A theory of modernity should be applied to that evidence rather than discussed entirely in isolation.

• The student could ask whether the theory successfully interprets the social changes identified.

• Evidence from other areas of Sociology could also be used where relevant.

• Comparison with another theoretical interpretation could help evaluate usefulness.

• The student should eventually reach a judgement based on theory and evidence.

Higher marks require sustained analysis rather than simply listing examples of change.

Question 7

Indicative content includes:

• AQA requires students to examine both modernity and post-modernity.

• Item C provides competing theoretical interpretations of the same contemporary society.

• Comparison helps reveal how explanations differ.

• Each interpretation can be applied to the same sociological evidence.

• Analysis can consider which interpretation provides the more convincing account.

• Comparison contributes to AO3 through developing arguments and judgements.

• A conclusion should follow from the comparison rather than merely stating that both theories are different.

A stronger response integrates Item C throughout.

Question 8

A response based strictly on the supplied source can evaluate modernity by considering:

• AQA identifies modernity as an important sociological concept

• it is intended to be studied in relation to sociological theory

• it can be applied to contemporary society

• AQA's focus on contemporary UK society provides a context in which its usefulness can be considered

• substantive evidence from Sociology can be used to examine theoretical interpretations

• modernity can be compared with post-modernity

• evaluation should lead to a reasoned judgement about its usefulness for understanding society.