Cambridge International AS Level · Sociology (9699)

Theories of the family and social change: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Theories of the family and social change.

10 questions28 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

According to Marxist sociologists, how does the family primarily serve the needs of the capitalist economic system?

Question 2

1 mark

Which type of family diversity, according to Rapoport and Rapoport, refers to the different stages people reach in their lives (e.g., a young couple versus a retired couple)?

Question 3

1 mark

From a Marxist perspective, how does the family contribute to the 'reproduction of labour'?

Question 4

1 mark

Which sociological perspective argues that the family is a 'warm bath' that provides a place of relaxation and relief from the stresses of modern life?

Question 5

1 mark

In the context of the 'loss of functions' debate, how do Functionalist sociologists typically respond to the claim that the family has become less important in modern industrial society?

Question 6

2 marks

Identify and briefly describe one way in which the family acts as a unit of consumption within a capitalist economy, according to Marxist theory.

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Question 7

3 marks

Identify and briefly explain one way in which the New Right perspective views the role of the nuclear family in maintaining social stability.

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Question 8

5 marks

Discuss how the postmodernist concept of 'families of choice' reflects changes in the patterns of marriage and cohabitation in contemporary society.

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Question 9

5 marks

(a) Explain two ways in which social policy may influence the structure of families in modern industrial societies.
(b) Assess the postmodernist view that individuals now have more choice in how they construct their family lives.

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Question 10

8 marks

(a) Explain the New Right perspective on the causes of family diversity and its impact on society.
(b) Evaluate the functionalist argument that the family has lost many of its functions in modern society while retaining its 'primary' roles.

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