Sociology (9699) 考试技巧

常见错误

1. 1high涉及分数: 4Methods of research

   Conflating 'reliability' with 'validity' when discussing quantitative and qualitative sociological research methods.

   如何避免: Explicitly define reliability as replication under identical conditions (consistency/representativeness) and validity as catching the genuine, subjective social truth (authentic verstehen).
2. 2high涉及分数: 2Methods of research

   Writing lengthy, historical introductions and unnecessary broad definitions on low-tariff (4-mark) 'Describe' questions.

   如何避免: State the descriptive points directly and back them up immediately with a concrete sociological illustration, saving writing time for the 26-mark essays.
3. 3high涉及分数: 8Theories of the family and social change

   Evaluating high-tariff essays (26/35 marks) by merely juxtaposing opposing perspectives side-by-side without any explicit, comparative dialogue.

   如何避免: Use explicit comparative and evaluative transition words (e.g., 'However, this is challenged by...') to actively weigh the relative theoretical and empirical strengths of each argument.
4. 4medium涉及分数: 6Methods of research

   Failing to address the specific 'covert' aspect in participant observation questions, offering instead generic answers on participant observation as a whole.

   如何避免: Focus directly on the specific methodological challenges of secrecy, such as getting entry/access (gatekeepers), avoiding suspect behaviors, ethical lack of informed consent, and going native.
5. 5medium涉及分数: 8Education and inequality

   In Paper 3, ignoring the key term 'legitimise' and simply discussing the 'reproduction' of social class inequality.

   如何避免: Distinguish reproduction (copying class structures over time) from legitimisation (how ideology and myths, like meritocracy, justify the system as fair).
6. 6medium涉及分数: 10Key debates, concepts and perspectives (Globalisation)

   In Paper 4, focusing exclusively on Transnational Corporations (TNCs) when evaluated on 'transnational organisations', thereby neglecting other international bodies.

   如何避免: Ensure you broaden your discussion to also evaluate intergovernmental bodies (e.g., IMF, World Bank, WTO, UN) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs like Oxfam).