How to Answer Theory & Methods Questions (AQA A Level Sociology): Revision Note
Exam code: 7192
Written by: Raj Bonsor
Updated on
How do I answer AQA A Level Sociology Theory and Methods questions?
Theory and Methods is examined by three questions across two papers:
Paper 1, Question 06: a 10-mark 'Outline and explain' question with no Item
Paper 3, Question 05: a 10-mark 'Outline and explain' question with no Item
Paper 3, Question 06: a 20-mark 'Evaluate' question with Item C
Together, these questions are worth 40 marks, which is one sixth of the A Level
The marks available in these questions are as follows:
10-mark questions: AO1 = 5 marks, AO2 = 3 marks and AO3 = 2 marks
20-mark question: AO1 = 8 marks, AO2 = 6 marks and AO3 = 6 marks
These questions are answered in the same way as the other 'Outline and explain' and 20-mark 'Evaluate' questions, so this revision note covers what is different about Theory and Methods
Any of the three questions can be on sociological theory or on research methods
Examiners warn against assuming that Paper 1 Question 06 will be a methods question just because it follows Methods in Context
Paper 3 Question 06 is not a Methods in Context question, so you do not need to link your answer to crime and deviance
What can I be asked about?
Questions on research methods can cover:
types of data and sources of data, such as official statistics and documents
individual methods, such as unstructured interviews or laboratory experiments
research design, including sampling
the practical, ethical and theoretical factors that influence a sociologist's choice of method
Questions on theory can cover:
consensus, conflict, structural and social action theories
modernity and postmodernity
whether sociology can be a science
objectivity, subjectivity and value freedom
the relationship between sociology and social policy
Many questions ask you to link theory and methods, for example:
outline and explain two ways in which research design may be influenced by feminism
outline and explain two reasons why interpretivists prefer to use qualitative methods of research
evaluate the view that theoretical factors are the most important influence on a sociologist's choice of research method
How do I link theory and methods?
Build a chain of reasoning that runs from a theoretical position to a specific method and a named study:
Positivists see society as made up of social facts, so they want reliable, quantitative data that reveals patterns, so they favour methods such as official statistics, as in Durkheim's study of suicide
Interpretivists see behaviour as driven by meanings, so they want valid, qualitative data that gives verstehen, so they favour methods such as unstructured interviews, as in Oakley's research on motherhood
Do not write about a theory in general terms
In a question on how feminism may influence research design, examiners reported that many students discussed feminism in general terms without connecting it to specific choices of method
Be precise when you explain a feature of a method
E.g. reason step by step from official statistics being based on a large sample, to the sample being representative, to researchers being able to generalise their findings
You can use studies from any topic in the course as your examples
E.g. Willis from education, Dobash and Dobash from families or Durkheim from crime and deviance
How do I approach the 10-mark Theory and Methods questions?
There are no marks for evaluation, as the two AO3 marks are for analysis
Examiners report that many students still attempt to evaluate in these questions
Show analysis through your chain of reasoning, by explaining how each way or reason links to the factor in the question
Examiners suggest that 'extent' analysis can also earn the AO3 marks
E.g. feminism is a theoretical influence on research design, but you could consider how far practical and ethical factors also have an influence
Write two separate paragraphs with no introduction or conclusion
You will have around 15 minutes, so aim to write around 250–300 words
How do I approach the 20-mark Theory and Methods essay?
Use Item C to shape your response
Examiners highlight this as an area for improvement in Question 06
The Item usually points to the main evaluation points, so build your evaluation around the ideas it identifies
Highlight the key terms in the question and the key features of the Item before you plan
Write a brief introduction, three to five paragraphs that each include evaluation and a conclusion that reaches a judgement
Develop a limited number of points and make your evaluation explicit
If your evaluation only places one view next to another, or makes one or two stated points, the mark scheme puts it in the 9–12 band. Limited explicit evaluation reaches 13–16, and the top band needs evaluation that is explicit and relevant
Support and illustrate your analysis with appropriate reference to sociologists and studies
You will have around 30 minutes, so aim to write around 600–700 words
Worked Example
Here is an example of a 10-mark Theory and Methods question (AQA, June 2023), followed by an extract from a model answer:
Q. Outline and explain two reasons why interpretivists prefer to use qualitative methods of research.
[10 marks]
Extract from a model answer (first paragraph):
One reason interpretivists prefer qualitative methods is that they allow the researcher to gain verstehen, Weber's idea of empathetic understanding. Interpretivists argue social behaviour is driven by meanings people give to their actions, so sociologists need to grasp those meanings rather than just measure patterns. Qualitative methods like unstructured interviews and participant observation use open-ended questions that let respondents talk in their own words and explain the reasons behind their behaviour. For example, Oakley's study of motherhood used informal interviews because she felt structured questionnaires forced women's experiences into pre-set boxes, losing the meanings they attached to their roles. This means qualitative methods give interpretivists data high in validity, capturing social life from the participant's point of view rather than the researcher's pre-set categories.
Marking commentary:
This paragraph would contribute to a top band answer because it links theory to method throughout. It starts from the interpretivist position (behaviour is driven by meanings), moves to the type of data that interpretivists want (verstehen and validity), and then to specific methods and a named study. The final sentence states the consequence, which is the 'so what'. There is no evaluation of interpretivism, as this would not be credited.
Step by step structure:
The reason is identified in one sentence, using the wording of the question (AO1)
The interpretivist view of social behaviour is explained (AO1)
A chain of reasoning links this view to unstructured interviews and participant observation (AO3)
Oakley's research is used as a developed example (AO2)
A final sentence explains what this means for the validity of the data (AO3)
Worked Example
Here is an example of a 20-mark Theory and Methods question with an Item (AQA, November 2021), followed by two extracts from a model answer:
Item C
Before they begin research, sociologists have to make choices about which research methods to use. Positivists favour methods that are more likely to generate quantitative data as they want to discover laws of human behaviour. Others prefer methods that enable a sociologist to gain a deeper understanding of why people behave in certain ways.
Alternatively, it could be argued that practical and ethical factors are more important influences on a sociologist's choice of research method.
Q. Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the view that theoretical factors are the most important influence on a sociologist's choice of research method.
[20 marks]
Extract 1: the introduction
Sociologists must choose between competing research methods before starting research. As Item C states, positivists favour methods producing quantitative data "to discover laws of human behaviour", while others prefer methods that give "a deeper understanding" of behaviour. However, the Item also flags "practical and ethical factors". This essay argues theoretical factors matter but are not always the most important.
Extract 2: a main body paragraph
Interpretivists take the opposite position. As Item C says, they prefer methods giving "deeper understanding" of behaviour, so they choose unstructured interviews, participant observation and life histories. Willis used participant observation and informal interviews to study working-class boys in his study of 'the lads', giving high validity that structured questionnaires could not capture. Oakley's interviews with mothers similarly reflected a feminist preference for woman-to-woman conversation. However, practical constraints can override even strong theoretical preferences, since access to closed groups may be impossible without long-term funding the researcher does not have.
Top band response: 17–20 marks
Marking commentary:
The full response is in the top band because it uses Item C to shape the whole essay. The introduction picks out the ideas in the Item (positivist methods, methods that give deeper understanding, and practical and ethical factors) and sets out an argument. Each of these ideas then becomes a paragraph. The main body paragraph links a theoretical position to specific methods and named studies, and it ends with explicit evaluation that points towards the next part of the argument.
Step by step structure of the full essay:
Paragraph 1: A brief introduction uses Item C to set out the debate and the argument (AO2)
Paragraph 2: Positivism is linked to quantitative methods and Durkheim's use of official statistics, then evaluated using the interpretivist criticism (AO1, AO2 and AO3)
Paragraph 3: Interpretivism is linked to qualitative methods, Willis and Oakley, then evaluated: practical constraints can override theory (AO1, AO2 and AO3)
Paragraph 4: Practical factors from Item C, such as funding, time and access, are explained and then evaluated (AO1, AO2 and AO3)
Paragraph 5: Ethical factors from Item C are explained using the British Sociological Association's guidelines and then evaluated (AO1, AO2 and AO3)
Paragraph 6: The three types of factor are shown to interact in real research (AO3)
Paragraph 7: An evaluative conclusion judges that theoretical factors are essential but not always the most important (AO3)
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