Unit 1
Overview of CAPE SOCIOLOGY UNIT 1
Cape Sociology Unit 1
This Unit is divided into three Modules:
Module 1 covers the area dealing with
Sociology:
Sociology the Discipline
Methods of Research
Origins of Caribbean Sociology
Culture:
What is Culture?
Caribbean Culture
Identity:
What is Identity?
Caribbean Identity
Module 2 covers the area dealing with Social Institutions
The Family
Definiton
Functions
Family Types
Ethnic Families
Religion
Definition
Functions
Types
Origins of Caribbean indigenous Religions
Education
Definition
Functions
History and Development of Caribbean Education systems
Module 3 - Social Stratification and Social Mobility
Definition
Functions
Caribbean Stratification
Social mobility in the Caribbean
Essays
Essay Plans
Unit 1 Module 1 - Sociology, Culture & Identity
Can Sociology be value free?
Sociology a Science essay strategy
Unit 1 Module 2 - Social Institutions, Family, Religion & Education
Education & Social Mobility Essay plan
Essay strategy for Caribbean Religon
Marked Essays
Unit 1 Module 1 - Sociology, Culture & Identity
Quantitative methods
Rigours of Quantitative Methods better suited for sociological research
Within the social sciences, there is a debate about whether sociology is a science or not. Evaluate the major positions in this debate.
Unit 1 Module 2 - Social Institutions, Family, Religion & Education
Family Essay
Does matrifocality characterize Caribbean families?
'Fit' between the matrifocal family and the Caribbean society
Unit 1 Module 3 - Social Stratification & Social Mobility
Most significant processes affecting West Indian stratification
Davis and Moore's theory applied to the Caribbean
Unit 2 Module 1 - Population Studies
Malthus vs Marx on Population
Neo-Malthusian policy for Caribbean population control
Assess the extent to which the Malthusian theory of population can be applied to a named Caribbean territory
Unit 2 Module 2 - Social Control, Crime & Deviance
Crime and Deviance Essay
Major assumptions of the interactionist perspective evaluated
Unit 2 Module 3 - Poverty & Social Development
Caribbean Human Capital Development Essay
Industrialization by invitation
Theories of Poverty applied to Caribbean
The Poor Will always be with us
Scholar Essays
Unit 2 Module 3 - Poverty & Social Development
Britian and Caribbean Historical Relations
Question Bank
The Capesociology.org Question Bank is comprised of original specimen questions, designed by and specifically for capesociology.org. We hereby advise that users adhere to the user guide. These questions can be used for non-commercial, practice exercise, by our registered users.
User discretion is advised!
Review Pointers
Use these questions to review syllabus content, you have already covered.
Unit 1 - Unit 1 Essay Questions
Define the following terms:
1. Sociology, culture, identity, norms, values, cultural universals, structural universals, popular culture, subculture, counter culture, Caribbean, society, positivism, social order, equlibirum, status, roles, social groups, socialization, education, religion, social change, sanctions; family, peer group, mass media, quantitative & qualitative methods, sample.
2. The student should be able to satisfactorily explain and identify the theorists who advocate and critique the following:
Functionalism - views on Society (Social Order, Social Mobility and Stratification), Institutions (Family, Religion, Education)
Marxist - views on Society (Social Order and Stratification), Institutions (Family, Religion, Education)
Interpretivism - views on Society (Social Order and Stratification), Institutions (Family, Religion, Education)
Feminism
Plantation Society Theory
Plural Society
Creole Society Theory
Methods of Research - Positivism, Interpretivism
3. Become familiar with current statistics (where available) on issues relating to
Become familiar with approximately three Caribbean countries, with regards to: Social mobility and Social Stratification
Religious affiliation and historical development/recent developments
Changes in Family structure eg, delayed marriage rates, divorce rates etc.
Changes in Education policy and its effects on the contemporary populations
Unit 2 - Unit 2 Essay Questions
Define the following terms:
and learn formulas, where applicable
1. demography, population, crude birth & death rates, natural increase, migration, immigration, emigration, ageing, fertility, infant mortality, life expectancy, dependency ratio, population growth rate, fecundity, crime, deviance, sanctions, punishment, rewards, anomie, socail order, social control, modernization, dependency, (social) development, industrialization, urbanization, bureacratization, tourism, gender, rural, health, sustainable development, poverty, capitalism, globaization, underdevelopment.
2. The student should be able to satisfactorily explain and identify the theorists who advocate and critique the following:
Malthusian, Marxist, Demographic Transition Theory of Population
Theoretical views on crime/deviance - Functionalist, Marxist, Interactionist
Institutions of Social Control - family, religion,education, community.
Theories of Development - Evolutionary, Cultural, Economic
Theories of Poverty - Functionalist, Marxist
3. Become familiar with current statistics (where available) on issues relating to the following issues in the Caribbean:
Alternatives to sentencing
Corporal and Capital Punishment
Social Distribution of Crime
Juvenile Delinquency
Domestic Abuse
White Collar Crime
4. Students should be able to satisfactorily explain
How Social Development is Measured
The Issues that affect Development in the Caribbean - industrialization, urbanization, bureaucracy, tourism, gender, agriculture
Which social groups constitutes the poor - women, indigenous peoples etc..
Poverty Alleviation Policies and their applicability to the Caribbean.
Enjoy your revision - plan ahead, rest regularly and eat adequately.
I.A. Guidelines
Internal Assessment
General Guidelines for the Internal Assessment
This section will provide students with a general guideline for the structure of their Internal Assessment. We have simply explained in a bit more detail how the marks are awarded and provided suggestions for how students should go about putting the IA together. Please note that students are not to use our guidelines as a substitute for Teacher guidance and counsel. We have simply provided a guide for students, which would help to make the research and compliation process a bit more manageable.
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Bibliography
Section 1
This section is divided into three parts
Section I. Introduction (5marks)
Background
Gives an overall introduction of the research topic, historical references if any, other impacting factors which maybe social, economic, environmental or political.
Definition of Research Problem
1. This includes a statement of Problem This is a statement, not a question. It is a statement about the issue the research paper/project is based upon. e.g. This paper seeks to examine: The socio-economic factors that contributes to the prevalence of female-headed households in the village of G ; located on the South Western Coast of Grenada.
2. Aims and Objectives of study (5 marks) This research paper attempts to determine the following:
- The social and economic factors, which contributes to the formation of female-headed households in G Village.
- The socio-economic consequences of the prevalence of such households for the community of G in particular and the Parish of St. George in general.
- Recommendations for policy makers and other social service groups to help alleviate the problems caused by the existence of such households.
3. Literature Review (8 marks) - Students should read at least six (6) sources on the issue they are conducting research. This includes books, magazines, newspaper clippings, electronic sources etc…. Avoid having only electronic sources, in as far as is possible use books. - The literature review should be no more than four-six paragraphs.
- A literature review is a brief overview of the available literature (print and electronic etc.) on the issue being researched. It also gives the reader an idea of the focus of the particular literature.
E.g. Ann Marsche in The Demasculinization of Men (1998) suggests that one of the major reasons for the growth and prevalence of female-headed households due to the 'masculiniztion of women' – women overtaking male responsibility, which parallels the marginalization of the male, forcing them to the' sidelines'. "The ultimate response of the male: he reverts to 'pimping, playing and partying', while the female endures duress!" - Further the literature review also highlights the areas where much research may not have been done. - Finally, ensure that YOU state where your research would fit in in the wider scheme of things. E.g. this research project would add to the existing literature, since no empirical research has been conducted in G on the issue of female-headed households. In so doing the researcher hopes to provoke policy makers and social service providers to become pro-active at the community level in matters relating to family life which in turn affects community and national development. At the end of SECTION I the student will be marked on his/her communication (use of language – proper sentence construction and spelling) in a logical (good ordering of thoughts) way using correct grammar. ( 1 mark)
Section 2
1. The research design (4 marks)
In this section the student is required to explain how they put their 'research tools' together. This may include a brief outline of research methods used, timelines etc...
- In order to collect empirical data (statistics), printed questionnaires were used as a primary source. The questionnaire as a tool for collecting data has a number of advantages suited to the title of this research paper, these include the following:
a. It was useful for collecting large amounts of data in a short period of time.
b. Guaranteed confidentiality for the respondents
c. It was convenient for both the researcher and respondents alike – since respondents were able to respond to the questionnaire at their own convenience, without the monitoring of the researcher.
- A table showing the timeline – date and times of tasks performed can also be included (this is optional). However, it may be useful to show how research was conducted for more qualitative type/based research papers.
2. Sociological Perspective (3 marks)
In this section candidates are to accurately and succintly use relevant sociological perspectives to highlight what Sociologists say about the research topic under discussion.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate that they have the ability to satisfactorily dissect (use, weigh, assess and evaluate), relevant sociological perspectives to discuss the positive and or negative impact/occurances etc.. of the social phenomenon that is being researched.
3. The Sample/Selection of Subjects to be Studied (3marks)
The research sample consisted of fifty (50) female-headed households in G village St. Georges. G village consists of ten (10) streets, five (5) female-headed households from each street were randomly selected, and questionnaires administered to them. The age group of this sample population ranged from 18 – 60 years.
3. The Data Collection : Instrument and Techniques (3 marks)
Attach all data collection instruments and copy of cover letters dispatched with the data collection instrument to instruct the respondents on how to answer the questions as well as the reason for the conducting of the research paper. E.g. Copy of Questionnaire and Cover Letter.
Section 3
Presentation of Data
1. Presentation (9 marks)
- Present data in different formats e.g. pie, bar charts etc…
2. Analysis of data (6marks)
- Explain what your data shows
3. Discussion of Findings and Conclusions (6 marks)
- This refers to the trends, peculiarities (specific occurrences), recent phenomenon etc… as it relates to the area of research and the general applications that can be made in terms of the society, community etc.
Also make recommendations as it relates to the trends, peculiarities etc….
At the end of SECTION III the student will be marked on his/her communication (use of language – proper sentence construction and spelling) in a logical (good ordering of thoughts) way using correct grammar. (3 marks)
Bibliography
Bibliography (3marks)
There are differing styles for writing a bibliography.
Since Sociology is a Social Science, the Bibliography should use a style commensurate with the Social Science standard.
Traditionally this has been the APA (American Psychological Association) style.
Format Example for Bibliographic Citation:
General Rule: Authors' names are inverted (last name first); give the last name and initials for all authors of a particular work unless the work has more than six authors. IN THE CASE WHERE THERE ARE MORE THAN SIX AUTHORS USE et.al. after the sixth author.
A. Books
Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher.
Example: Underwood, Fane. 2004. Maleness and Masculinity in a Genderized World, Kingston: Jamaica, Ian Randle Publishers
B. Electronic sources
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Online Source, volume number(issue number if available). Retrieved month day, year, from http://www.someaddress.com/full/url/
Example: Neyhart, D, & Karper, E. et.al. (February 17th 2009). APA Formatting and Style Guide. Owl Materials. Retrieved April 12th, 2009, from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/09/
C. Non-Print Sources
(R. Sankar, personal communication, April 4, 2009)
D. Other Sources
Liszosky, F.T. (2000). Sociology. In The World Book Encyclopedia (Vol. 14, pp. 321-322). New York: World Book Inc.
E. Government Sources
Central Statistical Office. (2003). Household Income Averages (CSO No. 0025). Port of Spain: Trinidad. Government Printing Office.
For more detailed information on citation styles please refer to a Citation manual.