Examines agencies of socialisation and social control, such as family, education, peer group, media, and religion.

1.2 Social control, conformity and resistance

Analyzes the role of structure and agency in shaping the individual-society relationship, considering structuralist and interactionist perspectives.

Explores factors contributing to individual conformity to social expectations, including sanctions, social pressure, self-interest, and social exchange.

Investigates mechanisms of order maintenance such as power, ideology, force, and consensus.

Explains deviance and non-conformity through concepts like subcultures, under-socialisation, marginalisation, cultural deprivation, and social resistance.

1.3 Social identity and change

Recognises social class, gender, ethnicity, and age as elements in the construction of social identity.

Examines how social class, gender, ethnicity, and age identities are potentially changing due to globalisation, increased choice, and the creation of new/hybrid identities.

2 Methods of research

Examines different research methods and types of data used in sociological research, including their strengths and limitations.

Focuses on research design and the evaluation of different research methods, including the debate about whether sociology can or should be based on the natural sciences.