Lesson 3.1

3.1 Sociological theories of the role of education Quiz: WJEC Eduqas Sociology, Unit 3

20 questions

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Lesson 3.1, Sociological theories of the role of education: 20 multiple choice questions for the WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology (C200), Unit 3: Education, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which sociologist is most associated with the view that education transmits norms and values and prepares pupils for society?

    • Emile Durkheim
    • Howard Becker
    • Karl Marx
    • Ann Oakley

  2. Which principle do functionalists associate with education, where people are rewarded for ability and effort?

    • Meritocracy
    • Compulsory religious doctrine
    • Hereditary privilege
    • Random allocation

  3. What does functionalist theory mean by facilitating social mobility in education?

    • Reinforcing class divides
    • Lowering academic standards
    • Moving social classes
    • Abolishing all grading

  4. Which Marxist theory suggests schools mirror workplace hierarchies?

    • Correspondence theory
    • Consensus theory
    • Feminist theory
    • Labelling theory

  5. What role do Marxists argue education plays in social class relations?

    • Ensuring pure meritocracy
    • Reproducing inequality
    • Promoting total equality
    • Removing class barriers

  6. What do feminist critiques argue that schools can reinforce?

    • Classlessness
    • Absolute equality
    • Meritocratic fairness
    • Patriarchy

  7. A pupil from a poor background gains top grades and secures a skilled job. Which perspective would most readily describe this as evidence of merit?

    • Functionalism
    • Interactionism
    • Feminism
    • Marxism

  8. A school steers most pupils from working class areas into vocational courses that prepare them for low paid jobs. Which perspective best explains this?

    • New Right
    • Functionalism
    • Feminism
    • Marxism

  9. According to functionalists, what main benefit does shared schooling provide for society?

    • Class conflict
    • Social cohesion
    • Social division
    • Economic inequality

  10. What major criticism is frequently levelled against the functionalist view of education?

    • Limits career choices
    • Promotes ruling-class values
    • Encourages strict discipline
    • Ignores social inequalities

  11. What do Marxists argue that meritocracy actually achieves within capitalist societies?

    • Ensures absolute equality
    • Rewards genuine talent
    • Eliminates poverty completely
    • Legitimates class inequality

  12. Which sociologist is associated with the view that schools are patriarchal in nature?

    • Ralf Dahrendorf
    • Talcott Parsons
    • Max Weber
    • Becky Francis

  13. A government argues that exam results show who deserves to enter university. Which perspective is this claim most closely aligned with?

    • Feminism only
    • Functionalism
    • Marxism
    • Postmodernism

  14. Which sociological perspective views education primarily as serving the economic interests of capitalism?

    • Marxism
    • Feminism
    • Functionalism
    • Interactionism

  15. What is a key limitation of viewing education solely through a patriarchal feminist lens?

    • Dismisses peer pressure
    • Exaggerates gender gaps
    • Overrates teacher efficacy
    • Ignores class differences

  16. Durkheim argued that schools must primarily transmit which of the following?

    • Capitalist ideologies
    • Subcultural deviance
    • Shared moral values
    • Patriarchal viewpoints

  17. Which functionalist concept explains allocating people to roles based on talent and effort?

    • Subcultural resistance
    • Role allocation
    • Patriarchal control
    • Class correspondence

  18. Why do Marxists reject the idea that education offers a genuinely level playing field?

    • Unequal economic resources
    • Universal equal funding
    • Identical home backgrounds
    • Complete meritocratic fairness

  19. Which functionalist concept describes rewards based on what a person achieves rather than who their parents are?

    • Achieved status
    • Hereditary class
    • Caste position
    • Ascribed status

  20. What is a common criticism of the Marxist view of education regarding pupils?

    • Overestimates class conflict
    • Underplays pupil agency
    • Assumes total meritocracy
    • Exaggerates school funding

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