Ocr A-Level Sociology H580/02 Researching And Understanding Social Inequalities Question Paper June 2022

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• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must

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• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.

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INFORMATION

• The total mark for this paper is 105.

• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].

• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).

• This document has 4 pages.

ADVICE

• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.

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• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet

Tuesday 7 June 2022 – Afternoon

A Level Sociology

H580/02 Researching and understanding social inequalities

 Time allowed: 2 hours 15 minutes

2

© OCR 2022 H580/02 Jun22

SECTION A

Read the source material and answer all the questions.

Source A

Percentage of graduates in STEM subjects who are female

Physical

Sciences

%

Mathematical

Sciences

2015–2016

40% 41% 42%

39% 39% 39%

15% 15% 15% 16% 15% 15%

Engineering

and

Technology

Subjects

Computer

Sciences

2016–2017 2017–2018

The statistics above show the percentage of graduates who were female from UK universities in STEM

subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The figures were compiled for the

website STEM Women from data provided by UCAS (Universities Central Admissions Service).

Adapted from: https://www.stemwomen.co.uk/blog/2019/09/women-in-stem-percentages-of-womenin-stem-statistics

3

© OCR 2022 H580/02 Jun22 Turn over

Source B

A longitudinal study of unemployment and earnings among different ethnic groups

Li and Heath carried out a longitudinal study of the disadvantages faced by ethnic minorities in the

UK in relation to unemployment and earnings. They used secondary quantitative data from the

United Kingdom Longitudinal Household Study (UKLHS), a large scale survey carried out by the

University of Essex. This collected data from the same sample of people, once a year for six years,

between 2009 and 2015. People in the sample were classified into one of ten ethnic categories

with sample sizes as follows:

41656 White British

1149 White Irish

2382 White Other

1328 Black Caribbean

1947 Black African

2551 Indian

2220 Pakistani

1433 Bangladeshi

329 Chinese

2810 Other.

One area the study focused on was the extent of ethnic disadvantage in relation to unemployment.

The data showed that most ethnic minority groups were more, and some much more, likely than

white British to be unemployed. Thus while the overall unemployment rates for men and women

across the six years were 10% and 8% respectively, nearly a quarter (24%) of black Caribbean

men and over a quarter of Pakistani women (26%) were unemployed.

By using a longitudinal study, researchers could investigate how events in an individual’s life affect

them at later stages. They could also research how far ethnic minorities were likely to remain

stuck in unemployment for long periods of time. During the research there was a recession in

2008–2010 during which unemployment rose for all ethnic groups. When the economic situation

began to improve, white British unemployment rates began to fall, yet ethnic minority groups found

their unemployment rates unchanged or even rising. This supports the findings of studies of earlier

recessions in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, which showed that during those recessions, people

of ethnic minority backgrounds, particularly black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi minorities, bore the

brunt of recession, being the first to face job cuts and the last to find re-employment.

Adapted from: Yaojun Li and Anthony Heath (2018) ‘Persisting disadvantages: a study of labour

market dynamics of ethnic unemployment and earnings in the UK (2009–2015)’ Journal of Ethnic

and Migration Studies.

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© OCR 2022 H580/02 Jun22

1 Summarise two conclusions which sociologists might reach about patterns and trends in women

graduating in STEM subjects from the data shown in Source A. [4]

2 With reference to Source B, explain two reasons sociologists need to consider representativeness

in a large-scale study of unemployment in Britain. [6]

3 With reference to Source A, explain two advantages of using quantitative data to study gender

inequalities. [10]

4* Using Source B and your wider sociological knowledge, explain and evaluate the use of

longitudinal research for researching ethnic inequalities in relation to earnings and unemployment.

[25]

SECTION B

Answer all the questions.

5* Outline ways that a person’s age may affect their opportunities in work and employment. [20]

6* Assess the view that Marx’s theory of social class is still relevant for understanding class

inequalities in the UK today. [40]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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