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Crime and deviance

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How is crime measured, and can we trust the figures?

The data on crime, including official statistics, victim surveys and self-report studies, the dark figure of crime, and the strengths and weaknesses of each source.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology crime topic, covering how crime is measured: official statistics, victim surveys and self-report studies, the dark figure of crime, and the strengths and weaknesses of each.
9 min answer →

What counts as crime and deviance, and who decides?

Defining crime and deviance, the social construction of deviance, and how definitions vary by time, place and culture, including formal and informal deviance.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology crime topic, defining crime and deviance, explaining the social construction of deviance, and how definitions vary by time, place and culture.
9 min answer →

How does society try to control behaviour and reduce crime?

Social control, including formal and informal control, the agencies of social control, and the role of the media in moral panics.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology crime topic, covering formal and informal social control, the agencies of control, and the role of the media in creating moral panics.
9 min answer →

Who commits crime, and who is most likely to be a victim?

The social distribution of crime, including the patterns by social class, age, gender and ethnicity, and sociological explanations of these patterns.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology crime topic, covering the patterns of crime by social class, age, gender and ethnicity, and how sociologists explain them.
10 min answer →

How do sociologists explain why crime and deviance happen?

Theories of crime and deviance, including Durkheim's functionalist view, Merton's strain theory, Albert Cohen's subcultural theory, the Marxist view, and Becker's labelling theory.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology crime topic, covering the main theories of crime: Durkheim's functionalism, Merton's strain theory, Albert Cohen's subcultural theory, the Marxist view and Becker's labelling theory.
11 min answer →