Social issues overview: SQA Advanced Higher Modern Studies

Social issues is one of the three optional sections of the Advanced Higher Modern Studies question paper, formally Social issues and research methods. It examines social inequality and the theoretical perspectives used to explain it, alongside the research methods every candidate must master. This guide maps the section; the dot points take each part in detail.

Social inequality and its causes

Inequality is studied across the dimensions of income, wealth, class, gender and ethnicity, and explained through three competing families of theory: structural (inequality reflects how society is organised), cultural (inequality reflects transmitted values, such as the culture of poverty thesis) and individualist (inequality reflects personal choice and ability). The examinable skill is to argue between them with evidence.

Theoretical perspectives

Functionalism sees society as an integrated whole with institutions performing necessary functions; conflict theory (chiefly Marxism) sees society as divided, with institutions serving the powerful; feminism analyses society through gender and patriarchy, with liberal, radical and socialist variants. Each reads institutions such as the family, education and welfare differently.

Analysing a contemporary social issue

The distinctive Advanced Higher demand is to analyse an issue by integrating theory, evidence and research methods: define the issue, apply perspectives, evaluate the research behind the evidence, and assess policy responses and their effectiveness. This is where the social content and the research methods strand meet.

The extended-response essay

The section is assessed largely through an essay that argues a case on a social issue. The marker rewards a sustained line of argument, the use of theory and evidence, analysis and synthesis over description, and a substantiated conclusion, the same technique as the political and international sections.

How to use this module

Learn the perspectives and explanations well enough to argue with them, drill the essay and the research methods questions on past papers, and practise evaluating the research behind any evidence you cite. Remember you sit only one of the three sections, so master your chosen one in depth.