Back to Scotland Modern Studies
Scotland · SQAQ&A
Modern StudiesQ&A by dot point
A short Q&A bank for every Scotland Modern Studies syllabus dot point. Each question and answer is drawn directly from our worked dot-point page, so you can scan key concepts before opening the long-form answer.
Course and Assessment
- Course structure and assessment: the three optional question paper sections, the question types and marks (90-mark paper over three hours), the project-dissertation (50 marks), grading and SCQF level 7.2Q&A pairs
- The skills assessed and the step up from Higher: independent research, critical evaluation of evidence, sustained analytical argument and the use of theory, and how these go beyond Higher Modern Studies.2Q&A pairs
International Issues and Research Methods
- Analysing a contemporary international issue: defining the issue, applying international relations theory, evaluating evidence and sources critically, and assessing responses such as cooperation, intervention or sanctions.3Q&A pairs
- Power and the international system: state sovereignty, hard and soft power, the balance of power and polarity, globalisation, and the role of international organisations and non-state actors.2Q&A pairs
- Theories of international relations: realism, liberalism and idealism, and other perspectives, and how each explains state behaviour, conflict, cooperation and the role of international institutions.2Q&A pairs
Political Issues and Research Methods
- Democracy and political participation: direct and representative democracy, theories of democracy, legitimacy and consent, participation and turnout, and the debate over the democratic deficit.2Q&A pairs
- Political ideologies: liberalism, conservatism and socialism (and their variants), the left-right spectrum, and how ideologies differ on the role of the state, freedom and equality.2Q&A pairs
- The extended-response essay: structuring a sustained line of argument, using theory and evidence, analysis and synthesis, counter-argument, and a substantiated conclusion in the question paper essay.3Q&A pairs
- Theories of power and the state: pluralism, elitism and the power elite, Marxism and class power, and how each explains who holds power in a liberal democracy.2Q&A pairs
Research Methods
- Analysing and presenting data: quantitative analysis (averages, percentages, correlation) and qualitative analysis (coding, themes), tables, charts and graphs, and reading statistical evidence critically.3Q&A pairs
- Drawing conclusions: synthesising evidence to answer the research question, judging the hypothesis, supporting conclusions with data, acknowledging limitations, and the source-based conclusions question in the exam.2Q&A pairs
- Primary research methods: questionnaires and surveys, interviews (structured, semi-structured, unstructured), focus groups, observation and field research, with their strengths, limitations and the quantitative-qualitative distinction.2Q&A pairs
- Evaluating research quality: reliability and replicability, validity, objectivity versus bias, representativeness and generalisability, and research ethics (informed consent, confidentiality, harm).2Q&A pairs
- Sampling: the population and sampling frame, probability sampling (random, systematic, stratified, cluster) and non-probability sampling (quota, snowball, convenience), sample size, and representativeness.2Q&A pairs
- Secondary research methods: official statistics, academic literature, media and online sources, content analysis, and critically evaluating secondary data for bias, accuracy and currency.2Q&A pairs
- The social research process: framing a research question and aim, forming a hypothesis, choosing a method, gathering and analysing data, and reporting conclusions as a repeatable cycle.2Q&A pairs
Social Issues and Research Methods
- Analysing a contemporary social issue: defining the issue, applying theoretical perspectives, evaluating evidence and the research behind it, and assessing policy responses and their effectiveness.3Q&A pairs
- Social inequality and its causes: dimensions of inequality (income, wealth, class, gender, ethnicity), and competing explanations including structural, cultural and individualist theories.2Q&A pairs
- Theoretical perspectives on social issues: functionalism (consensus), Marxist and conflict theory, feminism, and how each explains inequality, social order and the role of institutions.2Q&A pairs