: AQA past-paper questions pack

Quantitative and qualitative methods and research design

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
Score	/ 120

Questions are numbered; the mark schemes (the answer key) follow on separate pages so the question pages can be handed out alone. www.alevelsociologytutor.com

AQA AQA AS and A-level Sociology past-paper questions since 2016 · 11 parts · mark schemes follow the questions · www.alevelsociologytutor.com · Questions and mark schemes © AQA

1. June 2025 · Paper 1 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two reasons why interpretivists prefer to use qualitative methods.
[10 marks]

2. June 2024 · Paper 1 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two ways in which research design may be influenced by feminism.
[10 marks]

3. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q2 · 16 marks · AO1=6,AO2=5,AO3=5

0 2
Evaluate the advantages of using positivist methods in sociological research.
[16 marks]

4. June 2023 · Paper 1 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two reasons why sociologists may choose to use research methods
that produce quantitative data.
[10 marks]

5. June 2023 · Paper 3 · Q5 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 5
Outline and explain two reasons why interpretivists prefer to use qualitative methods
of research.
[10 marks]

6. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q1 · 4 marks · AO1=2,AO3=2

0 1
Outline two advantages of using structured interviews in sociological research.
[4 marks]

7. November 2020 · Paper 1 · Q5 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=8,AO3=4

0 5
Read Item C below and answer the question that follows.
Item C
Pupils behave in many different ways in schools. Some pupils conform to school rules,
for example by wearing the correct uniform and completing tasks set, whilst others break
school rules. Interactions between teachers and pupils, and between peers, are likely to
influence behaviour. Sociologists are interested in researching patterns of pupil
behaviour, particularly disruptive behaviour.
One way of studying pupil behaviour in schools is to use non-participant observation.
Pupils are often observed during the course of a school day. One advantage of non-
participant observation is that the sociologist can observe behaviour both inside and
outside classrooms. Non-participant observation allows behaviour categories to be
decided before the observation begins. However, behaviour may not be classified in the
same way by different researchers.
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge of research methods, evaluate the
strengths and limitations of using non-participant observation to investigate pupil behaviour
in schools.
[20 marks]
Extra space

8. November 2020 · Paper 1 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two problems of using primary qualitative methods in sociological
research.
[10 marks]

9. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q1 · 4 marks · AO1=2,AO3=2

0 1
Outline two problems with using a random sample in sociological research.
[4 marks]

10. November 2020 · Paper 3 · Q5 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 5
Outline and explain two ethical issues that sociologists using primary quantitative methods
would have to consider when carrying out their research.
[10 marks]

11. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q2 · 16 marks · AO1=6,AO2=5,AO3=5

0 2
Evaluate the disadvantages of using qualitative methods in sociological research.
[16 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 1 · Q6

Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 1 Q6

2. June 2024 · Paper 1 · Q6

Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 1 Q6

3. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q2

Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q2

4. June 2023 · Paper 1 · Q6

Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 1 Q6

5. June 2023 · Paper 3 · Q5

Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 3 Q5

6. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q1

Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q1

7. November 2020 · Paper 1 · Q5

Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 1 Q5

8. November 2020 · Paper 1 · Q6

Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 1 Q6

9. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q1

Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q1

10. November 2020 · Paper 3 · Q5

Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 3 Q5

11. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q2

Mark scheme June 2018 Paper 2 Q2