2: Social change

Question 1

Example 1 population growth and ageing population

Answer 1

Report made on those ages 65 and over
Population projections made

Question 2

Example 1 population projections

Answer 2

Give an indication of the future size and age structure of the population based on mid-year population estimates and assumptions
Office for National Statistics publishes population projections on a national and regional level
Demographic projections widely used for resource allocation and planning

Question 3

Example 2 childbirth and families

Answer 3

Mums in UK get older and fewer
Fertility rates decreased across all age groups

Question 4

Example 2 average age of mother

Answer 4

1971: 23.7
2019: 30.7

Question 5

Example 3 shifting economy and UK services developments

Answer 5

Growth of the service industry and decline of other sectors

Question 6

Social change definition

Answer 6

Process of changes in the structure/social order society

Question 7

Indicators of social change

Answer 7

Demography
Economic life
Culture
Politics

Question 8

Longer perspective on social change; modernity

Answer 8

Fundamental social change from pre-modern to modern society
Big 3 at the heart of the study: Marx, Weber, Durkheim
Different approaches Marx/Weber
Reasons for change controversially debated

Question 9

Change towards modernity

Answer 9

Associated with development of modern capitalism
Industrialisation
Science and reason
Democracy/development nation state
Rise of modern society

Question 10

Enlightenment

Answer 10

Age of reason: scientific study becomes more popular and influential in Europe
Secularisation/demystification
Democratization/human rights
‘Sapere Aude’ Kant
New inventions
Questioning of traditional/old authorities
Control over nature

Question 11

Early theories of social change

Answer 11

Comte
Evolutionary theories
Conflict theories

Question 12

Comte’s theory of social change

Answer 12

Society is dynamic, in flux
Develops through series of progressive stages

Question 13

Evolutionary theories of social change

Answer 13

H. Spencer
Growing population/structural differentiation of society

Question 14

Conflict theories of social change

Answer 14

Social changes brought about by inner conflicts of society/class/antagonism/power struggle

Question 15

Further theories of social change

Answer 15

Functionalism

Question 16

Functionalism Durkheim/Parsons

Answer 16

Society complex web structure of interlinked and connected functions
Consistent search for balance equilibrium
Alternative views
Feminist theory
Intersectionality

Question 17

New theories of social change

Answer 17

Daniel Bell
Change from goods-producing to service economy
Dominance of professional/technical class
Theoretical knowledge is key
Future orientation
Scientific decision-making

Question 18

Weber’s view on social change

Answer 18

Feels ambivalent about change from pre-modern to modern society
Critique of modernisation of society seen as a rationalisation/bureaucratisation
Disenchantment of the world: entzauberung
Iron cage of rationality

Question 19

Mcdonaldisation of society

Answer 19

Process by which the principles of fast-food restaurants are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world
Efficiency/calculability/predictability
Control/replacement of human by non-human technology

Question 20

The information society

Answer 20

Wealth based on service industries, knowledge production and information technology
Information revolution
Globalisation
Bell’s key argument; technological changes radic`ally altered society