Last Updated on September 11, 2025 by Karl Thompson
This research project is designed to give A-level Sociology students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in Crime and Deviance and Research Methods to a topic of their own choosing. It works well as an end-of-year assignment, revision activity, or independent learning task.
- The project develops key skills including:
- Evaluating strengths, limitations, and practical challenges
- Applying sociological theories of crime and deviance
- Reviewing sociological research and evidence
- Designing and justifying methods for researching crime
The AQA Sociology specification states that you should be able to cite examples of your own research, hence this summer term research project (which is also useful for introducing theories of crime and deviance.
Step 1: Choose a Topic Area
Select one specific type of crime, deviant behaviour, or social issue. Some suggestions:
- Youth crime and gangs
- Cybercrime (e.g. fraud, hacking, online harassment)
- Corporate or white-collar crime
- Domestic violence
- Green crime and environmental harm
- Terrorism and radicalisation
- Gender and crime (e.g. female offending or victimisation)
- Ethnicity and crime (e.g. stop and search, disproportionality)
Step 2: Define and Describe the Issue
- Provide a clear definition of your chosen type of crime or deviance.
- Use up-to-date statistics to show trends (ONS and Home Office are the best sources).
- Give recent examples or case studies (use a news site such as the BBC).
Step 3: Apply Sociological Theories
- Explain how different sociological perspectives might interpret your topic.
Which theory best explains your issue, and why?
Step 4: Review Research Studies
- Summarise at least two relevant sociological studies.
- Explain what each found, how they researched it, and how useful their evidence is.
- Evaluate their methods in terms of validity, reliability, representativeness, ethics.
Students can find studies using Google Scholar or the British Sociological Association journals list.
Step 5: Research Design Task
Imagine you are a sociologist investigating this issue. Outline a mini research proposal:
- What is your research question?
- Which method(s) would you use (surveys, interviews, ethnography, official statistics)?
- What are the strengths and limitations of your chosen approach?
- What practical or ethical problems might you face?
For further guidance see:
Step 6: Evaluation and Conclusion
- Summarise what sociology can teach us about your chosen issue.
- Which theories and studies are most useful?
- How effective are sociological methods in researching it?
- Why does understanding this topic matter for policy or society today?
For broader context, see:
Teacher Notes
This project can be set as:
- A 2–3 week independent learning assignment at the end of Year 12 or start of Year 13.
- A revision tool before exams, encouraging students to apply theories and methods together.
- An in-class research project, where groups tackle different crime topics and share findings.
✅ By completing this project, students will practise the higher-order skills needed for 20- and 30-mark exam questions, as well as developing an independent interest in how sociology approaches real-world issues.