Social Theory for A Level Sociology

Last Updated on July 13, 2025 by Karl Thompson

Sociology is all about understanding how society works — and sociological theories help explain the structures, relationships, and behaviours we see around us. This page introduces the major sociological theories you need to know for A-level exams, including key concepts from social theory and how different thinkers interpret the workings of society. Whether you’re studying Functionalism, Marxism, or Social Action Theory, this guide will help you make sense of the key ideas in sociology theories.

Together these posts cover the ‘theory’ part of the Theory and Methods part of the AQA’s A Level Syllabus, which are assessed as part of A level papers 1 and 3.  

To explore more topics across the A-level sociology specification, please visit my A-level Sociology homepage where you’ll find resources on education, families, crime, theory, methods and more.

For links to posts about qualitative, quantitative, primary and secondary research methods – see the research methods page.

Social Theory for A level: An overview

An overview of theory and methods for second year A level sociology – a very brief overview covering the bare-bones of (1) Positivism and Interpretivism, (2) Is sociology a science?, (3) Sociology and value freedom, (4) Functionalism, (5) Marxism, (6) Feminism, (7) Social action theory, (8) Post and late modernism, (9) Sociology and social policy. 

Positivism and Interpretivism

Positivism, Sociology and Social Research – detailed class notes on the relationship between The Enlightenment, industrialisation and positivist sociology.

AUGUSTE COMTE: Positivism and the scientific study of Society – An even more in depth look at Comte’s Positivism in particular.

Positivism and Interpretivism – very brief summary revision notes covering the relationship between the scientific positivist world view and quantitative methods and the humanistic interpretivist worldview and qualitative methods. 

Links to ‘Interpretivist‘ theory and methods are included under the ‘social action theory‘ section below.

Is Sociology  A Science?

Is Sociology a Science? – a summary covering a Positivist view of sociology as a science contrasted to an Interpretivist view of sociology as a humanistic discipline; sociological criticisms of the objectivity of science (Latour and Kuhn’s Paradigm Critique); Sayer’s realist view of sociology, and postmodern views of science. 

Sociology and Value Freedom

Sociology and Value Freedom – reasonably detailed class notes covering the Positive view that sociology is value free and the New Right, Marxist, Feminist and Social Action Theory views which all argue sociology is not, and/ or should not aim to be value free for various different reasons.

Functionalist Theory

🔗 1. Introduction to Functionalism

📄 Functionalism Sociology: What Is Functionalism in Sociology?

A beginner-friendly introduction to the functionalist perspective, explaining how different parts of society work together to promote stability. This post covers key ideas from classical thinkers and provides examples to help students understand the basic structure and logic of the approach. Ideal for those new to sociological theory.

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🔗 2. Functionalist Theory – Durkheim & Parsons

📄 Functionalist Theory Sociology: Durkheim and Parsons Explained

A more in-depth exploration of how Durkheim and Parsons developed core elements of sociological theory. This post examines key theoretical frameworks, including value consensus and system integration, offering a deeper understanding of structural analysis in classical sociology. Best suited for advanced A-level or first-year university students.

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🔗 3. Social Facts – Durkheim’s Core Concept

📄 What Are Social Facts? A Look at Durkheim’s Theory

This post explores Emile Durkheim’s concept of social facts—external social forces that influence individual behaviour. It explains how these facts underpin society’s stability and offers real-world examples to make the idea accessible and relevant. A key read for understanding how sociology differs from psychology.

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🔗 4. Merton’s Critique of Functionalism

📄 Robert Merton’s Internal Critique of Functionalism

Learn how Robert K. Merton revised classical functionalism with his concepts of manifest and latent functions, dysfunction, and middle-range theory. This post introduces students to internal debates within functionalism and bridges the gap between grand theory and practical research.

🔗 5. Functionalism Revision Notes – Key Concepts and Applications

📄 Functionalism Revision Notes for A-Level Sociology

A concise summary of the Functionalist perspective designed for A-level sociology revision. This post covers core thinkers like Durkheim and Parsons, key concepts such as social order and value consensus, and shows how Functionalism applies to topics including education, family, and crime. Ideal for quick review and exam preparation.

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Marxist Theory for Sociology

Marxist Theory is a key conflict perspective in sociology. It views society as structured around class inequality and capitalist exploitation. Marxists argue that social institutions like education, the media and religion serve ruling class interests.

👉 Learn more about core concepts, key thinkers like Marx, Althusser and Gramsci, and how Marxism applies to A-level topics in this Marxist Theory overview

Feminisms

Feminist Theory – A Summary for A-level Sociology – brief summary revision notes for liberal, radical, marxist and postmodern Feminist theory.

What is Patriarchy? A post devoted to summarising this key concept within Feminism.

Angry Wimmin‘ – A summary of a useful documentary series consisting of interviews with first, second and third wave Feminists.

Sylvia Walby – Six Structures of Patriarchy – Walby argued that there were six areas of social life in which women were still oppressed such as paid work and the media – this post explores her ideas and uses a range of contemporary evidence to evaluate her views.

Bell Hooks: Intersectionality and Second Wave Feminism – a more in-depth look at the work of Bell Hooks, who challenged all of patriarchy, capitalism and racism.

Judith Butler: Gender and Performativity – gender is not fixed, but traditional gender norms are reinforced when the majority of people keep ‘doing gender’ in the same way. We can challenge dominant gender norms by performing gender in subversive ways.

How Equal are Men and Women in the U.K. today? – one way in which we can evaluate Feminisms is to explore changing patterns in the gender-gap in difference spheres of social life such as education, work, politics and crime – this post does just that!

Social Action Theory

Social Action Theory – A Summary – brief summary revision notes covering Max Weber, Erving Goffman’s Dramaturgical Theory, labelling theory and positive and negative evaluations of social action theory overall.

Max Weber’s Social Action Theory – fairly detailed class notes on some of the key ideas of Max Weber, the founding father of social action theory. His key ideas included the importance of getting to Verstehen, and his theory of general motivations and a summary of his Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism which illustrates both of these.

Max Weber and the Iron Cage of Bureaucracy – A more in-depth post supplementing the above.

A Summary of Erving Goffman’s Presentation of Self in Everyday Life – argues that humans approach social life as if they were acting on a stage – we manage ourselves ‘backstage’ in order to present a constructed self to others when we are ‘front stage’ in the social world. This point of view sees individuals as very active and offers a criticism of Functionalism and Marxism which both see individuals as much more constrained and shaped by external social forces.

Ethnomethodology – Social Order is a Fiction!

Post Modernism

Modernity, Postmodernity and Late Modernity – very brief summary grids with key concepts.

From Modernity to Postmodernity – for the purposes of A-level Sociology modernity is a historical period spanning roughly the late 18th century to around the 1950s, a time when social life was relatively clearly structured along class and gender lines. Social change was still occurring during Modernity, but sociologists in that period thought change was ordered and generally progressive. Postmodernity in contrast starts from around the 1950s and is more fluid and chaotic.

Postmodernisation – describes the shift from modern culture through postmodernisation to postculture, according to Crook, Pakulski and Waters (1992)

Postmodernity and Postmodernism – Postmodernity is the historical period, postmodernism the theory (or anti-theory) – these are more detailed class notes, summary of Pip Jones’ ‘Social Theory’ book.

Three Examples of Postmodern Thinkers –brief class notes covering the work of Lyotard, Foucault and Baudrillard.

Jean Francois Lyotard – a more in depth discussion of the work of Lyotard, the guy who said Postmodernity was the ‘end of metanarratives’.

Jean Baudrillard – a more in depth discussion of Baudrillard’s postmodern critique of Marxism, including a discussion of his concept of hyperreality and his view that the ‘Gulf War Never Happened’.

Michel Foucault – where there is power there is resistance – an in-depth look at Foucault’s work on the Panopticon and social control.

Postmodernity and the Point of Sociology – brief class notes considering what a ‘postmodern sociology’ might look like.

Criticisms of Postmodernism -Postmodernism challenges the whole existence and point of sociology so it makes sense that numerous sociologists have criticised postmodernism – brief class notes.

Lash and Lury – The Global Culture Industry – Summary of a book which has something of the postmodern about it.

Late Modernism 

Critical Responses to Postmodernism – more detailed class notes covering Ulrich Beck’s work on risk and reflexivity and Anthony Giddens’ structuration theory

Anthony Giddens – Modernity and Self Identity – the very brief version in 14 bullet points! The general gist is that the shift to postmodernity HAS made society more fluid and complex, but individuals don’t have so much freedom that we have to abandon social theory all together as some postmodern thinkers suggest.

Anthony Giddens – Modernity and Self Identity, chapter one summary – very detailed class notes, containing a link to chapter two and then so on…!

Ulrich Beck: Global Risk Society – New technological risks mean scientists and governments are less trusted. All our old certainties have disappeared.

Late Modernism and the Point of Sociology – very brief summary notes on Giddens’ view on how sociology can be useful in contemporary society.

Post and late modern views on the family – brief summary notes contrasting these two perspectives. Students usually the distinction between postmodernism and late modernism, seeing the two side by side applied to one topic are should help clarify their understanding.

Post and late modern views of education – brief summary notes.

Neoliberalism and the New Right

Neoliberalism and the New Right – An Introduction – The three key ideas of Neoliberal ideology are low taxation, deregulation and privatisation and the New Right in the U.K. and U.S.A emerged out of this, but put more emphasis on a strong state enforcing law and order and conservative family values than pure neoliberals.

The Neoliberal Theory of Economic Development – a detailed post on how deregulation, low taxation and privatisation has mostly harmed developing countries and made rich countries richer.

Grenfell Tower – Profits Before Safety (2017) – the case study of Grenfell Tower seems to be a text book study in the downsides of neoliberal austerity policies – cut spending on public safety and poor people die. 

Sociology and Social Policy

Perspectives on Social Policy – detailed class notes covering Positivist, Marxist, Feminist, Social Action Theory and New Right perspectives on social policies.

Perspectives on Social Policy – brief summary notes – the bullet point version of the above!

How to Use Sociological Theory in Exams

The questions below could come up on the theory and methods sections of either AQA A-level Sociology paper 1 or paper 3

Outline and explain two arguments against the view that sociology is a science (10)

Outline and explain two reasons why Interpretivists prefer to use qualitative research methods (10) – a short answer exam style question that you might find on either paper 1 or 3 (AQA A-level Sociology exam papers).

A-Level Sociology Revision Mega Bundle 

The Theory and Methods bundle is also in my best value A level sociology revision mega bundle – which covers the entire AQA A-level specification, comprising SIX individual revision bundles: the family, education, theory and methods, beliefs, global development and crime and deviance.

Contents include:

1. over 200 pages of revision notes
2. 60 mind maps in pdf and png formats
3. 50 short answer exam practice questions and exemplar answers.