Sociology Study Notes

Students explore the meaning of culture and the distinction between material and non-material culture, focusing on Australian Indigenous cultures. They examine the sociological imagination, analyse representations of Indigenous cultures, investigate historical suppression and Indigenous responses, and evaluate the process of reconciliation and factors influencing public awareness.

Students examine the sociological concepts of race and ethnicity, the process of othering, and the theory of cultural hybridity. They investigate Australia’s ethnic diversity, multiculturalism, factors influencing belonging and inclusion, and the ethical implications of research into ethnic groups, including a case study of a specific ethnic group.

Students examine the changing definitions and experiences of community, including the theories of Ferdinand Tonnies and Michel Maffesoli. They analyse factors influencing belonging, the impact of technology, economic, social, political, and geographical factors, and evaluate a specific community experience, considering ethical research methodology.

Students investigate the sociological concept of power, the nature and purpose of social movements, types and stages of social movements, and how power is used by movements and their opposition. They evaluate the influence of social movements on social change, referencing Erica Chenoweth’s work, and analyse a specific social movement in detail.