Eduqas GCSE Sociology key terms

Agreement among members of a society about important values and standards of behaviour.

The reversal of mainstream values, so that behaviour condemned by wider society is rewarded within a group.

A characteristic or factor that can vary between people, groups or situations, such as household income or educational achievement.

Research that asks people about crimes they have experienced as victims, including incidents not reported to the police.

A survey asking people about crimes committed against them during a specified period.

The number of offences in a specified place and period.

Paid work: workers sell their labour to an employer in return for wages.

The value of assets owned, such as property, savings and investments, after subtracting debts.

Reliance on state benefits for income. In Murray’s explanation, benefits encourage continuing reliance by reducing incentives to seek paid work.

Government provision intended to support people’s welfare through services and financial assistance.

Crime committed by a person of high social status in the course of their occupation, such as professional fraud.

Connections between relatives beyond the immediate nuclear family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

People who are in paid employment but whose household income is still insufficient to escape poverty.

An employment contract under which an employer does not guarantee a minimum number of working hours.