Sociology key terms

Success in education, indicated by outcomes such as examination results, qualifications and progression to further or higher education.

The educational results or qualifications a person achieves, such as GCSE grades.

Continued participation in education, such as remaining at school at ages 16, 17 or 18.

A deliberate change to the organisation, provision or operation of education.

Based on equality, including equal power or status between family members.

A family in which members have relatively equal power and partners share responsibilities and decision-making.

An examination taken around age 11 to select pupils for different secondary schools, historically under the tripartite system and still used for grammar-school entry in some areas.

A small, privileged group with a disproportionate share of power or resources.

The hypothesis that working-class people become more like the middle class in attitudes, norms and values as wages and living standards improve.

The argument that increasing affluence leads working-class people to adopt middle-class lifestyles, norms and values.

Leaving one country to live in another.

The effort involved in meeting other people's emotional needs and maintaining relationships.

Being engaged in paid work, whether as an employee or through self-employment.

A parental household in which the children have left home.

A couple whose children have become adults and left the family home.

A marriage in which the partners remain legally married but no longer have a meaningful relationship as a couple.

Deprivation arising from poor surroundings and living conditions, such as inadequate housing or air pollution.

A situation in which people have an equal chance to succeed, regardless of their social background.

A situation in which people or groups achieve similar results, such as similar earnings or educational attainment.

A church formally linked to the state. The Church of England is established in England, with the monarch as its Supreme Governor.

An issue concerning the protection and fair treatment of research participants, including informed consent, confidentiality, withdrawal and protection from harm.

Issues researchers must consider to protect participants and conduct morally acceptable research, including informed consent, withdrawal, confidentiality and protection from harm.

A question about whether the way research is conducted or used respects people’s rights, privacy and well-being.

An assessment of a proposed study’s ethical risks and safeguards, usually by an independent committee.

The presence of different ethnic groups within a community or society.

A group sharing an identity based on cultural traditions or characteristics, such as language or religion.

A sense of belonging to a group with a shared cultural background, which may include language, traditions or religion.

The shared cultural traditions and norms, such as language, religion or customs, that distinguish a group from others.

An ethnic group that does not form the majority within a particular society.

A group with a shared ethnic identity that forms a smaller proportion of a society's population than the majority ethnic group.