Question 1

SOURCE TEXT:
Item A

There are concerns from some social commentators about the relatively high level of youth crime in society.

The Ministry of Justice produced a report entitled 'Youth Justice Statistics: 2018 to 2019', in which they presented the national statistics on recorded criminal behaviour amongst young people (below the age of 18). The report stated that there were 21 700 children either cautioned or sentenced in that time. Of this group:

• 85% were male
• 15% were female
• 73% were White
• 27% were Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic
• 23% were aged 10–14
• 77% were aged 15–17.

Source: Ministry of Justice, 2020

QUESTION:
From Item A, examine one weakness of using government-reported statistics to research youth crime.

Accepted Answer

Read Item A carefully and identify what kind of data is being presented ('recorded criminal behaviour'). Think about the general limitations of official crime statistics. Select one limitation and explain it in the context of the information given in Item A.

Question 2

What mistakes do candidates make on this AQA GCSE question?

Accepted Answer

Stating a weakness of quantitative data in general (e.g., 'lacks detail') without linking it specifically to the context of crime statistics from Item A.

How to approach this question

Full Answer

Common mistakes

Practice the full AQA GCSE Sociology Paper 2

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