Question 1

SOURCE TEXT:
Item C

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) produced a report on university enrolment by personal characteristics from 2014/15 to 2018/19. This report found that the vast majority of students that attend university are from white backgrounds, although the number of students from minority ethnic backgrounds is increasing year on year.

[Image of a bar chart showing university enrolment by ethnicity from 2014-15 to 2018-19]

Source: HESA 2020

QUESTION:
From Item C, examine one strength of the research.

Accepted Answer

Look at the source of the data (HESA - a government agency). Think about the general strengths of using official statistics in sociological research. Select one strength (e.g., reliability, large scale, trends over time) and explain it in the context of Item C.

Question 2

What mistakes do candidates make on this AQA GCSE question?

Accepted Answer

Stating a strength without linking it to the item. For example, just saying 'it is reliable' without explaining why the data from HESA is likely to be reliable.

How to approach this question

Full Answer

Common mistakes

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