OCR · GCSE · Sociology
Social mobility
This study guide explores the critical topic of social mobility in the UK, a cornerstone of OCR GCSE Sociology. It dissects whether society is truly meritocratic, where talent and hard work determine success, or if structural barriers related to class, gender, and ethnicity limit life chances. Understanding this is vital for top marks.
- 4 min read
- 3 worked examples
- 5 practice questions
- 6 key terms
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Social Mobility in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: OCR
The movement of individuals or groups up or down the social hierarchy.
Study Notes
Overview
Social mobility is the study of movement within the social class structure. For OCR candidates, this topic is not just about defining terms; it's about evaluating the extent to which the UK can be considered an open, meritocratic society. Examiners expect you to engage critically with the optimistic Functionalist view that role allocation is fair, and contrast it sharply with the pessimistic views of Marxists and Feminists who argue that structural inequalities are deeply embedded in our society. This guide will equip you with the key theories, studies, and evidence needed to analyse patterns of intergenerational and intragenerational mobility, and to construct high-level arguments about the 'myth of meritocracy'. Credit is consistently given for candidates who can deploy specific evidence, such as data from the Sutton Trust or findings from Goldthorpe's Oxford Mobility Study, to support their claims. Mastering this topic means moving beyond common sense to a robust, evidence-based sociological analysis.
Key Concepts & Theories
Types of Social Mobility
What it is: Social mobility is measured in four key ways. Understanding the distinction between them is crucial for earning AO1 marks.
Why it matters: Examiners will penalise candidates who confuse these terms. Precision is key.
Specific Knowledge: Vertical (up/down), Horizontal (sideways), Intergenerational (between generations), Intragenerational (within a lifetime).
Theoretical Perspectives
What it is: The major sociological theories offer contrasting explanations for the patterns of social mobility we observe.
Why it matters: The core of any high-mark essay on this topic is the debate between these perspectives. You must be able to explain and evaluate them.
Specific Knowledge: Functionalism (Parsons), Marxism (Marx, Bourdieu), Feminism.
Key Individuals & Studies
John Goldthorpe
Role: Sociologist, lead author of the Oxford Mobility Study.
Key Actions: Conducted a major study in the 1970s comparing the social class of fathers and sons to measure intergenerational mobility.
Impact: His findings challenged the Functionalist view of meritocracy. He found that while 'absolute' mobility had increased (more middle-class jobs were available), 'relative' mobility rates (a working-class person's chances of reaching the top compared to a middle-class person) had not changed significantly. This supports the Marxist view of class reproduction.
Pierre Bourdieu
Role: French sociologist.
Key Actions: Developed the concept of 'cultural capital'.
Impact: Bourdieu argued that the children of the middle and upper classes inherit cultural capital – the knowledge, attitudes, and values that are prized by the education system and employers. This gives them an unfair advantage, making it appear that their success is based on merit when it is actually a product of their privileged background. This is a key concept for explaining the 'myth of meritocracy'.
The Sutton Trust
Role: A research charity focused on improving social mobility.
Key Actions: Publishes regular, contemporary research on the relationship between educational background and elite professions.
Impact: Provides powerful, up-to-date evidence to support Marxist and Feminist arguments. For example, their 2019 report 'Elitist Britain' showed that 65% of senior judges and 57% of senior civil servants were privately educated, despite only 7% of the population attending private schools. This is gold-standard evidence for your essays.
Visual Resources
2 diagrams and illustrations
Interactive Diagrams
1 interactive diagram to visualise key concepts
Diagram could not be rendered
A timeline showing the publication of key sociological works related to social mobility.
Worked Examples
3 worked examples — open one to explore the question and available guidance.
Practice Questions
Try the question, then reveal an answer plan or example response
Evaluate the view that the UK is a meritocracy. (12 marks)
Hint: Start with the Functionalist argument for meritocracy, then use evidence from Marxist, Feminist, and other research (e.g., Sutton Trust) to critique it. Come to a clear conclusion.
Describe two ways in which a person's social class background might affect their chances of upward social mobility. (4 marks)
Hint: Think about the advantages a middle-class background might provide, or the disadvantages of a working-class background.
Explain what sociologists mean by the 'glass ceiling'. (4 marks)
Hint: Define the term and state which social group it primarily affects.
Outline and explain one strength and one weakness of using official statistics to measure social mobility. (6 marks)
Hint: Think about the advantages (e.g., scale, cost) and disadvantages (e.g., definitions, validity) of large-scale government data.
Explain the difference between absolute and relative mobility. (4 marks)
Hint: Absolute mobility is about the overall number of jobs, while relative mobility is about your chances compared to others.
Exam technique
How to turn what you know into marks
How to approach the question
1. Identify the command word (e.g., 'Explain', 'Evaluate'). 2. Identify the topic (e.g., 'Functionalist view'). 3. Identify the number of marks available. This tells you the depth required.
How to structure your answer
- Explain questions
- Use the PEEL structure: Point, Evidence (sociologist, study, statistic), Explanation, Link back to the question.
- Outline questions
- Make distinct points. For a 6-mark 'Outline three...' question, this means three clear, separate points, each developed for 2 marks.
- Evaluate questions
- Introduction setting out the debate. At least two 'for' paragraphs. At least one 'against' paragraph (evaluation). A justified conclusion that answers the 'how far' question.
Timing
Approximately 1.5 minutes per mark. For a 12-mark question, this means around 18 minutes.
Common pitfalls
- Confusing inter- and intra-generational mobility.
- Using 'common sense' instead of sociological evidence.
- Describing theories without evaluating them in a 12-mark question.
- Not providing a justified conclusion in an 'evaluate' question.
What the command words want
- Explain
- Provide reasons why something happens. Use causal language ('this leads to...', 'as a result...').
- Outline
- Set out the main characteristics or points. Be concise and clear.
- Describe
- Give a detailed account of the characteristics of something.
- Evaluate / How far do you agree
- Present a balanced argument with evidence for and against a view, and then make a final, justified judgement.
Watch or listen (optional)
Test your understanding of Social mobility
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
7 days Premium · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge