IGCSE Sociology Practice Exam

Focusing on the large scale of whole societies is the macro approach. It examines broad social structures and institutions—such as education systems, the economy, family, and class relations—and how they interact to shape patterns across the entire society. This big-picture view aims to explain widespread trends and social order, not just individual experiences. The micro approach, by contrast, looks at individuals and small groups, emphasizing everyday interactions and personal meanings. Interpretivism focuses on understanding people's subjective meanings and experiences rather than broad structural patterns. Identity refers to how people see themselves or are perceived by others, which is a concept within sociology rather than an approach to studying society’s scale.