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Read Item G below and answer the question that follows - AQA - A-Level Sociology - Question 11 - 2017 - Paper 2
Question 11
Read Item G below and answer the question that follows. Item G Relative poverty is where individuals do not have the resources to sustain the lifestyle that people... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Read Item G below and answer the question that follows - AQA - A-Level Sociology - Question 11 - 2017 - Paper 2
Step 1
Difficulty 1: Subjectivity of Measurement
Answer
One major difficulty sociologists face when measuring relative poverty is the inherent subjectivity in determining what constitutes a 'necessity' for a person's lifestyle. Different individuals and families may have unique needs and preferences, leading to varying perceptions of poverty. For example, while one person may consider access to the internet as essential for modern life, another might deem it less critical. This subjectivity can complicate the formulation of a consistent measurement tool, resulting in a lack of agreement on the threshold for relative poverty.
Step 2
Difficulty 2: Cultural Variation
Answer
Another significant challenge is the cultural context in which relative poverty is assessed. Items considered vital for a comfortable lifestyle can differ widely between cultures or communities. For instance, access to specific foods, entertainment, or social activities may be viewed as essential in one community but not in another. This cultural variation can make it difficult for sociologists to develop universally applicable criteria for measuring relative poverty, potentially skewing results and conclusions drawn from their studies.