How to Improve Evaluation in Sociology and Psychology Essays

Ria is a passionate and experienced Psychology, and Sociology Teacher, supporting students at GCSE and A Level, as well as in Health and Social Care, PSHE and Citizenship. She is also an AQA Sociology Examiner, giving her direct insight into assessment objectives and exam technique. Here, she draws on that examining experience to explain what "add more evaluation" really means, and how students can turn it into a genuinely convincing argument. 

How to Improve Evaluation in Sociology and Psychology Essays

By Ria | AQA Examiner and qualified Teacher | Sherpa Tutor

“Add more evaluation” is a common piece of feedback in Sociology and Psychology, but it is not always clear what this actually means. Evaluation is not just about adding a criticism at the end of a paragraph. It means explaining the strengths or weaknesses of a theory, study or argument, and why they matter.

Don’t stop at the basic point

A common point in A level Psychology is: “The study was conducted in a laboratory, so it lacks ecological validity.” This needs further explanation. What was unrealistic about the study? How might that have affected the participants’ behaviour? Does this mean the findings may not apply to real life?

The same applies in A level Sociology. Rather than only saying that Marxism focuses too much on class, explain that it may overlook factors such as gender, ethnicity and individual choice. This makes the criticism more relevant and developed. A useful habit is to ask yourself “So what?” after every evaluation point.

Make your evidence relevant

Including the name of a psychologist or sociologist does not automatically make a strong paragraph. You need to explain how their evidence supports or challenges the argument. In Psychology, make it clear how a study’s findings affect the explanation you are discussing. In Sociology, explain whether the evidence supports a particular perspective or shows that its argument is limited. The Examiner should not have to work out why you included the evidence.

Compare different explanations

Alternative explanations are a useful way to evaluate. For example, a biological explanation in Psychology could be compared with a social or cognitive explanation. In Sociology, a functionalist view could be compared with Marxist, feminist or interactionist ideas. Try to go further than saying that two perspectives disagree. Explain what one perspective accounts for that the other misses, or why one has stronger evidence.

Avoid generic criticisms

Points such as “the sample was small”, “the study was artificial” or “the theory is deterministic” can be useful, but only if you explain them properly. A small sample is not always a major weakness. A theory being deterministic is not a complete criticism on its own. Your evaluation should be specific to the theory, study and question in front of you.

Reach a judgement

A good essay should build towards an answer. Your conclusion should not simply say that there are strengths and weaknesses on both sides. Instead, decide what the evidence suggests. Is one explanation more convincing? Is the theory useful but incomplete? Would a combination of explanations give a better account?

At GCSE, these same skills still apply, for example in GCSE Psychology, especially in longer questions. The evaluation may be less detailed than at A level, but students should still explain their points, use relevant evidence and give a clear conclusion.

My main advice is simple: make the point, support it and explain why it matters. That is what turns evaluation from something memorised into a convincing argument.