A local council in a regional Victorian town is concerned about declining feelings of belonging among residents. The council commissions a short, anonymous online survey (open for 7 days) and also reviews local participation data.
Survey results (n = 200):
- 62% agree that they “feel a strong sense of belonging to this town”.
- 48% agree that “most people in this town can be trusted”.
- 71% agree that “online groups (e.g. Facebook/Discord/WhatsApp) are my main way of staying connected to local people”.
Participation data (last 12 months):
- 18% attended at least one in-person community event (e.g. festival, working bee, club meeting).
- 54% participated in at least one local online group.
A councillor argues: “These results prove technology is replacing real community. We should stop funding online community pages and instead only fund face-to-face events.” A youth worker responds: “Online groups are a valid form of community. Cutting them would reduce belonging for people who are time-poor, new to town, or marginalised.”
c. Evaluate the councillor’s policy claim that the results “prove technology is replacing real community” and justify one recommendation for how the council should respond to strengthen feelings of belonging. Your evaluation must consider at least two non-technological factors (economic, social, political, and/or geographical characteristics) that could also shape the experience of community.
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Create Free Account Log inThis is a free VCE Units 3 & 4 Sociology practice question worth 8 marks, testing your understanding of General community experience. It falls under Community in Unit 4: Community, social movements and social change. Submit your answer above to receive instant AI-powered marking and personalised feedback.
In this unit, students explore the ways sociologists have thought about the idea of community and how various types of community are experienced. They examine the relationship between social movements and social change, including the nature, purpose, power, and outcomes of social movements.
Students examine the changing definitions and experiences of community, including the theories of Ferdinand Tonnies and Michel Maffesoli. They analyse factors influencing belonging, the impact of technology, economic, social, political, and geographical factors, and evaluate a specific community experience, considering ethical research methodology.
the experience of community generally:
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