The Great British Class Survey challenged older ways of measuring class by arguing that class is not only about occupation or income. It used a more multidimensional approach based on economic capital, cultural capital and social capital. Economic capital refers to money, savings, property and income. Cultural capital refers to tastes, activities, knowledge and cultural confidence. Social capital refers to networks, contacts and the status of the people someone knows. This approach is useful because it shows that class in Britain may be more complex than a simple upper, middle and working-class model. However, it has also been criticised for relying heavily on lifestyle, taste and survey data, which may not always capture exploitation, ownership, power or people’s own class identities. The original Great British Class Survey research developed measures of economic, cultural and social capital, and its data included cultural participation, social networks, income and occupation.
In this Great British Class Survey Debate Tool, students evaluate whether a multidimensional approach gives a better understanding of social class than occupation-based models. Students examine debate cards and decide which form of capital is most important, what strength the GBCS approach shows, what criticism applies, and what overall judgement is most convincing. The activity supports AQA Stratification and Differentiation by developing AO1 knowledge of class measurement, AO2 application to examples, and AO3 evaluation of economic, cultural and social capital.
Great British Class Survey Debate Tool
Evaluate multidimensional approaches to class using economic, cultural and social capital.
Task: Read each debate card and decide which type of capital is most important, what strength of the Great British Class Survey approach is being shown, what criticism applies, and what overall judgement is most convincing.
This activity helps you evaluate whether class is best measured through occupation alone, or through a broader model based on resources, culture and networks.
The debate map
Identify the capital
Is the example mainly about money, culture, networks, or a mixture?
Spot the strength
Does the approach reveal hidden advantage, lifestyle, networks or new class groups?
Apply criticism
Does it overstate taste, ignore ownership, rely on survey data or confuse identity?
Reach judgement
Is a multidimensional approach useful, limited, or best combined with other class measures?
Open Great British Class Survey guide before you begin
Exam practice after the activity
Choose one card and turn it into an evaluative paragraph:
- Point: One strength of the Great British Class Survey is…
- Application: This can be seen because…
- Analysis: This improves our understanding of class by…
- Evaluation: However, the approach can be criticised because…
- Judgement: Overall, a multidimensional model is useful when…
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