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      Investigating worldviews in our community

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can analyse local census data about worldviews and carry out a survey.

      Key learning points

      1. Social scientists of religion use survey data to investigate worldviews.
      2. The census provides information at a national and local level about worldviews.
      3. We can investigate worldviews in our local community using census data.
      4. We can carry out a survey in our school community to see how this data is similar or different to local census data.

      Keywords

      • Worldview - the way people see, interpret and inhabit the world

      • Census - a national survey held every 10 years in the UK

      • Data - information that can be collected and analysed

      • Survey - a method of collecting data by asking questions through a form

      • Local - nearby or related to an area

      Common misconception

      Religions and worldviews will look the same in our local area compared to England and Wales.

      Data may look similar or different. There may be local variations, meaning that your local data may be very similar or completely different to national data.

      Teacher tip

      Use the Office of National Statistics website to access your local data for religion and belief. You can use this to compare against national data. Pupils could survey their class or school to compare the data with local data.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is one way we can learn about worldviews in the UK?

      watching films about other countries
      reading stories from the Bible
      Correct answer: looking at information from the census

      Q2.
      What does the word “context” mean when studying worldviews?

      the country someone was born in
      Correct answer: the background or situation around someone’s life
      a set of religious rules

      Q3.
      What is a pattern in the context of religion and worldviews?

      a design used in religious art
      a rule that everyone must follow
      Correct answer: a repeated way something happens

      Q4.
      Why might members of the same worldview live in similar areas?

      Correct answer: due to history, culture, and access to places of worship
      because they all enjoy the same hobbies
      they are told where to live

      Q5.
      Why do social scientists study worldviews and where people live?

      Correct answer: to understand how people’s beliefs connect to their lives
      to decide where to build shopping centres
      to teach people which worldview to follow

      Q6.
      How can interviews help us learn about worldviews?

      They tell us what rules each religion has.
      They show which worldview is the most popular.
      Correct answer: They give personal stories that explain beliefs and choices.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Social scientists use the to study worldviews at national and local levels.

      Correct Answer: census, Census

      Q2.
      A is a method of collecting data by asking people questions.

      Correct Answer: survey, Survey

      Q3.
      What is a worldview?

      a place where people worship
      a rule followed by religious leaders
      Correct answer: the way people see and understand the world

      Q4.
      What does the census help social scientists understand?

      Correct answer: people’s beliefs and where they live
      people’s holiday plans
      people’s jobs only

      Q5.
      What can surveys in school communities help us do?

      choose new school rules
      Correct answer: learn how worldviews compare locally
      decide what people should believe

      Q6.
      Why is it helpful to compare national and local census data?

      Correct answer: to spot patterns and differences in beliefs
      to see if laws are the same
      to check how many people live in each house

      To help you plan your 6 religious education lesson on: Investigating worldviews in our community, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...