Debate 4 - Social Policy

Question 1

What is the definiton of Social problem and give an example

Answer 1

Worsley: Social behaviour that causes public friction and/ or private misery and calls for collective action to solve it
eg increase in crime rates

Question 2

What is the definition of Sociological problem and give an example

Answer 2

A feature of social life that requires an explanation, whether it is seen as a problem or not
eg use of manners, women in work

Question 3

All ………. problems are ……… problems

Answer 3

All sociological problems are social problems

Question 4

What is an example of sociologists successfully influencing social policy

Answer 4

Sociology department of Oxford: Influencing on social intergration stratergy - Action plan published 2019 set to rebuild more integrated communities including more community initiatives, youth programmes to equip skills of leaders to tack youth unemployment

Question 5

What is the Post modernist view of social policy

Answer 5

Impossible to disocver objective truth - all knowledge is a ‘meta-narrative’ and is no more impottant than another
Sociological findings cannot provide satisfactory basis of policy making
Soicologistss can only take the role of ‘interpreters’ - offering one view of society - opposed to law makers

Question 6

What are the 8 reasons why the government may not implement soicological findings

Answer 6

Electoral popularity
Critical sociology
Clash of ideologies
Interest groups and Lobbying
Globalisation
Funding bodies
Finanical contraints
Other influences

Question 7

What is ‘Electoral popularity’ as a reason for why the government may not implement sociological findings

Answer 7

If it lacks popularity with the public voters, they are not going to implement it

Question 8

What is ‘Critical sociology’ as a reason for why the government may not implement sociological findings

Answer 8

If it is too radical, impractical or critical of state
eg marxists suggestion to abolish capitalism

Question 9

What is ‘Clash of ideologies’ as a reason for why the government may not implement sociological findings (including evaluation)

Answer 9

If sociologists recommendation does not align with governments ideas and values
Social democratic increase social spending vs right wing ‘laissez faire’ attitude
E: Social media: government does not agree with suggestions, may be pressured by public if they support it

Question 10

What is ‘Interest groups and Lobbying’ as a reason for why the government may not implement sociological findings

Answer 10

If the recommendations goess against the interest of a pressure group
Businesses may succeed in persuading government to lower taxes

Question 11

What is ‘Globalisation’ as a reason for why the government may not implement sociological findings

Answer 11

If it goes against international laws
IMF - funding loans to other countries in exchange for structural adjustment programmes in the country

Question 12

What is ‘Funding bodies’ as a reason for why the government may not implement sociological findings

Answer 12

Government often fund sociological research, researcher may be required to sign agreement for government to block publication and prevent findings to be implemented
Sociologist influence policy, may tone down their recommendations to align with funding body

Question 13

What is ‘Financial constraints’ as a reason for why the government may not implement sociological findings

Answer 13

Suggestions are too expensive or other causes that have higher priority - especially in economic crisis
Eg The Black Report 1980 on class inequalities in health: 37 policies recommended
Initially done by New Labour but was conserv gov when done
Her gov rejected on grounds of cost and tried to restrict publication

Question 14

What is ‘Other influences’ as a reason fo why the government may not implemt sociological findings

Answer 14

other groups have more influence on the government eg economists

Question 15

How do positivists and functionalists view social policies

Answer 15

The state implements social policies based on what is best for everyone
Policies help society to function smoothly and efficiently

Question 16

How do positivsts and functionalists view the role of sociologists

Answer 16

Sociologists’ role is to provide the government with objective, scientific information to discover the cause of social problems and then provide scientific solution to influence social policy
Similar to the role of a medical researcher: Investigate problems in order to provide the causes of it, then provide ‘cure’ (policy recommendations)
Piecemeal approach: Cautious and deal with one problem at a time

Question 17

What is an example of the positivists and functionalists approach towards social problems

Answer 17

Ethnicity and education - Assimilation policies encouraged children from minority ethnic backgrounds to intergrate into mainstream British culture to raise attainment (compulsory education, British values)

Question 18

How do the marxists criticise positivists and functionalist view on social policies

Answer 18

There policies are often defeated by structural problems such as poverty
The base of society needs changing for these policies to have any effect

Question 19

What is/ should the role of social policy be according to New Right & Neoliberalism

Answer 19

Increase competitiom
Increase choice
Increase poeple being responsible for themselves and not relying on government
Should enforce tough law and order approach

Question 20

What do NR and Neoliberlists belief the role that sociologists should take

Answer 20

To propose alternative policies which aim to restore individuals’ responsibility for their own actions and welfare rather than leaving it to the state

Question 21

What are some examples of how NR and Neoliberalism had impact on social policy

Answer 21

Education Reform Act (marketisation) introducing:
Ofsted, League tables, National curriculum, Open enrolement, Formula funding
Murray - influenced gov to reduce benefits, New deal for young people
Crime: Zero tolerance policy, penal populism

Question 22

How do marxists criticise NR and Neoliberalisms approach towards social problems

Answer 22

Only benefit the rich and powerful - places blame on the wc for situations and distracts form real problems - capitalism

Question 23

How do social democratic criticise NR and Neoliberalisms approach towards social problems

Answer 23

This approach neglects the poorest - needs more government intevention to reduce inequality

Question 24

What is/ should the role of social policy be according to Social Democratics

Answer 24

Redistribute wealth from rich to poor
Promote equal opportunity
Make capitalism fairer

Question 25

What role should the sociologists take according to Social Deomocratics

Answer 25

Research inequality and make policies to improve (Townsend)

Question 26

What are some examples of how Social Democrats have impacted social policy

Answer 26

Influenced New Labour & Coalition Education: Sure starts, Tutition loans, FSM, Education Maintenance loans
Funded The Black Report 1980 to identify inequalities in health

Question 27

How do marxists criticise Social democrats and their approach towards social policy

Answer 27

They like how they are making the change but it is not fast enough - needs a revolution

Question 28

How do NR criticise Social democrats and their approach towards social policy

Answer 28

Believe they are too involved and should not be giving too much money

Question 29

What is/should the role of social policy be according to Marxists

Answer 29

To benefit the ruling class and maintain capitalism
To prevent a revolution and maintain a hierarchy by making social policy look like they benefit the wc
T maintain the work force for exploitation
Social problems like class inequality cannot be solved by capitalist policies

Question 30

What role should the sociologists take according to Marxists

Answer 30

To criticise capitalists social policy and expose the way the government use policy to mask capitalism as to opposed to working for the capitalist government

Question 31

What are some examples of how Marxists have impacted social policy

Answer 31

Jeremy Corbin (he is not a marxist) put some of the concerns of marxists on the political agenda: debates surrounding the taxation of companies to reduce wealth inequality

Question 32

How do social democrats criticise marxists and their approach to social policy

Answer 32

Desire for revolutionary change is unrealistic, impractical and undesirable
Can have positive policy from capitalists - seen by own policies e.g sure start centres
Policies do help the poor - Benefits, Furlough

Question 33

What is/ should the role of social policy according to Feminism

Answer 33

Radical Feminists: encourage womens subordination maintains patriarchy
Family policies tend to benefit patriarchal nuclear family - marriage sex allowance
Liberal Feminists: introduce gradual change, reduce discrimination, challenge sexist attitudes = equal opportunities

Question 34

What role should the sociologist take according to Feminism

Answer 34

Sociologists should to qualitative methods to inform policy - only way to gain understanding of womens experiences without imposing a meaning (which occurs in quantative data)

Question 35

What are some examples of how Feminism impacted social policy

Answer 35

Liberal Feminists: GIST and WISE, 1970 Equal Pay Act, Removing sexist imagery, Maternity Leave
Radical Feminists: Improvements in policing voilence against women, seperation in refuges for women escaping domestic voilence

Question 36

How do Radical and Marxist Feminists criticise Feminism and their approach to social policy

Answer 36

Government csnnot deliver policies to reduce gender inequality as they do not go far enough - more radical and revolution