Relationship between sociology and social policy

Question 1

what is a social policy?

Answer 1

laws, actions or guidelines, that are created and implemented by the government, to solve social issues/problems

Question 2

what is a social problem?

Answer 2

issues within society that cause harm to individuals and society, leading to dysfunction, conflict and inequalities.

Question 3

what did Worsley say is needed to fix social problems?

Answer 3

need collective action to fix

Question 4

what are the two arguments for the relationship between sociology and social policy?

Answer 4

1- strong relationship (possible and desirable)
2- weak relationship (cannot and don’t want to)

Question 5

what are the three reasons why there is a strong relationship?

Answer 5

1- have awareness of people’s needs, can relate
2- can identify social problems, and empirical evidence through scientific evidence
3- provide an assessment of ‘what works,’ by providing solutions

Question 6

what did Giddens say about sociology?

Answer 6

‘sociology can help us in our lives.’

Question 7

what is the example for the strong relationship?

Answer 7

Townsend, UK poverty

Question 8

Give detail on Townsend’s UK poverty research?

Answer 8

-discovered true extent of UK poverty through macro scale research of 2000 homes
-poverty is just evolving, it has not improved
-indirectly led to the creation of two policies

Question 9

what two policies did Townsend’s research lead to?

Answer 9

1- Minimum wage act
2- Working Tax credits

Question 10

why should sociologists work with the government for social policies according to liberal feminists?

Answer 10

-could identify gender inequalities, create equality
-eg= Equal Pay Act, Sex Discrimination Act

Question 11

why should sociologists work with the government for social policies according to New Right?

Answer 11

-work directly with the Conservative government
-aim for self-suffiency, work ethic and independence, so people give back to country rather than take from it
-try to get rid of ‘nanny state’ , favour nuclear family
-eg= Education Reform Act, Married Persons Tax Allowance

Question 12

why should sociologists work with the government for social policies according to Functionalism?

Answer 12

-slow and gradual change to reduce affect of knee-jerk reaction, and to ensure policies have a direct impact
-piecemeal approach, maintains stability
-maintains value consensus

Question 13

what are the two points as to why sociologists should not work with social policies?

Answer 13

1- not their job, democracy = when people elect government, they are unaware that sociologists work behind the scenes, which is unfair
2- even if they could, doesn’t mean the government will listen= government are real power holders so have final say in policies, policies are for majority, may not share ideologies

Question 14

what is the example of the weak relationship?

Answer 14

Margaret Thatcher= short, sharp, shock

Question 15

give detail on the short, sharp, shock example?

Answer 15

-created harsh conditions to act as a deterrent
-aimed to solve the problem of the increase in youth crime
-sociologists hired by Thatcher to complete a field experiment (Tougher Regimes Pilot, one group had tough conditions, one without)
-evidence showed that it did not work but she still implemented it

Question 16

what percentage of youth reoffended after the Tougher Regimes Pilot?

Answer 16

60% reoffended within 2 years

Question 17

what did this example inform?

Answer 17

penal populism, liked using prison so they became overcrowded

Question 18

what are the 5 reasons why sociologists should not work with the government?

Answer 18

1- government are funding body
2- electoral popularity
3- ideological preferences and agenda setting
4- globalisation, more interconnectedness weakens the relationship
5-cost and time

Question 19

what is the analysis of the weak relationship?

Answer 19

there is barriers, creating social policies is complex, governments don’t take risks

Question 20

give detail on the black report as an example?

Answer 20

-looked at inequalities based on social class
-link between social inequalities and health, lower= more health problems
-put forward 37 policy recommendations
-report was hidden and ‘swept under carpet’ for 12 years
-government regarded it as an old-fashioned, socialist explanation

Question 21

why should radical feminists not work with the government?

Answer 21

-wouldn’t want to (created by men for men)
-see men as the problem (too extreme)
-how would this benefit the majority, it would not create equality

Question 22

why would Marxists not work with the government?

Answer 22

-would not want to
-policies do not go far enough
-abolish current system and create communism
-policies prop up capitalism and give capitalism a ‘caring face’