social policy

Question 1

should sociologists try and influence the social policies that govt makes? FUNCTIONALISM

Answer 1

YES
- its then job of the sociologist to provide the state with scientific and objective information on which the state can base its policies.
- the state will implement policies that help promote a fairer society for all

Question 2

should sociologists try and influence the social policies that govt makes? NEW RIGTH

Answer 2

YES
- sociologists should generate research to convince govts to do more to:
– marketise/privatise education
– promote capitalism
- promote traditional nuclear family and personal responsibility

Question 3

should sociologists try and influence the social policies that govt makes? MARXSIM

Answer 3

NO
- social policies only serve the ruling class. even policies introduced to help the working class like the creation of the NHS are used to dampen discontent and keep them fit to work
- they present a ‘caring face of capitalism’
- recommendations for social policies are pointless as only a revolution can solve social problems

Question 4

should sociologists try and influence the social policies that govt makes? FEMINISM

Answer 4

YES AND NO
- state perpetuates its subordination of women through social policies - promoting policies like marriage keeps women dependent on men. they create a familistic gender regime
- feminists have helped promote anti-discrimination policies since 1970s and liberal feminists support the creation of policies that would create an individualistic family regime

Question 5

sociology influences policy

Answer 5

• liberal feminist recommendations about equal pay and anti-discrimination laws have been accepted because they are more moderate, improving the lot of women without drastically undermining the rights of men.
• new right research into aspects of crime has been welcomed as this reflects the establishment view that crime is a problem for society, rather than the marxist view that it results from inequality

Question 6

sociology is not concerned with policy

Answer 6

• some sociology is motivated by the desire to expand human knowledge and understanding or to challenge widespread beliefs rather than to influence the organisation of social life
  e.g interpretivists are interested in labelling
• ppostmodernists believe that all views are equally good, which is not pragmatic enough to contribute significantly to social policy

Question 7

policy influences sociology

Answer 7

• new policies led to new areas of research e.g the impact of new types of schools
  -govt funds sociological research through grants - its likely to fund projects concerned with the impact of govt policies as this is the most relevant for the govt

Question 8

policy disregards sociology

Answer 8

• sociologists taking a conflict view of society are unlikely to agree with govts about how society needs to be changed: radical fems, marxists and labelling theorists all view the status quo as a source of major inequalities and then power of dominant groups as a social problem. none of the major political parties would be willing to make the major structural changes urged by supporters of these perspectives, though they may consider suggestions for limited change, such as the left wing recs for more consensus style policing
• could be conflicting findings from different researchers making it difficult to be sure that the policy proposed by one is likely to work
• some sociologists are directly employed by govt agencies to find out data to help decide on new policies and to monitor their effects

Question 9

sociology should not be involved in providing information and advice for policy makers

Answer 9

• argument that sociologists should try to stay independent of govt organisations, since by working for them as paid researchers they could become ‘colonised’, losing sight of their own values and perhaps selecting data in line with what they know the govt hopes they will find (the imposition factor)
• marxists and radical feminists view cooperation with establishment policy makers as betrayal of principles as the state works in the interests of capitalism and patriarchy

Question 10

sociology should be involved in providing information and advice for policy makers

Answer 10

• should contribute to social policy making as otherwise the discipline loses much of its relevance to real life, appearing to be an intellectual pursuit.
• soc have an ethical duty to try to improve society and if they fail to inform policies, then poorer judgements will be made or other social scientists e.g economists/psychologists, will step into the breach with their own particular biases.
• moreover, sociologists should be able to undertake research while maintaining objectivity in their methods