social policy

Question 1

functionalism - sociological research should help the government create policies that help society function…

Answer 1

they tackle one issue at a time with ‘piecemeal sociological engineering’

Question 2

Durkheim believed that through scientific research they could discover…

Answer 2

both the problems and solutions to society’s problems thorough social facts; so sociology’s role is to provide the state with objective scientific information they can use to base their policies on

Question 3

how much involvement does the new right believe the state should have in society?

Answer 3

minimal involvement - they are opposed to the states involvement in the family, income support, education and health

Question 4

what does murray argue about the welfare state?

Answer 4

argues it gives ‘perverse incentives’ which weakens self reliance and encourages a dependancy culture

Question 5

in an ideal world what would not exist?

Answer 5

welfare benefits - however due to how it is possible, they believe the state should make benefits that will reduce the need for them in the future

Question 6

what does the new right want sociologists to do?

Answer 6

come up with alternative policies to the existing ones and for them to restore the responsibility that the welfare state has taken away from individuals and for individuals to take responsibly for their own and their families welfare rather than relying on the state

Question 7

marxism - the state represents the ideas of the ruling class so it’s policies are in the interests of capitalism and don’t serve society as a whole, so policies do what?

Answer 7

1. legitimises the ideological - helps mask capitalism by giving ‘caring’ face
2. maintains the labour force for further exploitation
3. is a means of preventing revolution when class conflict threatens capitalism

Question 8

social policy does sometimes provide real benefits to wc however….

Answer 8

the provision of benefits and services are constantly threatened by welfare cuts

Question 9

how has the feminist movement has had an impact on equality

Answer 9

by the creation of policies like sex discrimination act and equal pay act

Question 10

postmodernists believe sociological research doesn’t provide the ‘truth’ because…

Answer 10

there is no such thing as the ‘truth’ just many forms of it so sociological research only provides possible truth

Question 11

creating social policies would be pointless due to…

Answer 11

how it aims to fix an issue that doesn’t exist in the first place