Social Policy

Question 1

define social policy

Answer 1

• social policy = plans and actions of govt to tackle social problems
• e.g. education, poverty

Question 2

how does Worsley define a social problem

Answer 2

• social problem = any pattern of relationship that calls for explanation

Question 3

outline the political ideology of govt as a factor that influences policy

Answer 3

political ideology of govt:
- the researcher may have to support Govt ideology or objectives in order to receive funding for research

Question 4

outline extreme views as a factor that influences policy

Answer 4

extreme views:
- sociologists such as Marxists, who are critical of the state/ those in power, are less likely to influence policy as they may be seen as too extreme

Question 5

outline the power to define a situation

Answer 5

• sociological research is only one element in shaping social policy
• ultimately, any policy is the result of a political decision by those in power

Question 6

outline the Positivist view of social policy

Answer 6

• Positivists, e.g. Comte + Durkheim take the view that sociology is a science and can discover the cause of social problems + their scientific solutions
• their approach was part of the enlightenment project to advocate for science to improve society
• Durkheim suggested meritocratic education + abolishment of inherited wealth to promote social cohesion

Question 7

outline the Functionalist view of social policy

Answer 7

• state policies is a positive function that has a collective impact to promote solidarity + enforce social norms
• they serve the interests of society as a whole + implements policies for their benefit
• sociologists should work w/ Govt to uncover causes of social patterns + form policies to improve society
• e.g. housing policies help families to perform their role with more ease

Question 8

outline the piecemeal approach

Answer 8

• Functionalists favour social policies/ piecemeal social engineering
• this is a cautious approach which tackles one specific issue at a time

Question 9

outline a criticism of the piecemeal approach

Answer 9

• Marxists: educational policies aimed at equalising opportunity for children of lower classes are often defeated by the influence of poverty in society

Question 10

outline the social democratic perspective

Answer 10

• Social Democrats: favour a major redistribution of wealth
• Townsend: SD sociologists should be included in researching social issues + making policy recommendations to solve them
• based on his research of poverty, Townsend made recommendations for higher welfare benefits and more spending on health + education

Question 11

outline the Black report

Answer 11

• in 1980, this report on class inequalities in health + education resulted in 37 policy recommendations to reduce these deep-rooted inequalities
• e.g. free school meals, more spending on housing, etc
• Thatcher’s conservative govt refused to implement these suggestions on the grounds of cost

Question 12

outline 3 criticisms of the social democratic perspective

Answer 12

• Marxists: reject the idea that the policies in the Black report are enough to solve the deep rooted issue of class inequality. Capitalism is the ultimate issue + must be abolished
• M: as the Black report shows, the capitalist state is unlikely to implement costly public spending to benefit the working class
• Postmodernists: criticises sociologists for attempting to influence policy as all knowledge produced by research is uncertain, and so govt policies shouldn’t be based on it

Question 13

outline the Marxist view of social policy

Answer 13

• the state represents the ruling class and their social policies represent the interests of the capitalist state
• social polices do 3 things

Question 14

Marxist: name the 3 things that social policies do

Answer 14

policies…
- ideological tool
- maintains the labour workforce
- prevents revolution

Question 15

Marxist: outline how social policies maintain the labour force

Answer 15

• policies maintain the labour force to further exploitation
• e.g. the NHS serves capitalism by keeping workers fit enough to work, health + safety workplace laws

Question 16

Marxist: outline how social policies are an ideological tool

Answer 16

• social policies masks capitalist exploitation
• e.g. the welfare state gives capitalism a ‘human/ caring face’ - making it seem that the state cares about the old, poor and sick

Question 17

Marxist: outline how social policies prevent revolution

Answer 17

• when class conflict intensifies + threatens the stability of Capitalism, Marxists believe policy is a way to ‘buy off’ working class opposition to capitalism
• e.g. the creation of the welfare state post WW2 were a way to buy off WC oppression to capitalism

Question 18

how do Marxists view sociologists role in creating social policy

Answer 18

• the sociologists main role should be to critique capitalist social policy - not to serve the capitalist state
• sociologists must expose the exploitation in capitalism and how it is reflected in social policy

Question 19

outline a criticism of the Marxist view of social policy

Answer 19

• the M view of social policy + sociologists role in it is unrealistic + impractical
• Social Democrats: sociological research can help to create progressive change in the system

Question 20

outline the Feminist view of social policy

Answer 20

• state policies perpetuate women’s subordination
• e.g. family polices may assume that the conventional nuclear fam (which oppresses women) is the norm, and so policies may produce a self fulfilling prophecy making it harder for family diversity where W aren’t oppressed - they make policies which maintain the NF

Question 21

what do Liberal Fs think of social policies

Answer 21

• Feminist research has impacted a number of policies
• e.g. in education, it has influenced policies on learning materials in promoting a more positive view of w
• this reflects the Lib F view that anti-discrimination reforms will ultimately bring about gender equality
• e.g. 1975 Sex Discrimination Act, 1970 Equal Pay Act

Question 22

how have Rad Fs influenced policy

Answer 22

• the idea of separatism (women living separately from men to be free from patriarchy) is reflected in refuges for women escaping domestic violence

Question 23

how do other feminists criticise the idea of social policies for women

Answer 23

• Marxist + Rad Fs reject the view that reformist social polices can liberate women - they believe they oppress W
• e.g. the criminalisation of sex work aims to protect W from exploitation, but in reality, esp for WC W, reduces their chance of employment + can make sex work more unsafe

Question 24

outline the New Right view of social policy

Answer 24

• New Right: the state should have only minimal involvement in society;
• state intervention in areas like the family, income support, education + healthcare robs peoples freedom to make choices which leads to other social issues like crime
• in particular, they oppose state welfare as it creates a dependency culture/ underclass

Question 25

outline Murrays (New Right) view of welfare benefits

Answer 25

- generous welfare benefits act as 'perverse incentives' that weaken the family's self-reliance - benefits encourage the growth of a dependency culture + underclass of lone mothers, undisciplined children + irresponsible fathers - M favours a reduction in state spending on welfare

Question 26

what do New Right think about the role of sociologists in relation to policies

Answer 26

- sociologists can propose alternative policies which aim to restore individual responsibility - e.g. Breakdown Britain (a Conservative report) proposes policies such as marriage preparation + parenting classes - the report thinks the state has stripped people of their self responsibility. social policy should enable people to help themselves

Question 27

outline the influence of New Right thinking

Answer 27

- the NR ideology is largely influenced from the Conservatives, however some Labour policies have shown the influence of the NR

Question 28

name 7 factors that influence policy

Answer 28

Curious People Investigate Every Peculiar Functionalist Guess 1) Cost 2) Political ideology of Gov 3) Interest groups protesting research/ area 4) Extreme views 5) Popularity with voters 6) Funding + influence of funders 7) Globalisation

Question 29

outline the costs as a factor that influences policy

Answer 29

costs: - the Gov may not have the money to fund the policy

Question 30

outline interest groups protesting research/ area as a factor that influences policy

Answer 30

interest groups protesting research/ area: - interest groups can influence policy by protesting specific areas of research they view as unethical/ harmful/ contrary to their values - e.g. through campaigns, lobbying - this can shape public + Governmetn opinion, leading to lack of funding

Question 31

outline popularity with voters as a factor that influences policy

Answer 31

popularity with voters: - some groups in society may not support your research aims which might discourage organisations/ the govt from providing funding as they need to be popular with voters

Question 32

outline funding + influence of funders as a factor that influences policy

Answer 32

funding + influence of funders: - funders may have certain requirements for the researcher to follow - if the sociologist doesn't meet these, they may refuse to fund the research

Question 33

outline globalisation as a factor that influences policy

Answer 33

globalisation: - international organisations may have requirements that need to be met when introducing policy which might prevent research being carried out that would go against this - e.g. influence from the EU

Question 34

outline the Functionalist vs Marxist view of pupil premium

Answer 34

- Functionalists: PP 'bridges the gap' between the classes + offers social stability - Marxists: schools dont always use PP funding for its intended purpose (supporting the disadvantaged)