Social Policy Flashcards
What are the seven influance of policy
electoral popularity - may point to unpopular policies
ideological and policy similarties to gov
interest group - pressure groups influence policy
globalisation - international organisations
critical sociology - may be too extreme
cost - insufficent funds to implement policies
funding sources - may tone down findingds for funding
What did Worsley (1977) say the difference between social problem and sociological problems is
social problem - some kind of social behaviour that causes public friction and/or private misery needing collective action
sociological problem - any pattern of relationship that calls for explanation
What do positivists and functionalism say about social policy
looks at cause and affect to find the cure
sociologists role is to provide the state with objective and scientific facts
by investigating social problems and discovering their causes, sociologists provide information
What are the criticisms of positivisms and functionalism social policy
Marxism - educational policies aimed at tackling inequality in education are sometimes ineffective because of inequality in wider society
What is the social democratic perspective on social policy
similar to functionalist - redistribution of wealth
Towsend (1979) should be involved in researching social problem and making policy recommendations
Black report (1980)
What are the criticisms of social democratic perspective
Marxist - they disagree policies are enough to solve problems as inequalities are due to capitalism and capitalism does not want to invest in public spending
Postmodernists - it is impossible in interpreting an objective truth - all research is uncertain so sociolgists can only be interpreters not legislators
What is the marxist perspective on social policy
the state is not benefitting to all members of society
social policy provide ideological legitimation to capitalist exploitation, maintain labour force and preventing revolution
sociologists main role should be to criticse capitalist social policy not to support capitalist state
What are criticisms of marxist perspectives on social policy
impractical and unrealistic - social democratic criticise them for rejecting that policies can help progress
What is the feminist perspective on social policy
family policy may be based on assumption that the normal family is a conventional family
radical feminists believe in separatism which influences the establishment of womens refugee
feminist researchers have impacted learning materials and teacher training
What are the criticisms of feminist perspective on social policy
marxist and radical feminists reject reformist policies and call for more far reaching changes - glass ceiling still exists
What is the New Right perspective on social policy
state should take a minimal involvement in society - opposed to welfare state
role of sociologists is to propose alternate policies to the present ones
Murray (1984) - generous welfare benefits and council housing creates dependecy culture
What is the criticisms of new right perspective on social policy
Breakdown britain criticsed as quality and objectivity questioned and research often taken from politically sympathetic think tanks
