Social Policy

Question 1

Which theories/perspectives believe sociological research can and should influence social policy?

Answer 1

Liberal Feminism

New Right

Functionalism

Social democratic

Question 2

Which theory believes that social policy should take a cautious approach, changing things gradually so a state of anomie is stopped from developing?

Answer 2

Functionalism

Question 3

Which theory/perspective believes that the capitalist system needs to be regulated to stop it creating extreme wealth and income inequality?

Answer 3

Social democratic approach

Question 4

When was the social democratic approach most influential?

Answer 4

post war (1940s-60s)

Question 5

What did Townsend (1979) believe?

Answer 5

Townsend researched relative poverty and believed the state should spend more money on state health and education services

Question 6

What is the Black report (1980)?

Answer 6

A study on class inequality- it made 37 policy recommendations to reduce inequality (e.g free school meals and more spending on housing)

Question 7

Why did the Thatcher government refuse to implement the advice given in the Black report?

Answer 7

It was refused on the grounds of cost

Question 8

What do Marxists think about social policies?

Answer 8

They believe that the capitalist state and its policies do not benefit all of society- they just serve the interests of capitalism

Question 9

According to Marxism, how does social policy serve the interests of capitalism?

Answer 9

1. It legitimises capitalism (making it seem fair and hiding the true levels of exploitation)
2. Maintaining the labour force (reserve army of labour)
3. It helps to prevent a revolution

Question 10

Which family type do feminists argue social policy tries to encourage?

Answer 10

Nuclear family

Question 11

What does the New Right perspective believe social policy should aim to do?

Answer 11

It should aim to make people more independent and want to look after themselves and their own families, rather than rely on the state.

Question 12

What other factors influence social policy?

Answer 12

electoral popularity

Ideological preferences of the government

cost

reputation of the sociological theory/perspective

Question 13

Which theory/perspective was most influential during the conservative government in 1979-1997

Answer 13

New Right

Question 14

Which theories/perspectives were most influential during the New Labour government (1997-2010) and the current government?

Answer 14

New Right, social democratic (third way) and feminism