Sociology and social policy Flashcards
What are the 3 key questions raised about sociology and social policy?
- Should it be the job of sociologists to influence social policies?
- What kind of policies do different perspectives favour?
- How far does sociological research actually influence government policies?
What is social policy defined as?
Plans and actions of governments to tackle social problems
What does Worsley define social problem as?
‘Some piece of social behaviour that causes public friction and or private misery”
What does Worsley define sociological problem as?
“any pattern of relationships that calls for explanation”
How does electoral popularity affect whether research succeeds in influencing social policy?
-How popular the research is with voters
How does the ideological preferences of the government affect whether research succeeds in influencing social policy?
-If the researcher’s value stance is similar to the political ideology of the government, they have more chance of influencing policy
How does globalisation affect whether research succeeds in influencing social policy?
-International organisations such as the EU have the power to influence social policy
How can critical sociologist groups affect whether research succeeds in influencing social policy?
-Sociological groups such as marxism or Radical Feminism maybe regarded as too extreme or hostile, and therefore unlikely to influence policy
How does cost affect whether research succeeds in influencing social policy?
-Government may not have sufficient funds to implement an appropriate policy
How can funding bodies affect whether research succeeds in influencing social policy?
Sociologists may be forced to ‘tone-down’ research findings if it is not suitable for the funding body
Who have the power to define the problem?
Those with power e.g. leading officials- able to define what is a problem and what isn’t, and what (if anything) should be done
What is the Functionalist perspective on social policy?
-The state produces rational social policies that re beneficial for society as a whole
What do policies ensure?
Society runs smoothly and efficiently
What type of approach do Functionalists favour?
Cautious approach i.e. tackle one specific problem at a time
Who criticises Functionalism?
Marxists- we need to change the basic structure of society in order to solve specific social problems e.g. underachievement in schools is a result of wider social structures like poverty
Who share a similar view to Marxists?
The social democrat perspective
What do they favour?
Redistribution of wealth to the poor
What did Townsend find?
-Research on poverty
-Made recommendations for policies such as higher benefit levels and increased public spending on welfare
What was the Black report?
-1980
-Made 37 far-reaching policy recommendations
-One included Free-school meals
-However, failed to be implemented under Thatcher’s conservative government
Who criticises the Social Democrat perspective?
Marxists
-They argue no problem can be solved without abolishing capitalism
Postmodernists
-Criticise attempts to influence policy as they argue sociologists can only take the role of the ‘interpreter’, not the ‘legislator’
What do Marxists argue about social policy?
They represent the ruling class ideology
What are the 3 roles of social policies according to Marxists?
- Ideological legitimation to mask capital exploitation
- Maintain the labour force for further exploitation
- Prevent revolution
What should the main role of sociologists be?
Criticise capitalist social policy, not serve the capitalist state
Who criticises marxists?
Social democrats- criticise them for rejecting the idea that research can help to bring about progressive policies in society
What do Feminists argue about social policy?
The state perpetuates women’s subordination through patriarchal social policies
What is the impact of family policies?
-May assume that the ‘normal family’ is the conventional, nuclear type
-If the state assumes this, and offers benefits to married couples, a self-fulfilling prophecy may be created
-May make it more difficult for other family types to exist in today’s society
What do many policies in education favour?
Liberal feminist view- anti-discrimination will bring about gender equality
How have radical feminists influenced social policy?
-Idea of ‘separatism’
What do the New Right argue about the creation of social policy?
State should have minimal involvement
Who is a key New Right Thinker?
Murray- over-generous welfare benefits have created perverse incentives, creating a dependancy culture
What is the role of sociologists policies according to the New Right?
-They should aim to restore individual’s responsibility for their own welfare, rathe than leaving it to the state e.g. parenting classes
What is a criticism of the New Right?
-The validity of the data which Murray bases his claims about lone-parents and delinquent children has been challenged
