Sociology and Social Policy

Question 1

factors affecting whether sociological research succeeds in influencing policy

Answer 1

1. Electoral Popularity - research findings and recommendations might point to a policy that would be unpopular with voters
2. Ideological preferences of governments - If the researchers value stance or perspective is similar to the political ideology of a government they may stand more chance of influencing its policies
3. Interest groups - pressure groups that seek to influence government policies in their own interest
4. Globalisation - international organisations such as the IMF may influence social policy of individual governments
5. Critical Sociology - Sociologists such as Marxists who are critical of the state may be regarded as too extreme and therefore unlikely to influence policy
6. Funding sources - sociologists may tone their findings and policy recommendations so as to fit in with their paymaster’s wishes

Question 2

perspectives on social policy

Answer 2

Positivism and Functionalism
The social democratic perspective
Marxism
Feminism
New right

Question 3

functionalism

Answer 3

Functionalists see society as based on value consensus and free from conflicts. They see the state as serving the interests of society as a whole, producing and implementing rational policies for the good of all. These policies help society run more smoothly and efficiently. For example, educational policies are seen as promoting equal opportunity and social integration while health and housing policies assist the family in performing its functions more effectively. Sociologists’ role is to provide the state with objective scientific information, by investigating social problems and discovering their causes sociologists can provide the necessary information on which the state can base its policies - marxists we need to change the basic structure of society to solve these specific problems

Question 4

marxism

Answer 4

Society is divided between the working class and the ruling class. Unlike func, they do not see the state and its policies as benefitting all members of society. Social policies serves the interests of the ruling class and capitalism not the interest of society as a whole.
Policies provide ideological legitimation to mask capitalist exploitation, they see the welfare state as giving capitalism a human face making it appear that the system cares for the poor sick and old
The role of research is to reveal the unpleasant truth about the social problems capitalism creates will not be used to formulate policies to solve these problems, for example, the black report on class inequality in health - soc dems criticise them for ignoring progressive policies

Question 5

feminism

Answer 5

Social policies perpetuate patriarchy. For example, family policies may assume that the normal family is a conventional nuclear family with a heterosexual married couples. Thus if the state assumed this and offers benefits to married couples but not to cohabiting ones, these policies may produce a SFP encouraging the kind of family that the state assumed to be the norm in the first place and making it more difficult for people to live in other kinds of family.
Feminist research has influenced a number of policy areas - in education Feminist research has had an impact in a number of policy areas. For example, in education, it has influenced policies such as learning materials that promote more positive images of females and training to sensitise teachers to the need to avoid gender bias.
Many of these policies reflect the liberal feminist view that anti-discrimination reforms will ultimately bring about gender equality.
On the other hand, radical feminist ideas have also had some influence on social policy. Radical feminists regard men as the direct oppressors of women, especially through the family. They therefore favour separatism - the idea that women need to separate themselves from men to be free from patriarchy. One policy that reflects this is refuges for women escaping domestic violence. For example, the Women’s Aid Federation supports a national network of over 500 such services, often with funding from government.
However, many feminists reject the view that reformist social policies can liberate women. For example, both Marxist and radical feminists call for more far-reaching changes that the existing state cannot deliver.

Question 6

new right

Answer 6

State should have minimal involvement in society, they opposed the welfare state murray argues that it weakens the familys self-reliance, it encouraged the growth of a dependency culture and an underclass of lone mothers and irresponsible fathers who abandon their families for this reason murray favours a reduction in state spending on welfare.
They argue that the role of sociologists should be to propose alternative policies that strengthen the nuclear family - for example, breakdown britain a report by conservative think tank the social justice policy group proposed a range of new social policies aimed at the family. For example, Charles Murray (1984) argues that generous welfare benefits act as ‘perverse incentives’ that weaken the family’s self-reliance. They encourage the growth of a dependency culture and an underclass of lone mothers, undisciplined children, and irresponsible fathers who abandon their families. For this reason, Murray favours a reduction in state spending on welfare.
The New Right are therefore highly critical of many existing policies. However, they are not opposed to social policy as such, and they see the role of sociologists as being to propose alternative policies. These policies should aim to restore individuals’ responsibility for their own welfare, rather than leaving it to the state.

Question 7

social democrats

Answer 7

Favours a major redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor. This can be done through democratic means, such as egalitarian education policies and taxation. Social Democrats believe that research and sociology can contribute to government policy and to social and economic change. An example of this is Antony Giddens who coined the term ‘Third Way’ and heavily influenced New Labour in the 1990s under Tony Blair. The ‘Third Way’ incorporated socialism with free-market economics, hoping to alleviate poverty and underachievement, whilst encouraging business
development and economic growth.
Policies included: Educational investment for underachieving groups and deprived areas e.g. Education Action Zones; Academies; EMA; Aim Higher
Townsend researched poverty in the UK and
came up with a new way of defining and measuring poverty. Townsend introduced the concept of
‘relative poverty’ which was accepted by politicians and influenced government policy – increasing the
amount of people classed as living in poverty in the UK.