The relationship between sociology and social policy

Question 1

What is social policy?

Answer 1

The plans and actions of governments to tackle social problems
e.g. legislation, guidance, support

Question 2

What is the difference between a social problem and a sociological problem?

Answer 2

Worsley argues a social problem is social behaviour that causes public friction (or private/public misery)(such as crime or poverty)
A sociological problem is any behaviour we wish to make sense of, may or may not be a social problem

Question 3

What are the 5 factors that influence whether a sociologists research findings may influence social policy changes?

Answer 3

1- Electoral popularity
2- Theoretical and ideological perspective
3- Interest groups
4- Globalisation
5- Cost
6- Funding sources

Question 4

What is electoral popularty?

Answer 4

A government may not want to put a policy suggested by sociological research into practise if it will be unpopular with voters

Question 5

What are examples of people using electoral popularity?

Answer 5

• Sunack ignored sociological research and appealed to his voters by pushing back the deadline for electric cars
• Starmer listened to sociologists by making the winter fuel allowance means tested, ignored the public appeal

Question 6

2- Theoretical and political perspective
Functionalists principle of reality

Answer 6

It could be used to promote progress of act like a ‘priesthood’, guiding the government on how to make society better
- in reality it is hard to apply to social problems

Question 7

2- Comte, Durkheim and Parsons

Answer 7

Comte- used scientific methodology
Durkheim- policies to create social solidarity
Parsons- promote nuclear family

Question 8

2- Why is positivist research more influential on social policy?

Answer 8

It is large scale, more representative
- social change cannot be created without empirical evidence such as statistics

Question 9

2- How has neo-liberalism/new right influenced social policies in the UK?

Answer 9

Encouraged cuts in benefit levels, Murray and the underclass
- policies relating to crime
- marketisation of education

Question 10

2- What was Giddens’ influence on social policy?

Answer 10

Influenced Blair’s decisions
Third wave party- hybrid of neo-liberalism and social democracy

Question 11

2- Why do marxists have very little influence on social policy?

Answer 11

They are too extreme and criticise the people who are in power as they only make policies that benefit themselves
- trying to abolish the ruling class

Question 12

2- What do marxists believe is the true purpose of welfare policies, such as free compulsory education?

Answer 12

Smokescreen/blackmail- stop the WC from complaining or rebelling by pretending to help them to cover up their exploitation

Question 13

2- How has forms of feminism influenced social policy in the UK?

Answer 13

• more equal opportunities in education- WISE, GIST
• equal pay act, sex discrimination act
  Radical- law against domestic violence

Question 14

3- What are the 3 types of interest groups?

Answer 14

1) Business groups
2) Pressure groups
3) Economists

Question 15

1) Business groups

Answer 15

• succeed more than sociologists
• persuade gov not to increase minimum wage even though it ,ay reduce poverty

Question 16

2) Pressure groups

Answer 16

Special interest groups that seek to influence government policy in a particular direction
- collective action, media attention, snowdrop-handguns

Question 17

3) Economists

Answer 17

• study the production and distribution of resources, goods, services
• how much they can afford, impact pricing/spending

Question 18

4- Gloablisation

Answer 18

International organisations
- EU, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- EU required employers to follow very strict rules on workers rights and conditions
- now we are no longer in the EU the UK are no longer obliged to follow these rules

Question 19

What global issues may influence UK social policy?

Answer 19

X conflict, war
X covid, pandemic
X climate change
X ageing population
X global poverty
X migration

Question 20

5- Cost

Answer 20

Is the research expensive

Question 21

6- Funding

Answer 21

Social scientists often work for ‘Think Tanks’
- often associated with different political ideas (left or right leaning)
- Govs are likely to pay those ‘think tanks’ that are most likely to give solution that favour their approach

Question 22

Why might social scientists tone down their findings?

Answer 22

Do not want to ‘rock the boat’
- continue to be influential
- tone down the findings if they think they wont be accepted

Question 23

What is a think tank?

Answer 23

A body of experts providing advice and ideas on specific political or economic problems

Question 24

Influential on social policy

Answer 24

• political party in power- Thatcher, Giddens
• limited by financial constraints, raise sufficient funding
• the sociologists employed
• Townsend, poverty
  . ‘rediscovered poverty’, raised the profile of the poor, resulted in social policy repsonse

Question 26

Not influential on social policy

Answer 26

- critical sociology, ignored by social policy makers, marxists critical of capitalist state and large corporations - may not be able to implement them, globalisation may be the cause so one country alone cannot tackle it - 'awareness raises', should be critical, open govs eyes rather than just help solve problems

Question 26

Influence of sociology beyond the government

Answer 26

- sociology raises awareness on social issues, may leas to pressure groups - charities and local councils, poverty research - global influence, research on slavery and human trafficking influencing UN - schools and local authorities, research on differential attainment may influence teaching strategies, impact of covid