Theory and Methods- Sociology and Social Policy

Question 1

What are the 4 practical purposes of sociological research according to Giddens?

Answer 1

1. An understanding of the world
2. A heightened awareness of needs of individual groups
3. An assessment of ‘what works’
4. An increased personal knowledge of ourselves and others

Question 2

What are social policies?

Answer 2

Government policies that deal with the wellbeing of citizens

Question 3

What are 3 examples of social policies?

Answer 3

Pensions, health, education

Question 4

What are new ideas for social policies generated by? (3 points)

Answer 4

Governments, political parties and pressure groups

Question 5

How do social policies vary?

Answer 5

With the party in power

Question 6

Who carries out most research for social policy?

Answer 6

Government agencies

Question 7

Who carries out some research for social policy? (2 points)

Answer 7

Charities and university departments

Question 8

What can quantitative statistical social research do for social policy?

Answer 8

To discover basic social trends

Question 9

What can in-depth qualitative social research do for social policy?

Answer 9

Give insight into the causes of social problems such as poverty and crime, and can help in the search for policies to tackle them

Question 10

What did the creation of the Welfare State after the second world war give?

Answer 10

The impression in the late 1960s that poverty had been largely eradicated from the UK

Question 11

What did the research from Townsend and Mack and Lansley that showed that poverty was a hidden problem lead to?

Answer 11

Sociologists then did more research to come up with theories of why certain groups were more vulnerable to poverty

Question 12

Who did social democrats blame for poverty?

Answer 12

An inadequate welfare system

Question 13

Who did the New Right blame for poverty?

Answer 13

Reliance on an over-generous welfare system

Question 14

What did Weber believe about sociology?

Answer 14

It shouldn’t make value judgements and it shouldn’t tell policy-makers to fix society

Question 15

What did Weber argue about sociological research?

Answer 15

It can tell decision-makers whether a particular policy is likely to have the desired results and what social costs the policy will incur

Question 16

What did Weber think about the policy-maker?

Answer 16

They should come up with the policy first and then researchers should go away and find evidence to work out the best way of doing it

Question 17

Why did Weber think it was important to have good methodology?

Answer 17

To give the most useful information of policy-makers

Question 18

What do critics of Weber say?

Answer 18

Policy should come after evidence gathering, not before, as there’s a danger that only evidence which backs up the policy will be found- evidence which might suggest a much better policy might be ignored

Question 19

What does postmodernist Bauman believe?

Answer 19

Sociology should inform social research, and worries that society may get worse if sociological theories about poverty and welfare aren’t listened to

Question 20

What does Bauman argue?

Answer 20

That postmodern consumer society is marginalising the Welfare state and believes this to be a bad thing

Question 21

Why is Lyotard worried that ‘scientific’ methods of sociological research could be used to construct oppressive metanarratives?

Answer 21

He sees modernist metanarratives as leading to strict doctrine and oppression

Question 22

What do Marxists believe about sociology?

Answer 22

It is too closely intertwined with the capitalist system to make a difference to society

Question 23

What do Marxists suggest that sociological study is?

Answer 23

A tool used to justify unjust social policy as they believe that capitalism is inherently flawed and oppressive

Question 24

Who control research according to Marxists?

Answer 24

Ruling-class interests which prevents it from being used to change the system to socialism

Question 25

Why do Marxists claim that sociology is being bought?

Answer 25

They point to the amount of funding for sociological research which comes from the state and from industry

Question 26

What do liberal feminists believe about sociological research and analysis?

Answer 26

It has influence governments and had beneficial results for women’s lives

Question 27

How do radical feminists criticise liberal feminist sociology?

Answer 27

It can’t make much difference to the lives of women because society is inherently patriarchal

Question 28

What do socialist feminists claim?

Answer 28

That social policy oppresses women in particular and it undervalues women’s labour and assumes they will bear a dual burden of work and housework

Question 29

What do socialist feminists propose?

Answer 29

Changes to social policy based on their own research and ideology

Question 30

Why does governments seeking to implement social policy that’s popular with the electorate a constraining factor?

Answer 30

It’s argued that policies which aren’t clear vote-winners don’t get implemented

Question 31

Why might some groups in society be marginalised?

Answer 31

Because they don’t vote in large numbers and even if sociology focuses on these groups, they may still find themselves neglected if they don’t have electoral power

Question 32

Why must governments consider the financial implications of any policies they introduce?

Answer 32

If a policy is too expensive, then social research won’t happen no matter how persuasive the research behind it is

Question 33

What are sociological problems?

Answer 33

Issues that need explaining, even if they don’t have negative consequences

Question 34

How does Worsley define social problems?

Answer 34

Issues that cause ‘friction’ or ‘misery’ and need solving