Theory - Social Policy Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What is social policy?

A

Government ideas, actions, laws and legislations that tackle social problems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the difference between social problems and sociological problems?

A

Social problem: behaviour that causes public friction or private misery and needs to be resolved.
Sociological problem: any interesting pattern or relationship that may be explained to make sense.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Who introduced social problems and sociological problems?

A

Worsley (1977)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What influence does sociology through government have on social policy?

A

If the government employs a sociologist to do research for them it becomes the government decision whether or not to publish findings or use them to make policy changes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What 6 main factors will influence the governments decision to adapt policies?

A
Electoral popularity
Government bias/ideology
Interest groups
Globalisation
Critical sociology
Costs
Funding sources
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is electoral popularity?

A

Whether or not findings/recommendations suggest changes that appeal to those voting for change.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is government bias and ideology?

A

When the sociologists values are similar to the government employers values it is more likely to persuade others into change.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an interest group?

A

Pressure groups who want to influence government policy with their own interests.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is globalisation?

A

International organisations influencing social policies for individual governments in single countries.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is critical sociology?

A

Sociologists who are critical of the state and other powers who are unlikely to influence policy for being too extreme.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is cost?

A

If the government agrees with the sociologist, there might not be funding enough to make changes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is funding sources?

A

When sociologists dial down or sway their research to coincide with that their government employer wants.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What do positivists and functionalist think about social policy? + 1 evaluation point.

A

AO1 - sociology can discover the cause of problems and their solution, society is based on value consensus, rational policies are positive, sociologists provide objective advice.
AO3 - Marxists think educational policies aimed to equalise opportunities are defeated by poverty in wider society.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What does the social democratic perspective think of social policy? + 1 valuation point.

A

AO1 - need a redistribution of wealth, sociologists suggest how to remove social problems, help create policies to minimise wealth gap.
AO3 - Marxists think social problems are too deep rooted, Black Report not enough to abolish capitalism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does the Marxists perspective think about social policy? + 1 evaluation point.

A

AO1 - conflict of interest between classes, policies benefit ruling class, ideological state apparatus to mask exploitation, gov has no interest to improve poor life.
AO3 - social democratic criticise them for rejecting sociological research to create better policies.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does the feminist perspective think of social policy? + 1 evaluation point.

A

AO1 - conflict between genders, policies benefit men and exploit women, some policies reduce patriarchal control.
AO3 - radical fem reject view that social problems are being eradicated, want wider reaching changes.

17
Q

What do the new right think about social policy? + 1 evaluation point.

A

AO1 - the state should have minimal involvement in society, against welfare dealing with social problems, state removes personal responsibility, not against policy but sociologists should advise alternatives.
AO3 - research quality can be questioned, use “think tanks” rather sociologists.