Two ways sociologists may influence givernment policy

Question 1

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Answer 1

through the identification of a social problem that requires policies to solve it
- Policies are often designed to solve problems in society, for example, differential educational achievement.
- Sociological research brings these problems to the attention of the public, media and government as well as providing evidence to show the extent of the problem
- For example, lots of research showed that social class differences in educational achievement are already apparent at pre-school age
- This evidence contributed towards the Labour government of 1997-2010 developing Sure Start centres, as a form of compensatory education
- The same government introduced EMA payments to pupils from low-income households
- These are clear examples of social research identifying social problems, leading to government adopting policies to solve them
- The party in power might well respond to different research, however
- The coalition government elected in 2010 scrapped EMA and cut many Surestart centres, despite access to the same sociological evidence

Question 2

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Answer 2

-through developing theories that seek to explain social problems and identify possible solutions and strategies
- Weber argued that sociology should provide evidence for policy-makers without making judgements or proposing policies
- Others have been much keener to influence policy and while Marxists and radical feminists have argued for the fundamental, radical reform unlikely to be embraced by governments, other sociologists have had a lot of influence
- For example, New Right sociologists like Murray have influenced conservative government of Margaret Thatcher and the Third Way sociologist Anthony Giddens an and influenced New Labour government
- Murray’s work on the underclass influenced welfare policies under Thatcher