can sociology influence social policy

Question 1

the influence of sociology on social policy

Answer 1

Electoral popularity - research may point to a policy that would be unpopular with voters (marxism)
Ideological and policy preferences of governments - researcher’s value stance or perspective - townsend
Interest groups - pressure groups that seek to influence government policy in their own interests
Globalisation - international organisations such as european union and the international monetary fund may influence social policies of individual governments
Critical sociology - critical of the state and powerful groups such as marxists may be regarded as too extreme (marxism / feminism)
Cost - may not have sufficient funds to implement appropriate policy
Funding bodies - sociologists may tone down findings and policy recommendations so as to fit in with their paymaster’s wishes.

Question 2

positivism and functionalism

Answer 2

Comte and durkheim - viewed sociology as a science and would discover both the cause of the social problem and scientifically based solutions to them
Durkheim’s analysis of official statistics led him to propose a meritocratic education system and the abolition of inherited wealth
Educational policies are seen as based on value consensus and promotes equal opportunity
Piecemeal approach is criticised - marxists argue that educational policies aimed at equalising opportunity for children of different classes are often defeated by influence of poverty in society.

Question 3

the social democratic perspective

Answer 3

Favours major redistribution of wealth and income from rich - poor
Townsend - sociologists should be involved in researching social problems and making policy recommendations to eradicate them
Recommendations for policies such as higher benefit levels and more public spending on health, education and welfare.
Black report - made 37 far reaching policy recommendations for reducing deep rooted inequalities
The school meals for all children
Improved working conditions
Labour government commissioned the report but by the time it was completed, margaret thatcher was elected and refused to implement the policies
Marxists reject the idea that even policies as far reaching as those proposed by the black report are enough to solve the problem.
Postmodernists criticise attempts by sociologists to influence policy

Question 4

the new right

Answer 4

The state should have only minimal involvement in society
State intervention robs people of their sense of responsibility
The new right are highly critical of many existing policies
Think tanks
They support law and order
Conservative party heavily influenced by new right ideology

Question 5

marxism

Answer 5

Sees society as divided by fundamental conflict of interest in which the ruling capitalist class exploit the labour of the working class
State represents ruling class and social policies serve interests of capitalism not those of society
Policies provide ideological legitimation to mask capitalist exploitation
Maintain labour force for further exploitation - NHS serves capitalism by keeping workers fit enough to work
Means of preventing revolution
The only solution to social problems is a revolution to overthrow capitalism and create classless society
Sociologists main role should be to criticise capitalist social policy, not to serve capitalist state.

Question 6

feminism

Answer 6

Liberal feminism - Jenny Sommerville
Takes march of progress view
Influenced policies such as divorce, abortion policies and the equal pay act 1970
Believe that anti-discriminatory policies will ultimately bring about gender equality
The role of the sociologist is to identify gendered social problems and recommend policies to tackle them
Radical feminism - Germaine greer
takes the opposite view
Radical feminists argue that there needs to be a radical overturn of society in order to eradicate patriarchy and liberate women.