Sociology and social policy (P1/3) Flashcards
(23 cards)
Which factors affect whether or not sociological research succeeds in influencing policy?
Electoral popularity
Ideological and policy preferences of governments
Interest groups
Cost
Funding sources
Describe the following factor in affecting whether or not sociological research succeeds in influencing policy: Electoral popularity
research findings and recommendations might point to a policy that would be unpopular with voters e.g. banning junk food would reduce heart attacks, etc. but may make people angry, meaning they might not vote for a party who brought in such a law again.
Describe the following factor in affecting whether or not sociological research succeeds in influencing policy: Ideological and policy preferences of governments
If the researcher’s value-stance or perspective is similar to the political ideology of the gov, they may stand more chance of influencing its policies e.g. if a researcher suggests cutting taxes for the rich, this is more likely to be brought in by a Conservative government than a Labour one, as the Conservatives favour lower taxes than Labour.
Describe the following factor in affecting whether or not sociological research succeeds in influencing policy: Interest groups
These are pressure groups that seek to influence government policies in their own interests e.g. business groups may try to stop a government increasing the minimum wage, even though this might be an effective measure to reduce poverty.
Describe the following factor in affecting whether or not sociological research succeeds in influencing policy: Cost
Even if the gov is sympathetic to the sociologist’s findings, it may not have sufficient funds to implement a policy e.g. free university for all students.
Describe the following factor in affecting whether or not sociological research succeeds in influencing policy: Funding sources
In some cases, sociologists may tone down their findings and policy recommendations to fit in with the wishes of those funding them. Similarly, policy-makers may recruit sociologists who share their assumptions and political values.
Similarly, ‘think-tanks’ or research institutions often have political sympathies: they are seen as ‘left-leaning’ or ‘right-leaning.’ Politicians may be selective in which think-tanks they ask to carry out research on their behalf.
Describe Bowlby’s idea
In addition to any direct influence social scientists may have on policy makers, their ideas sometimes become part of mainstream culture and the way people see social problems e.g. Bowlby’s (1965) idea - that young children’s relationships with their mothers are crucial for normal development; this has become widely accepted in many societies. This may have an indirect influence on day care policies and government funding etc.
Give the 4 ways how sociology can contribute to social policy
Providing a theoretical framework
Identifying social problems
Providing the evidence
Assessing the impact of policies
Describe the following way sociology can contribute to social policy: Providing a theoretical framework
Margaret Thatcher’s policies were strongly influenced by New Right ideas about poverty and a welfare dependent underclass- she cut welfare benefits and state funding.
Similarly, Tony Blair’s policies were influenced the work of Giddens who gave the theoretical basis for policies around building social cohesion and social solidarity and reducing social problems posing a threat to social order.
Describe the following way sociology can contribute to social policy: Identifying social problems
Feminists have carried out a lot of theoretical and practical research into about the nature and extent of discrimination against women and have suggested solutions to them. These then influenced policies such as the Equal Pay Act and Sex Discrimination Act.
Describe the following way sociology can contribute to social policy: Providing the evidence
Since sociologists carry out research, this can be used to form evidence-based policies.
Describe the following way sociology can contribute to social policy: Assessing the impact of policies
Sociological research can be used to establish whether or not policies have achieved their aims, if they need to be extended, changed or scrapped.
Describe the positivism and functionalist perspective on social policy
Early positivists like Comte and Durkheim believed sociology could be used to improve society e.g. Durkheim suggested a meritocratic education system and the abolition of inherited wealth would create a fair society. Functionalists see society as being based on value consensus, with the state and its policies acting in the best interests of everyone e.g. educational policies are seen as promoting equal opportunity and social integration.
Both positivism and functionalism believe the role of the sociologist is to provide the state with objective, scientific information which the state can use to help form its policies.
Functionalists favour social policies that are sometimes called ‘piecemeal social engineering’, as they involve a cautious approach to social change, tackling one issue at a time.
Give a marxist critique of positivism and functionalism
For example, educational policies aimed at tackling inequality are defeated by poverty in wider society. They argue changing one bit of society won’t remove these problems: the whole structure of society needs to be changed.
Describe the feminist perspective on social policy
Society is aimed at maintaining patriarchy e.g. family policies may assume that the ‘normal’ family is the nuclear family of a heterosexual married couple with children. As a result, it may offer benefits to married couples but not cohabiting ones, producing a SFP by encouraging people to get married and making it more difficult for people to live in other family types.
LFs research has had an impact on some areas. E.g, in education it has led to the use of learning materials that promote images of women in non-traditional roles, and teacher training which teaches avoiding gender bias. Many of these policies reflect the liberal feminist view that changes in policy can help bring about gender equality.
RFs has also influenced policy too. For example, the establishment of refuges for victims of domestic violence stems from the radical feminist idea that women need to be separated from men to be free of patriarchal oppression. There are over 500 refuges in the UK, with funding from local and central government.
While feminism has had a positive impact on some areas of policy, some radical feminists argue that more radical changes are needed to liberate women (such as all men and women living separately).
Describe the new right perspective on social policy
They believe the state= minimal role in society.
They oppose state provision of welfare to deal with social problems, arguing that state involvement in areas like education, the family and healthcare rob people of their freedom to make their own choices and undermines their sense of responsibility. This in turn causes social problems like crime and delinquency.
E.g, Murray (1984) argues that benefits and council housing for single parents weakens the family’s self-reliance- encourages a dependency culture and an underclass of lone mothers, undisciplined children and irresponsible fathers who can abandon children knowing the state will look after them. As a result, he calls for cuts in state spending on welfare.
Describe how the marixist perspective on social policy argues the state and its policies represent capitalist interests
*They provide ideological legitimation (justification) to hide capitalist exploitation e.g. the welfare state gives capitalism a ‘human face’, making it appear that the system cares about the old, the sick and the poor.
*They maintain the labour force e.g. the NHS serves capitalism by keeping workers fit enough to work.
*They are a means of preventing revolution when capitalism is threatened e.g. Marxists argue the creation of the welfare state after WW2 was a way of ‘buying off’ working class opposition to capitalism
Describe the marixist perspective on social policy
They do recognise that some policies benefit the working class, but argue that they’re threatened when capitalism goes through periods of crisis, in which things like welfare spending are often cut.
However, a society that’s based on profit pursuit over human needs, won’t use research to better the position of the poor, and therefore only a communist society can solve the problems created by capitalism.
Therefore they argue that the role of the sociologist should be to criticise capitalist social policy and challenge the state. The sociologist should reveal how the RC uses social policy to hide exploitation and ‘buy off’ the working class. However, critics argue this view is impractical and unrealistic.
Who argues that the role of sociologists should be to suggest news policies and what is said
NR
role of the sociologist should be to suggest news policies which aim to restore individuals’ responsibility for their own and their families’ welfare.
E.g, Breakdown Britain, a report by the Conservative think-tank the Social Justice Policy group (2007) proposed a range of policies aimed at the family. These incl marriage prep and parenting classes, and support from the tax and benefit system for mothers who stay at home. The report believed govs had stripped citizens of responsibility for their own welfare. Social policy’s role should be to enable people to help themselves, rather than the welfare state attempting and failing to do so
Which sociological way of thinking has been attractive to the Conservative Party and some New Labour policies?
New Right
Give an example of how some New Labour policies showed a New Right influence
New Labour regarded a married couple as the best place to raise children.
Give the NR view on strong state role in welfare
They don’t favour it but support a strong ‘law and order’ policy, and research by Right Realist criminologists has influenced zero tolerance policies.
How has the NR view been questioned?
the quality and objectivity of the social research used by the New Right have been questioned. E.g, the validity of the data used by Murray to claim there is a link between absent fathers and delinquency has been widely challenged.
Similarly, NR policy suggestions rarely come from the research findings of sociologists, but instead are based on research done by right-leaning think-tanks
