Sociology and social policy

• Social Policy


  The way in which governments distribute resources to provide services, facilities and opportunities to meet human need and promote well-being.
• Sociological Problem


  A feature of social life that requires an explanation, regardless of whether it is seen as a problem.
• Social Problem


  Something that is seen as being harmful to society and needs to be sorted. E.g. poverty, crime.
• Weber's Role of Sociology

  The job of the professional sociologist is to work out how the social world works. It should not intervene or suggest how it should be changed.
• Critical Sociologist's Roles of Sociology

  Sociology should be used to try change and improve the social world by exposing inequality and oppression.
• Government Policies Influencing Sociology

  Sociologists often study the effects of government policies in areas such as education, welfare and crime.
• ESRC


  Economic and Social Research Council. Distributes government funding to research, especially if it is concerned with government policies.
• REF


  Research Excellence Framework. Measures the impact of research on the world outside academia. Government concerned research may be considered more useful.
• Influence of Funding


  Research is expensive so funding is crucial. Government based research is more likely to gain funding.
• Alternative Research Limiting Sociology's Influence on Social Policy

  Governments want to attract votes so are more likely to be influenced by opinion polls and focus groups. They may listen to economists or Think Tanks more than sociologists.
• Government Ideology Limiting Sociology's Influence on Social Policy

  Governments are influenced by their own beliefs so will ignore some research that does not fit with preconceived ideas.
• Influence of Sociology Beyond Government

  Sociology may have more of an impact on social policies outside central government. E.g. local councils, charities.
• Providing an Awareness of Cultural Differences

  Sociological research provides insight into the ways of life, needs and problems of others, allowing effective policies to be created.
• Providing Self-Awareness and Understanding

  Sociological research enables people to reflect on their position in society, encouraging them to fight inequality, e.g. through pressure groups demanding equal rights.
• Providing Practical Professional Knowledge

  Sociologists are employed in a range of occupations that can influence social policy directly or indirectly through the knowledge they provide. E.g. civil servants, journalism.
• Identifying Social Problems

  Sociologists have identified many social problems, such as highlighting issues of poverty, racism and other inequality.
• Feminist Contributions to Social Policy

  Research revealing inequalities and discrimination against women have led to policies such as the Sex Discrimination Act.
• Providing Evidence for Social Policies

  Sociologists conduct, analyse and explain research. From this, policies are made.
• Functionalist Views - Sociology Influencing Social Policy

  While often advocating objective positivist methods, they argue that some things are functional for society so advocate policies that reflect these.
• New Right Influence on Social Policy

  Became influential on policies in the UK and USA, promoting conservative social values and free-market economics.
• Examples of New Right Influence

  Means Tested benefits, zero tolerance policing, cuts in benefit levels.
• Social Democratic Influence on Social Policy

  Strong influence on left-wing political parties, e.g. Labour. Particularly in the UK in the 1960-70s.
• Critical Social Science - Sociology Influencing Social Policy

  Believe that existing social policies favour the interests of the powerful in society. Changes to individual policies are ineffective to provide change - there needs to be radical transformation.
• Marxism - Sociology Influencing Social Policy

  Sociology should be used to transform society by producing radically different social policies. Current policies act in the interests of capitalism and those promoting equality are simply an ideological state apparatus.
• Marxist Influence on Social Policy

  Has had little influence on social policy as it is seen as too extreme. Although, some of its ideas are present in debates about issues, e.g. taxation of companies.
• Radical Feminist Influence on Social Policy

  Has been too radical to have much impact on mainstream political parties, but has highlighted key issues, e.g. domestic abuse, sexual violence.