Should Sociology influence social policy?

• What is Social Policy?

  Policies that shape the experiences of citizens in a country.
• Providing a theoretical backdrop for politicians

  Politicians have to deal with pragmatism, dealing with problems as they appear and being flexible with their views. Because of this their ideas can be inconsistent but sociologists can provide a theory to make them understandable.

  • Labour party's rebrand under Blair was driven by sociologist Anthony Giddens, who encouraged them to modernise and work towards greater stability in the UK.
• Evaluating providing a backdrop for politicians

  There is a problem with democracy, as sociologists don't have a mandate (right to govern) so people have not given consent to be governed by a sociologist. This results is the level of influences researchers have being undemocratic because they don't represent British people.
• 2. Sociology identifies social problems

  Governments have many roles which means they cannot get out and encounter social problems. This means sociology can draw attention to problems that may be overlooked.

  • Dennis and Erdos studies South Shield riots and identified family breakdown and the lack of a father figure in boys' lives as a reason for crime.
• Evaluating sociology identifies social problems

  Marxists would say that governments aren't using sociology to make life better for the proletariat, but to prevent a proletariat revolution.

  Feminists say the patriarchy is evidence the government doesn't use sociology to fix social problems, as it has been around for centuries.
• 3. Sociologists are professionals so provide information


  Sociologists don't have to win elections or influence people, meaning they can get close to unpopular truths. Sociology is rigidly controlled to research is ethical and professional, which governments then build policies on top of theories.
• Evaluating sociologists are professional so provide info

  The research still reflects the values of the government, with the Centre for Social Justice being founded by a conservative MP, so the research reflects New right thinking.
• 4. If data is collected efficiently, it can be used

  Positivists argue that is research is conducted scientifically, we can identify social facts, e.g. using large samples, operationalisation, reliable research designs.

  • The census informs the government about demographic changes and can be used in law-making, but isn't published for 100 years.
• Evaluating if data is collected efficiently, it can be used

  Interpretivists argue that research simply provides ideas that can be interpreted, not create social facts. Social policy should not be based on sociological research because it only reflects the experiences of researchers not the social problems.