Social policy

• Who believe that sociological research can be carried out objectively for the government

  • Positivists
• Who believes that sociologists shouldn’t work with the government

  • Marxists
• Who believe that sociological research should target specific groups/areas to help improve society

  • The social Democratic Party
  • feminists
  • the new right
• What is the positivist view

  • They believe sociology is a science
  • they believe that sociological research should be used to study society, uncover social problems and produce objective solutions - sociologists should be objective so it can be used to create social policies to benefit society (objectivity through neutrality)
  • The government should take a piecemeal approach which means that social changes should be implemented gradually not all at once
• What is the social democratics view

  • They believe that poverty is the biggest cause of social problems
  • the government should create policies which reduce poverty
  • sociologists should carry out research into the causes and consequences of social inequality - the findings should be used to guide the government towards appropriate policies
  • The Black Report - made reccommendations for reducing inequalities e.g free school meals
• What is the marxist view

  • society is divided by the conflict between the ruling class who exploits the w.c for their labour
  • they don't believe state policies benefit all members of society
  • policies mask capitalist exploitation e.g the welfare state makes it appear that the system cares about the poor, sick and elderly
  • sociologists main role should be to criticise capitalist social policy - they must reveal the exploitation that underpins capitalism
• What is the feminist view

  • Society is built on the exploitation of women by men - many policies that exist promote patriarchal ideology
  • feminist research has had an impact on social policy e.g policies like the equal pay act, abortion laws and equal opportunity legislation
  • sociological researchers should work alongside the government to create policies that improve the positions of women in society
• What is the new right view

  • They believe the state should have minimal involvement in society e.g they oppose the use of state intervention in areas like family life, education and income support as it robs people of their freedom to make their own choices
  • ‘Nanny state’
  • policy changes implemented should encourage people to take personal responsibility rather than depending on state support
  • also encourage marketisation of services like education
• Define nanny state

  A dependency culture