social policies

• Worsley's definition of social problems


  Social behaviour that causes public friction and/ or private misery and calls for action to solve it.
• Worsley's definition of sociological problems


  Patterns that call for explanation whether it is a secondary problem or 'normal' behaviour that sociologists are employed to explain.
• Factors affecting whether or not sociological research will influence policies

  -electoral popularity

  -ideological and policy preferences of gov

  -interest/ pressure groups

  -globalisation (e.g. EU)

  -critical sociology (critical of state)

  -cost

  -funding sources view
• Positivism and functionalism


  Durkheim proposed a meritocratic education system - represented in educational, health and housing policies
• Social democratic perspective


  Townsend recommended higher benefits and more spending on welfare. The Black Report on class inequality in health made 37 policy recommendations but Thatcher's gov refused them,
• Postmodernists


  Sociologists cannot provide an objective truth so shouldn't provide a basis for policy making
• Marxism


  Will not be used for policies and believe the only solution is a WC revolution, so sociologists role is to criticise capitalist polices.
• Feminism


  Social policies assume a nuclear family. Influences promoting positive images of females in learning materials and refuges for women escaping DV e.g. Women's Aid Federation.
• New Right


  State should have minimal involvement. Views sociologists role as restoring individuals responsibility and parenting classes.

  Murray - believe generous welfare = perverse incentive and dependency culture.

  Favour zero tolerance policies for crime