Flashcards on Sociology and Social Policy (2.7)

Who was the first sociologist to introduce a useful distinction between sociological problems and social problems?

How did Worsely identify a sociological problem?

Importantly, sociologists do occasionally study areas of social life that aren't regarded as problems. Give an example:

Having said that, a large amount of sociological research does focus on 'social problems'. However, why can this result in disagreements?

Which recent president of the British Sociological Association stated that sociologist can and should address social problems?

What sort of sociologists agree that sociology should be used to try to change and improve the social world by exposing injustice, inequality and oppression?

However, why may these critical social scientists be reluctant to work within existing power structures?

Before examining the extent to which sociology influences social policy, what should first be acknowledged?

In recent years, what has led to new sociological research?

Additionally, what do government policies directly shape?

What body distributes the majority of government funding?

What sort of research is most likely to receive funding from the ESRC?

How is the effectiveness of research measured?

Why do the ESRC and REF influence sociologists?

Why can the relationship between sociology, social policy and the social world be described as circular?

A wide variety of factors affect what influence (if any) sociologists are likely to have on social policy. Governments are motivated by the desire to attract votes and they are therefore likely to be influenced by what sociological methodology?

Even if sociologists are sympathetic to the policies advocated by particular sociologists, why may they be unable to implement them?

Sociologists are not the only social scientists by whom the government are influenced. Who arguably have a greater influence that sociologists, and why?

What alternative do political parties sometimes have close links to, and why?

Finally, governments are also likely to be influenced by their own broad ideological beliefs. Why are conservatives less likely to give credence to sociologists than labour?

Although sociology might have a limited impact on central government, what other areas may it have more of an influence over?

At an international level, what issues have been highlighted by sociological research?

Functionalists advocated a largely positivist method of studying society. What did they believe the role of sociology was?

In theory, such information shouldn't carry implications about what policies should be followed but should merely analyse what the effects of different policies would be. However, what have both early and later functionalists argued?

Which functionalist actually went even further than this, arguing that scientific sociology could be used to promote progress and 'guide' society to improve it?

How is functionalism biased, according to critics?

While this criticism is true of the likes of Talcott Parsons, it is less accurate when applied to which functionalist?

Positivist statistical analysis, which is advocated by some functionalists, is extremely important in the development of social policies. Why?

Most government-funded research produces a range of statistical information. However, what does positivist research in itself not suggest?

The new right and neoliberalism have been far more influential than functionalism in directing social policies over recent decades. What sort of political perspectives are these?

When did the new right begin to influence policies in the UK and the USA?

These days, those advocating a right-of-centre political perspective are more likely to be referred to as neoliberals. How does neoliberalism differ slightly from the new right perspective?

Who was perhaps the most influential new right/neoliberal thinker?

What did Hayek advocate, and why?

Why did Hayek believe free markets produced greater efficiency?

According to Hayek, what does state control lead to?

Conversely, what do free markets lead to?

New right/neoliberal thinkers do not hesitate in stating that their approach should be used to influence government policy and they have formed a number of think tanks with the express purpose of doing so. Give an example of such a think tank:

Despite being associated with the conservative party, what other governments have been influenced by the new right and neoliberal perspectives?

Although economics has been central to new right/neoliberal thinking, some sociologists taking the approach have had a considerable influence on social policy. Which new right thinker was very influential on policies on welfare in the UK?

Murray's influence has resulted in a trend towards what?

Policies relating to crime have also been strongly influenced in both the UK and the USA by the work of which right realist criminologists?

Despite the considerable influence of right realism, what political view do most sociologists adopt?

Social democratic perspectives are typically associated with left-of-centre political parties in Europe. While they are partially based on economic ideas, how do they differ from new right/neoliberal perspectives?

Social democrats believe that if they are left to their own devices, capitalist economies will produce excessive inequality. Why do they believe equality of opportunity is undermined?

Although social democratic perspectives are partly based on economics, sociologists have made a considerable contribution to the development of social democratic thought. Give an example:

Which governments do social democratic perspectives typically influence?

However, they had less influence when Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were in office. What approach did Blair support?

What did the Third Way attempt to combine?

Which sociologist developed the Third Way approach?

Why did those with left-wing views heavily criticise the Third Way?

Why do radical sociologists state that social democrats are unrealistic?

Critical social science involves all forms of social science that argue for a radical transformation of society. What are the two key sciences involved?

Marxists believe that sociological ideas should be used to transform society by producing radically different social policies. Why do they hold this opinion?

What do marxists think of policies that seemingly benefit the mass of the population?

However, it should be noted that there are different strands of marxism. Why do some strands acknowledge that some policies are somewhat progressive?

Marxist perspectives have had relatively little influence on social policies in the UK. Which parties have they had some influence on?

When did marxism lose some of its political appeal and influence?

Radical feminism is a strand of critical social science. What two extremes do radical feminists advocate?

Why has radical feminism had very little impact on mainstream political parties?

However, social policy campaigns run by radical feminists have had considerable influence. Give an example:

Liberal feminism, on the other hand, has considerable influenced social policy. What Acts has it brought about?

However, radical feminists are critical of liberal feminism. Why?