A2 Sociology Topic 8: Sociology and Social Policy

Learning Outcomes LO1 : Identify the differences between social and sociological problems LO2: Outline the extent to which sociology influences social policy LO3: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of sociological schools approach to social policy

Stater: Pairwork Working in pairs: identify the below problems as either social or sociological Poverty, domestic violence, power and influence, suicide, crime, intra-personal relationships, homelessness, single mothers, social order, stratification, cultural reproduction

Peter Worsley (1977) Social problems: ‘a piece of social behaviour that infringes collective norms and requires a collective response for which we give the government authority’. Sociological problems: ‘any pattern of behaviour that calls for explanation e.g why people accept authority, why couples remain married’.

The relationship between sociology and social policy Committed sociology – carrying out research to establish truths about discrimination. Seek to influence government policy Sociology as intellectual endeavour. Discovering truths about the social world – more theoretical, not interested in influencing government policy

Anthony Giddens There are 4 practical benefits of studying sociology: 1.Understanding society 2.Awareness of cultural difference 3.Increase in self knowledge 4.Assessment of government policies

Giddens: Understanding Society Sociological understanding can take two forms: Factual – providing us with the ‘facts’ which allow us to form a theory –e.g levels of poverty Theoretical – providing us with an explanation as to why something is happening – e.g causes of poverty

Poverty in The UK (1979) Peter Townsend’s study showed that poverty remained a huge, though hidden, problem in the UK. This was despite the creation of the welfare state. Through his fact gathering he made poverty socially and politically visible again He developed a model for measuring poverty – relative poverty model

Definition He argued that poverty can only properly be understood in terms of what people normally expect to have in a society – even if this was well above the level of destitution. This new way of defining poverty allowed for a whole new insight into the nature of poverty in affluent societies.

The Impact of Research Townsend’s study, along with future sociological research into poverty, led indirectly to the creation of 1.The minimum wage 2.Tax credits

Awareness of cultural difference and self knowledge Giddens also argues that sociological research has demonstrated the extent of discrimination against marginalised groups (those on the edge of society ie:, women, the poor, the disabled, ethnic minorities, homosexuals) ‘Pride’: London

Government Social Policy Sociological research has resulted in in the Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Rights Commission Act in the 1990s. Research also led to the Race Equality legislation of 1976 and The Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts of 1975 grew out of feminist research into sexual discrimination in the work place

Giddens therefore argues that social research has had a positive influence upon government social policy both at an empirical level (by fact gathering) and also theoretically (arriving at explanations for certain social problems).

Possible limitations on the influence of sociology on social policy Electoral popularity Ideological fit between researcher and govt. Pressure groups challenge ‘wisdom’ of research Policy is globalised in cotemporary society Critical sociology Cost of implementation Funding sources

Activity:Pairwork Read the activity outlined on page 278 and complete the below table OrganisationFindingsPolitics Adam Smith Institute Fabian Society Rowntree Society Centre for policy studies Centre for social justice

Group work Working in a group of three: Complete the table on sociological perspectives and social policy Complete sections on: Approach Influence of approach Criticisms of approach Party most likely to be influenced by approach

Post Modernism For them, sociology has no contribution to make to policy. The role of sociology is to simply allow people to seek out an understanding of their personal lives within a specific social context..

This is because post-modernists reject the modernist idea of ‘progress’; social research cannot be used to usher in the ‘good society’ Knowledge is a social construction – a series of metanarratives. Sociologists assume that there is an ‘orderly society out there to be discovered by rational scientific method’ but post modernists argue there is no such thing.

Individual Activity Complete the quick check questions on page 280