A. Social Problems

Social problems are aspects of social life that cause ___ and ___ to both private individuals and society in general, such as ___, ___ ___, ___ ___, ___.

Social problems are aspects of social life that cause misery and anxiety to both private individuals and society in general, such as crime, child abuse, domestic violence, suicide.

The research of social problems is often sponsored by those in ___, like ___ ___.

The research of social problems is often sponsored by those in power, like the government.

Often government social policies aimed at ___ or ___ social problems are based on the evidence gathered by ___.

Often government social policies aimed at solving or reducing social problems are based on the evidence gathered by sociologists.

The poverty surveys of ___ and the ___ ___ surveys of Mack and Lansley (1990) influenced the social policies of ___ ___ with regard to the benefit system and ___ ___ respectively.

The poverty surveys of Townsend and the Breadline Britain surveys of Mack and Lansley (1990) influenced the social policies of Labour governments with regard to the benefit system and child poverty respectively.

Sociological research is therefore central to ___ ___ because it can provide governments with ___ ___ about the extent of a problem while ___ ___ can help shape the social policy ___.

Sociological research is therefore central to social policy because it can provide governments with crucial data about the extent of a problem while sociological explanations can help shape the social policy response.

Governments do not always take action when sociologists identify a ___ ___ or when their ___ ___ suggests solutions.

Governments do not always take action when sociologists identify a social problem or when their empirical research suggests solutions.

Politicians may disagree with sociologists about the cause of a social problem because their ___ ___ may be different.

• A politician may prefer to blame poverty on its ___ rather than on government ___ ___ or the way that ___ ___ is organised

• Social policymakers may therefore ignore ___ ___

Politicians may disagree with sociologists about the cause of a social problem because their ideological position may be different.

• A politician may prefer to blame poverty on its victims rather than on government economic policy or the way that capitalist society is organised

• Social policymakers may therefore ignore sociological research