B. Sociological Problems

A successful society involves a number of ___ ___ effectively carrying out a range of social ___ and ___.

A successful society involves a number of social institutions effectively carrying out a range of social processes and functions.

Sociologists are interested in how ___ and ___ ___ work and how individuals ___ and ___ one another’s behaviour.

Sociologists are interested in how societies and social institutions work and how individuals interact and interpret one another’s behaviour.

Any aspect of social life, whether it is ‘___’ or ‘___’, is a sociological problem.

• Sociologists are interested in ___ as a social problem because it can have ___ ___ for individuals and society, but they are also just as interested in ___ as a sociological problem

Any aspect of social life, whether it is ‘normal’ or ‘deviant’, is a sociological problem.

• Sociologists are interested in divorce as a social problem because it can have negative effects for individuals and society, but they are also just as interested in marriage as a sociological problem

A great deal of sociological research functions to ___ ___ of how society works and to explain why ___ ___ as well as ___ ___ and ___ tend to behave in ___ and ___ ways.

A great deal of sociological research functions to increase knowledge of how society works and to explain why social institutions as well as social groups and individuals tend to behave in patterned and predictable ways.

Such sociological research may have ___ ___ in that it might too encourage politicians and social policy makers to adjust or change existing ___ and ___.

Such sociological research may have side effects in that it might too encourage politicians and social policy makers to adjust or change existing laws and policies.

Much sociological research is therefore focused on ___ and ___ ___, and their relationship to social policy in three ways.

Much sociological research is therefore focused on social and sociological problems, and their relationship to social policy in three ways.

1. Some sociological research aims to be ___, its purpose is to describe a particular situation or ___ ___ ___

• Some sociologists are dedicated to describing the extent of ___ by examining facts and figures relating to ___, ___ and ___

1. Some sociological research aims to be descriptive, its purpose is to describe a particular situation or set of facts

• Some sociologists are dedicated to describing the extent of inequality by examining facts and figures relating to wealth, income and poverty

2. Some sociological research is ___, it sets out to explain a particular social phenomenon such as ___

• This might involve some ___ but the ___ ___ is to suggest reasons why poverty occurs and perhaps to encourage social ___ ___ to act upon it

2. Some sociological research is explanatory, it sets out to explain a particular social phenomenon such as poverty

• This might involve some description but the ultimate goal is to suggest reasons why poverty occurs and perhaps to encourage social policy makers to act upon it

3. Some sociological research is ___, it sets out to monitor and to assess the effect of a ___ ___

• When Labour government introduced ___ ___ ___ into deprived communities to help poorer families, they commissioned ___ to evaluate whether these were making any difference in terms of ___ ___, getting ___ ___ back into the ___, etc

3. Some sociological research is evaluative, it sets out to monitor and to assess the effect of a social policy

• When Labour government introduced Sure Start centres into deprived communities to help poorer families, they commissioned sociologists to evaluate whether these were making any difference in terms of educational achievement, getting single mothers back into the workplace, etc

In addition to whether a sociologist is interested in pursuing the answers to ___ or ___ ___, the choice of research topic is dependent on a number of other ___ ___.

In addition to whether a sociologist is interested in pursuing the answers to social or sociological problems, the choice of research topic is dependent on a number of other practical influences.