26/3/26 social policy
Sociology & Social Policy
Providing an awareness of cultural differences
Providing self awareness and understanding
Changing assumptions
Providing a theoretical framework
Providing Practical Professional Knowledge
* Sociologists don’t just work in universities:
Work in *government, social work, journalism, HR, civil service**
* Influence policy by:
* Advising governments (e.g. Home Office)
* Conducting research (e.g. crime surveys)
* Evaluating effectiveness of policies
* Example:
* Research improved validity of crime statistics (British Crime Survey)
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6. Identifying Social Problems
* Sociologists:
* Ask questions about society
Identify *new or hidden social problems**
Show problems are often *structural**, not just individual
* Key contributions:
* Feminist research → gender inequality laws
* Poverty research → exposed extent of inequality
* Studies on racism & discrimination
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7. Providing the Evidence
* Sociologists:
* Conduct surveys
* Analyse data
* Suggest explanations
* Evidence is used to:
* Guide policy decisions
* Support evidence-based policies
* Helps ensure policies are more effective
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8. Identifying Unintended Consequences
Policies can have *unexpected effects**
* Example:
* Crime policies may displace crime to other areas
Based on ideas like *Merton’s latent functions/dysfunctions**
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9. Assessing the Results
* Evaluate whether policies:
* Achieved goals
* Need changing or scrapping
Sociology helps measure *policy success/failure**
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Influences on Social Policy-Making
## Key Idea:
Policy is NOT just based on evidence
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## The Politics of Social Policy-Making
### 1. Economic Factors
* Governments may:
* Not afford policies
* Prioritise cost-cutting over solving problems
* Leads to:
* Increased poverty, homelessness, hardship
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### 2. Ideology
* Governments follow political beliefs:
* May ignore evidence that conflicts with ideology
Use *selective evidence**
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### 3. Think Tanks
* Provide policy advice
* Often politically aligned
* Support particular ideologies
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### 4. Public Opinion & Elections
* Policies must be popular to win votes
* Politicians may:
* Ignore evidence
* Focus on what voters want
* Example:
* Tough-on-crime policies despite weak evidence
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### 5. Media Influence
* Media shapes public opinion
* Politicians respond to media pressure
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### 6. Globalisation
* Governments constrained by:
* International organisations (e.g. EU)
* Limits policy choices
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### 7. Moral Views
* Policies influenced by:
* What society sees as morally acceptable
* Example:
* Issues like prostitution or cannabis
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Key Criticism of Sociology in Policy
* Governments may:
* Ignore or distort research
* Use evidence selectively
* Evidence alone does not determine policy
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Theoretical Perspectives on Social Policy
## Positivism
* Sociology should:
* Be scientific
* Provide objective facts
* Can improve society through evidence
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## Marxism
Policies benefit the *ruling class**
* Maintain capitalism
* Sociology should expose inequality
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## Feminism
* Focus on gender inequality
* Influence laws improving women’s rights
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## Functionalism
* Policies maintain social order
* Help society function smoothly
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## Postmodernism
* Rejects idea of one “truth”
* Skeptical about sociology’s role in policy
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Should Sociologists Be Involved in Policy?
### Arguments FOR:
* Can reduce inequality
* Improve people’s lives
* Provide useful research
### Arguments AGAINST:
* Risk of bias
* Used by governments for their own agenda
* Sociology should remain independent
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Key Concepts to Remember
* Evidence-based policy
* Ideology
* Think tanks
* Unintended consequences
* Policy evaluation
* Structural causes of social problems
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Evaluate the extent to which sociological research may have an influence on the formation of government social policies
may influence because they provide evidence, e.g under achievement of girls in science (WISE and GIST)
May influence because they fit the political agenda, RR justifying tough on crime approach which is popular with public, Murray and youngs influence
May not influence due to sociology often researching powerless groups that governments are not as keen to impress, e.g ethnic minorities treatment by CJS. Eval participatory culture may change (BLM)
May not influence as their research contradicts prevailing attitudes at that time, e.g cannabis is dangerous. Furthermore, media can play a role in promoting a conservative agenda.