758637
Description
Mind Map by nasreen_946_, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by nasreen_946_
over 10 years ago
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Sociology and Social policy
- Refers to the actions that are taken by the gov. to
maintain and improve the welfare of its citizens.
Including social security, state pensions, housing etc.
- It aims to deal with Social problems
- A Social problem is some aspect of
social behaviour that gives rise to conflict
in society/ misery for others
Annotations:
- It is wrongly assumed that sociology is a study of social problems
- It is only a part of what sociologists study
- There is a difference between social problems and
sociological problems. Any pattern of behaviour that
needs an explanation is a sociological problem.
- Social problem is relative. what constitutes a social problem in one
society may not be regarded in another. Even within a society
social problems can be viewed differently.
- Social problems can have an objective
element (emphasized by structuralists) and
a subjective element (emphasized by
interactionists)
- It can be voluntary eg:
divorce and Vandalism or
involuntary eg: being elderly
or a member of a minority
group. But its society's
voluntary attitudes and
responses that make these
phenomena a big thing
- A Social problem is some aspect of
social behaviour that gives rise to conflict
in society/ misery for others
- It aims to deal with Social problems
- POWER
- It is important to discover where the power
lies in the process of identifying and
dealing with social problems. The role of
the media in developing our awareness of
certain social prob. to the exclusion of
others should not be underestimated. The
poorest have a great difficulty in getting
their definition of the situation accepted by
the wider society and agenda setters.
- It is important to discover where the power
lies in the process of identifying and
dealing with social problems. The role of
the media in developing our awareness of
certain social prob. to the exclusion of
others should not be underestimated. The
poorest have a great difficulty in getting
their definition of the situation accepted by
the wider society and agenda setters.
- Existence of social policies suggest
that not all members of society are
equal beneficiaries of its wealth and
institutions.
- In the formulation of social
policy there are many many
possible means to achieve a
given end.
- It depends largely on the ideology of
those with power to determine social
policy.
- social policy may have unintended effects
- social policy may have unintended effects
- It depends largely on the ideology of
those with power to determine social
policy.
- In the formulation of social
policy there are many many
possible means to achieve a
given end.
- Should there be a relationship between sociology and social policy?
- One group argues
that sociology should
be applied, it should
directly influence gov.
to bring about
reforms ( change)
- Anthony Giddens - He identified
ways in which sociology relates to
social policy - 1. it can inform
policy makers .2. Sociological
research can assess the results
of policy initiatives. 3. Increase
self understanding - leading to
formation of pressure groups and
protest groups.
- Example : Sociological research has resulted in the
Disability Discrimination Act. 2. The sex
discrimination and Equal pay Acts of 1975 grew out
of feminist research into sexual discrimination at
work/
- He argues that social research has
has a positive influence upon gov.
social policy
- Others argue that gov. do not
simply respond to sociological
research in the way he describes -
Gov. only act on research when it
fits with their political / ideological
agenda. 2. They act when
pressured by powerful groups
- For example: Black report, carried out in 1980 on class
inequalities in health made 37 far - reaching policy
recommendations for reducing inequality - the gov.
rejected it on the grounds of cost and even tried to
prevent its publication
- Marxists - Capitalism are responsible
for inequalities, policies propsed by
black report cannot solve it ,so
capitalism has to be abolished
- Social problems can only be solved through radical
economic change - not reform through legislation
- Marxists do recognise that social policies provide
benefit to working class, but such gains are always
under threat by capitalism
- Marxists do recognise that social policies provide
benefit to working class, but such gains are always
under threat by capitalism
- Social problems can only be solved through radical
economic change - not reform through legislation
- Marxists - Capitalism are responsible
for inequalities, policies propsed by
black report cannot solve it ,so
capitalism has to be abolished
- For example: Black report, carried out in 1980 on class
inequalities in health made 37 far - reaching policy
recommendations for reducing inequality - the gov.
rejected it on the grounds of cost and even tried to
prevent its publication
- Others argue that gov. do not
simply respond to sociological
research in the way he describes -
Gov. only act on research when it
fits with their political / ideological
agenda. 2. They act when
pressured by powerful groups
- Example : Sociological research has resulted in the
Disability Discrimination Act. 2. The sex
discrimination and Equal pay Acts of 1975 grew out
of feminist research into sexual discrimination at
work/
- Anthony Giddens - He identified
ways in which sociology relates to
social policy - 1. it can inform
policy makers .2. Sociological
research can assess the results
of policy initiatives. 3. Increase
self understanding - leading to
formation of pressure groups and
protest groups.
- Sociological insights should be used
to radically change (inspire) the
political and economics system - not be used for reform
- The point of sociology is that it is an
academic subject, it has no use other
than increase self knowledge
- Post modernists
- Phenomenologists
- Both of them motivated by the
desire to expand human
knowledge to challenge
widespread beliefs rather than to
influence the org. of social life
- Post modernists
- C.wright Mills argued that sociology should not be simply
accumulation of facts. Sociology should explain social problems and
suggest social problems
- One group argues
that sociology should
be applied, it should
directly influence gov.
to bring about
reforms ( change)
- Weber
- He distinguishes between sociology and social policy
whihc he saw as 2 different worlds, noth of which are
valuable but whose distinctions and ways of working
should be made clear.
- James Coleman - draws the analogy of the 2
worlds of discipline and action, sociology being
the world of discipline and social policy as world
of action. world of discipline is pure and value
free, world of action is impure, value laden
secretive and has conflicting interest groups.
- James Coleman - draws the analogy of the 2
worlds of discipline and action, sociology being
the world of discipline and social policy as world
of action. world of discipline is pure and value
free, world of action is impure, value laden
secretive and has conflicting interest groups.
- weber's conception of the
relationship between
sociology and social policy is
that sociology provides the
technical information from
which policy makers decide
social policy.
- Marx did not share the same concern of being value
free and wished to join the world of action
- Marx did not share the same concern of being value
free and wished to join the world of action
- He distinguishes between sociology and social policy
whihc he saw as 2 different worlds, noth of which are
valuable but whose distinctions and ways of working
should be made clear.
- Other sociologists see a place for values in
sociology and a place for sociologists in
the making of social policy.
- Robert S.Lynd
- He argues that values are
relevant in the choosing of an
important social problem and in
the guiding of policy makers on
the likely outcome of their
decisions
- He argues that values are
relevant in the choosing of an
important social problem and in
the guiding of policy makers on
the likely outcome of their
decisions
- C.Wright Mills
- Took an anti- technician stance
and argued for the place of values
in sociological research.
- Took an anti- technician stance
and argued for the place of values
in sociological research.
- Howard Becker
- argues not only for the place of values in sociology
but for a particular set of values which promote a
favourable outcome in social policy for disadvantages
members of society
- argues not only for the place of values in sociology
but for a particular set of values which promote a
favourable outcome in social policy for disadvantages
members of society
- Robert S.Lynd
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