Social policy as an academic subject is both descriptive and analytical Essay Example

Social policy as an academic subject is both descriptive and analytical Essay Social policy as an academic topic is both descriptive and analytical. Discuss pulling on at least three academic mentions. In this essay the writer will specify societal policy as an academic topic and show that despite the fact that societal policy draws on other academic societal scientific discipline topics it is different because it is based upon a distinguishable empirical focal point support for the wellbeing of citizens provided through societal action ( Alcock 2008:3 ) . The writer will demo how as an academic capable societal policy is both descriptive and analytical and will give illustrations. Social policy as an academic topic is hard to depict as it is both the hunt of theoretical norms on how society should act and the practical application and execution of policies, which are considered to be societal ( Alcock et al 2004:1 ) . The intent of these policies is to better public assistance and to run into human demands ( Blakemore, K. 2003:1 ) . Spicker ( 2008:1 ) defines societal policy as the survey of societal services and the public assistance province . The survey of societal policy, originally known as societal disposal chiefly pertains to societal services and includes societal security, lodging, wellness, societal work and instruction, these being described by Spicker ( 2008:1 ) as the large five . Social policy as an academic topic draws on other topics such as economic sciences, political relations, history, psychological science and sociology and has been described as a magpie topic by Blakemore ( 2003:3 ) . These other topics offer background information about the many facets required to understand and develop societal policies such as the effects of industrialization and alterations in societal conditions, population alterations, constructs of category, position and mobility. Understanding sociology gives a better apprehension of industrial dealingss, minority groups and societal control ( Titmuss 1974:15 ) . However, societal policy as an academic subject differs from these other topics because it is based on a distinguishable empirical focal point support for the wellbeing of citizens provided through societal action ( Alcock, P. 2008:3 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on Social policy as an academic subject is both descriptive and analytical specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Social policy as an academic subject is both descriptive and analytical specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Social policy as an academic subject is both descriptive and analytical specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Social policy as an academic topic has been described as the survey of policy pattern in order to lend to policy reform. It combines both descriptive and normative elements Becker ( 2008:11 ) . Carlson ( 2004:89 ) contends that the descriptive component of societal policy is usually involved in the production of categorizations to do comparing easier, or to demo the inter-relationships between instances . Harmonizing to Spicker ( 2008:2 ) Titmuss suggested that societal policy describes how policies are formulated and the effects of policies. Social policy s chief focal point is welfare and it describes people s demands or jobs such as poorness, lodging, mental unwellness or disablement ( Spicker 2008:4 ) . Social policy describes the beginning and purposes of a policy, how a policy is implemented and the consequences, either good or bad ( Spicker 2008:5 ) . Fitzpatrick ( 2001:4 ) wrote that societal disposal was concerned with the how and the what of societal policy . An i llustration of this descriptive component of societal policy in pattern can be found in a background paper on drugs and drug dependance written by Richard Hartnoll ( 2004 ) . Hartnoll discusses how many people, what type of people use drugs, the type drugs they use, bar, interventions and decrease in supply. This descriptive information contributes to turn toing policy inquiries in relation to the impact of drug usage on persons and society. Descriptions besides help to measure demands and trade with whether or non there are equal resources to cover with the job. Hartnoll concluded that although descriptions of the drug state of affairs and policies had improved in Europe, that spreads remained and much more needful to be done in analyzing policies. The survey of societal policy requires the strict linking of theoretical analysis with empirical question . Social policy demands to analyze policies, their ends and impacts and see if these policies achieve their ends, or if non, why non ( Bochel 2005:7-8 ) . Harmonizing to Carlson ( 2004:88-89 ) Best and Kellner make a comparing between societal theories and route maps, stating that in order to analyze, discuss and intervene in societal procedures we need to utilize maps to see how society is structured. Theoretical positions or belief systems, referred to as political orientations of public assistance ( George and Wilding, 1994:1 ) play an of import function in the analytical facet of societal policy. Political orientations have three chief constituents as described by Baldock et Al ( 2007:69-70 ) . The first is a position, which stresses or explains statement without giving weight to other point of views. The 2nd is the position of groups or persons who have something to de rive from an statement. The 3rd and concluding constituent of an political orientation is how it deals with more than one issue and refers to a wider set of coherent thoughts . Analysing societal policies in relation to tribades, cheery work forces and bisexuals in Ireland demo how the political orientations of the Catholic Church have in the yesteryear influenced societal policy. Sexual activity between work forces was criminalized in Ireland in 1634 and was punishable by decease. Amendments were made to this act broadening the range from sodomy to gross indecency in 1885. With the foundation of the Irish Gay Rights Movement in 1974 came the push to legalize homosexualism. David Norris took a instance to the High Court in 1977 in which he challenged his constitutional rights of privateness and equality. This instance was unsuccessful and the opinion of the High Court included mention to homosexualism been condemned in Christian instruction as being morally incorrect . The High Court besides judged that homosexualism posed harm to the establishment of matrimony. The Catholic Church s political orientations are apparent in this opinion. Norris was successful in 1988 when he took his instance to the European Court of Human Rights. Homosexuality was finally decriminalized in the Criminal Law ( Sexual Offences ) Act of 1993 ( Considine, Dukelow 2009:438-443 ) . In decision the writer has defined societal policy as an academic topic and explained the differences between societal policy and other societal scientific discipline topics. The writer has explained how societal policy is descriptive and illustrated this with the illustration from Hartnoll. The writer has besides shown how societal policy is analytical and why when analyzing policies consideration must be given to the influence of political orientations as demonstrated with the illustration given from Considine and Dukelow. List of Mentions Alcock, Cliff. , Payne, Sarah. , Sullivan, Michael. ( 2004 ) Introducing Social Policy, England: Pearson Education Limited Alcock. Pete. ( 2008 ) The Subject of Social Policy , p. 3 in Alcock, Pete. , May, Margaret and Rowlingson, Karen ( explosive detection systems ) , The Students Companion to Social Policy, 3rd erectile dysfunction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Baldock, John. , ( 2007 ) Welfare, Ideology, and Social Theory in Baldock, John. , Manning, Nick. , Vickerstaff, Sarah. , ( explosive detection systems ) Social Policy 3rd erectile dysfunction, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Becker Saul. ( 2008 ) Methods and Approaches in Social Policy Research in Alcock, Peter, May. Margaret and Rowlingson, Karen. , ( explosive detection systems ) The Students Companion to Social Policy 3rd erectile dysfunction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Blakemore, Kenneth ( 2003 ) Social Policy an Introduction 2nd erectile dysfunction, Berkshire: Open University Press Bochel, Hugh ( 2005 ) Introducing Social Policy in Bochel, Hugh. , Bochel, Catherine. , Page, Robert and Sykes, Rob. , Social Policy: Issues and Developments, Essex: Pearson Education Limited. Carlson, Judith ( 2004 ) Theoretical Principles and Concepts in Alcock, Cliff. , Payne, Sarah. , Sullivan, Michael. , Introducing Social Policy, Essex: Pearson Education Limited Considine, Mair A ; eacute ; ad. , Dukelow, Fiona. , ( 2009 ) Irish Social Policy, A Critical Introduction Dublin: Gill A ; Macmillan Ltd Fitzpatrick, Tony ( 2001 ) Welfare Theory: An Introduction, Campling, Jo ( adviser editor ) London: Palgrave George, Vic. , Wilding, Paul. , ( 1994 ) Welfare and Ideology Essex: Prentice Hall Europe Hartnoll, Richard ( 2004 ) Drugs and drug dependance: linking research, policy and pattern, background paper for Pompidou Group s Strategic Conference on linking research, policy and pattern, Strasbourg. Germany: Koelblin-Fortuna-Druck Lavalette, Michael. , Pratt, Alan. , ( explosive detection systems ) ( 1998 ) Social Policy A Conceptual and Theoretical Introduction, London: Sage Publications Inc Spicker, Paul ( 2008 ) Social Policy Themes and Approaches 2nd erectile dysfunction, Bristol: The Policy Press Titmuss, Richard. ( 1974 ) The International Perspective , in Abel-Smith, Brian and Titmuss, Kay ( explosive detection systems ) , Social Policy an Introduction, London: Unwin Hyman Ltd