Social Policy and Sociology

Social Policy and Sociology explores the relationship between social policy and sociology and covers topics such as social inequities and individual stress in the family cycle. America's youth and their problems are also given attention, along with the relationship between graduate training and federal funding. Comprised of 24 chapters, this book begins with an assessment of the proper relationship between sociology and public policy, and whether sociologists should become actively engaged in social engineering. Methods of training graduate students for doing policy research are also discussed. Subsequent chapters explore community planning and poverty; policy implications of race relations; formal models as a guide to social policy; and the interrelationships between governmental policy, social structure, and public values. Social problems such as alcoholism and drug addiction are also considered, together with the changing relationship between government support and graduate training. Finally, the what and why of policy research in sociology are examined, and possible changes in graduate training and professional practice in sociology are evaluated. This monograph will be of interest to sociologists as well as social and public policymakers.