Ideology, Sociological Theories, and Public Policy

Authors

Norman Goroff, University of Connecticut

Abstract

Excerpt from the full-text article:

It is important that my basic assumptions about social theories be made explicit at the very outset.

1. Every social theory has implicit, if not explicit, assumptions about the nature of man/woman.

2. Every social theory has implicit, if not explicit, assumptions about the nature of society or the collectivity.

3. Every social theory has implicit, if not explicit, assumptions about the relationship of man/woman to society or to the collectivity.

These assumptions in the theories are not empirical but normative and hence social theory is ideologically based. The fact that the social theories are ideologically based does not diminish their usefulness in helping us organize our knowledge of the social world. Rather, it becomes incumbent upon us as social scientists to explicate our assumptions in the three areas noted whenever we do research and/or participate in assisting groups of people in the formulation of social policies.

Recommended Citation

Goroff, Norman (1973) "Ideology, Sociological Theories, and Public Policy," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.1014
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol1/iss1/14