We have seen that funding bodies may not want to ask certain questions, but sociologists themselves may be ignoring important questions by their focus on alternatives.

For example, a focus on the influence of home background on educational success does not focus on the fact that the educational system is designed to fail some students.

In pairs, look at the following issues and discuss what alternative questions might be asked instead:

1. What are the reasons for marriage breakdown?
2. What are the reasons for poor nutrition in lower-income families?
3. What are the social characteristics of the homeless?