Assessing the Seriousness of Social Problems

Abstract

Recognition of anomalies in “normal science” results in the collapse of accepted paradigms. Anomalies are apparent in prevailing definitions of social problems. To many sociologists, social problems are conditions considered undesirable by significant numbers of people. This definition precludes or obscures distinctions between spurious and genuine (objective) social problems and between minor and serious ones. The paper proposes the use of scientific knowledge and values for identifying social problems and for determining their seriousness. Three ways of assessing seriousness are proposed. Primacy refers to the causal impact or multiplicity of influences of social problems. The magnitude of social problems refers to their extent or frequency. Severity concerns the degree or level of harmfulness. Scientific criteria are less ethnocentric, less erratic, and less influenced by vested interests than those of the public. Using public opinion as the criterion is a more knowledge-free than value-free definition of social problems.