I think it's good that more research is being done to try and figure out what can be done to make everything more equal, but sociologists have been doing research for years and it's getting harder and harder to see the results. Just knowing why something isn't working, doesn't fix it or make it any better. I also agree with the textbook when it says that certain groups don't want to see certain problems solved. I think this goes back to the idea that profit is the most important thing in today's society. If slum lords can keep collecting rent from poor people who are afraid they will be kicked out of their apartment if they report the landlord, it is a big benefit for the landlord to never repair the property.
Social problems are big problems.
I almost feel hopeless when I read about some of these problems because they have been problems for so long, and it doesn't seem like poverty, crime, health costs, etc. have gotten better. In fact, in some parts of the country the crime problem has gotten worse. It should be interesting to look back on this class five or 10 years from now and see what, if anything, has changed.