Functionalist

Question 1

Functionalism is a structural consensus theory, what does this mean?

Answer 1

Structural- there is a social structure that shapes individual behaviour through the process of socialisation.

Consensus- Believe successful society is based on value consensus. Enables people to work together on shared goals (social solidarity).

Question 2

Functionalists believe in an organic analogy, what does this mean?

Answer 2

Compares society to the human body. It states a successful society has a stable social structure in which different institutions (e.g., education) perform unique functions. The same way organs do in the body.

Question 3

What do functionalists believe institutions perform?

Answer 3

Positive functions.

Question 4

What are functional prerequisites?

Answer 4

Certain requirements society must meet if it is to survive.

Question 5

Four key functions of education according to functionalists?

Answer 5

1. Provides social solidarity
2. Provides specialist skills.
3. Bridge to wider society (meritocracy).
4. Role allocation

Question 6

What are the two key points Durkheim talks about?

Answer 6

1. Social solidarity
2. Specialist skills

Question 7

Who talks about social solidarity?

Answer 7

Durkheim

Question 8

How does the education system help to create social solidarity?

Answer 8

Transmits society’s norms and values from one generation to the next. Young people learn how to behave appropriately, and this leads to SS.

Question 9

How does the education system help to create social solidarity?

Answer 9

Transmits society’s norms and values from one generation to the next. Young people learn how to behave appropriately, and this leads to SS.

Question 10

If the education system creates social solidarity, what can it be seen as? Why?

Answer 10

Agent of social control- helps control individuals and maintains order in society.

Question 11

What does school also act as?

Answer 11

‘Society in miniature’ - preparing us for life in wider society.

Question 12

2 examples of the education system acting as society in miniature?

Answer 12

1. Having to listen to teachers (authority figures). Same as bosses in the workplace.
2. Be on time and punctual at school- detention if not. Same at work but will get fired.

Question 13

Who talks about specialist skills?

Answer 13

Durkheim

Question 14

How does the education system produce specialist skills?

Answer 14

Teaches the skills and knowledge necessary for work in modern, technical, industrial society e.g. literacy and numeracy.

Question 15

What does school need to transmit?

Answer 15

Skills and knowledge required by the economy - education prepares young people for the world of work.

Question 16

An example of specialist skills?

Answer 16

A doctor would have to take biology and chemistry a-levels in order to move onto their degree.

Question 17

Who talks about meritocracy/ the bridge?

Answer 17

Parsons.

Question 18

What is Parson’s argument for meritocracy?

Answer 18

Education helps provide shared norms and values. It is also one of the main socialising agencies- acting as a bridge between a bridge between the family and wider society.

Question 19

What is the family based on? (Standards and status) Parsons.

Answer 19

Particularistic standards and ascribed status. Rules only apply to that particular child and tasks are based on ability and unique characteristics. You are also born with your status.

Question 20

What is wider family based on? (Standards and status) Parsons.

Answer 20

Universalistic standards and achieved status. All children have the same rules and are expected to follow them (school rules and workplace). You also have to work hard to gain your status (good grades at school or by working to pay rise).

Question 21

What does Parsons argue school and society both operate on?

Answer 21

Meritocratic principles.

Question 22

What is meritocracy?

Answer 22

A system based on equal opportunity to achieve, and everyone is rewarded based on merit.

Question 23

What does meritocracy allow for?

Answer 23

Status to be achieved in school and society because everyone is treated using the same standards (universalistic standards).

Question 24

According to functionalists, what does meritocracy provide for students?

Answer 24

Equal opportunity to achieve recognised qualifications, enabling people to achieve higher positions in society- this is called social mobility. Kind of work people do (and typically place in society) is influenced by education and qualifications.

Question 25

What do Davis and Moore argue is schools function?

Answer 25

Role allocation- selecting and allocating pupils to their future roles.

Question 26

According to Davis and Moore, what kind of device is the education system?

Answer 26

Device for selection and role allocation - school selects people for different jobs depending on their ability.

Question 27

What does the education system do during role allocation?

Answer 27

‘Sifts and sorts’ us accrding to abilitiy, the most able gain the highest status and paid professions.

Question 28

Example of role allocation?

Answer 28

For example, highest grade pupils go into jobs like being doctors, lawyers and dentists.

Question 29

Evaluation of Functionalism- Marxists?

Answer 29

Argue there is no such thing as a meritocracy. It appears to be, but class divisions mean not everyone has equal opportunities. ‘Myth of meritocracy’. The proletariat are led to believe the rich gain positions through hard work, but many have privilege from birth. Also leads to the development of a false class consciousness.

Question 30

Evaluation of Functionalists-Bowles and Gintis?

Answer 30

Their study demonstrated that whether academic success translated into economic success depended greatly on factors such as social class, ethnicity and gender.

Question 31

Evaluation of Functionalists- Not always best grades get highest paying jobs.

Answer 31

Not always the case. Some people gain high salaries without good qualifications, thanks to family connections, while at the same time there are high levels of graduate unemployment and underemployment.

Question 32

Evaluation of Functionalists- Interactionists?

Answer 32

Criticise functionalism for having an ‘over-socialised view’ of people as mere puppets of society. They wrongly imply that pupils passively accept stuff they are taught at school and never reject school values.

Question 33

Evaluation of Functionalists- school does not always bring pupils together?

Answer 33

May be due to a variety of issues such as divisive subcultures, bullying, discrimination and prejudice (bases on class, race, gender, ability, etc.).

Question 34

Evaluation of Functionalists- school does not prepare young people for work?

Answer 34

Does not teach necessities of life such as life skills, finances, communication and empathy. Moreover, it teaches material deemed ‘irrelevant’ in getting a job such as the quadratic equation in maths.