Functionlism

Question 1

What type of theory is functionalism

Answer 1

Structural and consensus theory

Question 2

Define the organic analogy

Answer 2

Every part of society has a role to play

Question 3

How many roles in the education system according to functionalists

Answer 3

3

Question 4

What do the 3 roles of the education system give to society

Answer 4

• maintenance of the social system .

Question 5

What do functionalists believe

Answer 5

Have equality of opportunity and meritocracy

Question 6

3 roles according functionalists

Answer 6

• skills provision
• secondary socialisation
• role allocation

Question 7

Functionalists for skill provision

Answer 7

Durkheim

Question 8

What did Durkheim say

Answer 8

Education teaches the skills required by modern industrial society

Question 9

Skills gained from education

Answer 9

Numeracy and literacy

Question 10

What do school provide via skill provision

Answer 10

Schools provide a properly trained labour force with skills to be able to perform their occupation well which in term helps the economy

Question 11

Which functionalists talks about secondary socialisation

Answer 11

Parsons

Question 12

What did parsons say about secondary socialisation

Answer 12

Socialise the youth into key cultural values and norm via the hidden curriculum

Question 13

Example of a value gained through secondary socialisation

Answer 13

Achievement

Question 14

What does secondary socialisation prepares us for

Answer 14

Wider society as we are all judge through the same universal standards

Question 15

Which sociologist talk about role allocation

Answer 15

Davis and Moore

Question 16

What did Davis and Moore believe

Answer 16

Education allocates us to the most appropriate jobs for their talents via universal standards

Question 17

What did Davis and Moore base their ideals of

Answer 17

Metriocracy

Question 18

Example of meritocracy

Answer 18

Higher reward for harder jobs

Question 19

What does metriocracy increase

Answer 19

Increase competition so therefore people work harder

Question 20

Link for role allocation

Answer 20

Function of selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles by assessing ability

Question 21

Strength for functionalist perspective

Answer 21

• structural = understanding connections between the eduction systems and wider society
• consensus = useful for highlighting the positive functions of education

Question 22

Weaknesses of the functionalist perspective

Answer 22

• Marxists critical that system benefits some more than others and therefore functionalist are too accepting of these inequalities eg ignoring ascribed status and focusing too much achieved
• critise secondary socialisation they believe pupil aren’t socialised in norm and value of society the value census instead they are socialised into the ruling class ideology (white wealthy men )

Question 23

How to feminists critise the functionalist perspective

Answer 23

• feminists critical of role allocation eg females do better than makes in term of educational achievement, yet females are less likely to have access to higher paid jobs in comparison to males due to the glass ceiling

Question 24

How can u critise the structural theory

Answer 24

Social action theory sociologist, such a interaction, argue that functionalist assume pupils are passive and accept values of school but in reality not all pupils conform to school norms