The Role of Education- Functionalist pt2- Talcott Parson

Question 1

What is role allocation?

Answer 1

Education sifts and sorts ppl into the job they have based on their abilities.

Question 2

What is meritocracy?

Answer 2

Individuals that work hard in society will be rewarded in society and those who do not work hard will be rewarded.

Question 3

ascribed status

Answer 3

status u are born into
involuntary acquired
gender, race, family status

Question 4

achieved status

Answer 4

status acquire over time as a result of our own actions and efforts

Question 5

what research method does this link to?

Answer 5

armchair theorising b/c Parsons did not carry out empirical research- he was expressing his opinion based on his functionalist beliefs

Question 6

weakness of parsons theory

Answer 6

> myth of meritocracy- not all children have equal chances of success.
fail to recognise that the value consensus may be that of the ruling elite-marxist critique
l/c believe that the wealthy in society reached their position through hard work whereas many reached it through their ascribed status

Question 7

What do Davis and Moore believe?

Answer 7

Role allocation
For society to function u need a system of unequal reward.
>the higher the reward = encourages individuals to it in extra effort e.g GP’s + pilots

Question 8

What is the evaluation for Davis and Moore

Answer 8

> wealthy + powerful have an advantage
children of highly paid parents = get better qualifications + get high paid jobs themselves
social class plays a role-some ppl can access high salaries w/o good qualifications b/c of family connections (social capital)