theory

Question 1

Blau and Duncan (1978)

Answer 1

human capital is necessary for modern capitalist states to prosper
a meritocratic education system enables each person to be allocated to the best job suited to their abilities
we make effective use of talents to maximise profits

Question 2

Davis and Moore (1945)

Answer 2

role allocation - education helps to match individuals to the job they are best suited

Question 3

organic analogy

Answer 3

institutions act as organs working together/ relying on each other

Question 4

macro theory

Answer 4

belief that institutions directly impact individuals

Question 5

consensus

Answer 5

institutions have a positive affect on society

Question 6

Durkheim function of education

Answer 6

main function of education = solidarity and skills
creating social solidarity
teaching specialist skills

Question 7

functionalist evaluation

Answer 7

marxists have a problem with the idea that ‘norms’ and ‘values’ are being promoted in schools to create social solidarity
teaches us to conform - become robotic members of society

Question 8

Parsons

Answer 8

education acts as a bridge between home life and work life

Question 9

‘marketisation’

Answer 9

advertising/ selling the 'product' (school) to a particular market (parents) 
through things like
open days
league tables (progress 8)
photos and website
prospectus 
off-stead
specialist schools

Question 10

cream skimming and silt shifting

Answer 10

schools pick the students they believe will achieve the highest grades (generally MC white) and discard the others

Question 11

evaluation of marketisation

Answer 11

A-C economy
educational triage - setting and streaming
cream skimming and silt shifting

Question 12

role of the state - Althusser

Answer 12

the state contains elements which serve to keep the bourgeoisie in power
the ISA and the RSA

Question 13

RSA repressive state apparatus

Answer 13

maintain the rule of the bourgeoisie by force of threat
physical force may be used to repress the WC
e.g police, army

Question 14

ISA ideological state apparatus

Answer 14

maintain the rule of the bourgeoisie by controlling peoples ideas, values and beliefs
e.g the church

Question 15

marxist functions of education

Answer 15

reproducing class inequality
legitimising class inequality

Question 16

reproducing class inequality

Answer 16

passes on that capitalism is right
continues the underachievement of the WC
results in streaming and labelling

Question 17

legitimising class inequalities

Answer 17

justifies class inequality by blaming failure on students ability (meritocracy) and emphasises fairness at school

Question 18

Bowles and Gintis case study

Answer 18

schools try to create robotic obedient students preparing them to be submissive compliant workers
negative from marxist viewpoint everyones taught the same norms and values - no one disagrees with the system and people won’t challenge capitalism

Question 19

Bowles and Gintis = correspondence principle

Answer 19

correspondence principle takes place through ‘the hidden curriculum’ (all the ‘lessons’ that are learnt in school without them being directly taught - rules and norms you learn)
AO3 - functionalists with these morals society would crumble

Question 20

Bowles and Gintis

Answer 20

argue that meritocracy doesn’t exist because the education system prepares you for work and creates failure to fill the lower skilled jobs

Question 21

functionalist evaluation

Answer 21

interactionalists argue this theory on the role of education is deterministic and ignores free will

Question 22

the new right perspective

Answer 22

they favour the marketisation of education because the state cannot meet peoples needs and that people are best left alone to meet their own needs in the free market

the state education system takes a ‘one size fits all’ approach imposing uniformity disregarding local needs

Question 23

Chub and Moe

Answer 23

each family should have a voucher to spend on buying education at the school of their choice
this would make schools compete and would improve quality