Functionalism

Question 1

Define organic analogy

Answer 1

Society is a collection of interdependent parts held together by a shared value consensus

Question 2

Define social solidarity

Answer 2

The ties and bonds that unite us into a ‘society’

Question 3

Define social cohesion

Answer 3

Result of social solidarity, it is a well-integrated and stable society.

Question 4

How does education help create social solidarity

Answer 4

1. Transmits societies culture, shared norms and values to the next generation
2. School acts as a society in miniature preparing us for life in wider society

Question 5

What does Durkheim believe about social solidarity

Answer 5

Society is a collection of interdependent parts held together by a shared value consensus, and that education transmits this shared value consensus creating a society in miniature.

Question 6

What does Durkheim believe about specialist skills.

Answer 6

Modern economies have a complex division of labour and therefore each person must have necessary specialist knowledge and skills to perform their role and that education teaches this specialist knowledge and skills needed.

Question 7

What does Talcott Parsons believe.

Answer 7

-education is meritocratic
- particularistic vs universalistic standards
- ascribed vs achieved status

Question 8

Define meritocracy

Answer 8

Everyone is given an equal opportunity and achieves rewards based on their hard-work and effort.

Question 9

What does Parsons believe about education being a meritocracy

Answer 9

Pupils earn the rewards and qualifications they get by working hard and putting in effort

Question 10

What does Parsons say school acts as and why is it needed

Answer 10

School acts as a bridge between the family and wider society, and this bridge is needed due to family and society operating on different principles therefore if children want to cope they need to learn these new principles.

Question 11

What are particularistic standards

Answer 11

Standards that only apply to 1 person
e.g. within a family children are judged by particularistic standards which only apply to that 1 child

Question 12

What are universalistic standards

Answer 12

Rules and standards that apply to everyone without exception
e.g. the law
Therefore schools and wider society judge us all by the same universalistic and impersonal standards

Question 13

What is an ascribed status

Answer 13

An ascribed status is a status that’s fixed at birth.
e.g. a child’s status is ascribed at birth within a family.

Question 14

What is an achieved status

Answer 14

A status that’s gained by hard work and effort
e.g. a role in a job
In school and wider society your status is achieved

Question 15

What do Davis and Moore say education does.

Answer 15

Role allocation

Question 16

What doe Davis and Moore believe educations role is in role allocation.

Answer 16

Education plays a key part in role allocation as it sifts and sorts pupils according to their ability
Role allocation encourages people to gain the highest qualifications they can in the best role suited to their ability allowing them to access the highest pay & qualifications

Question 17

What are the Marxist criticisms of Functionalism.

Answer 17

• hidden curriculum of capitalism- transmits values of ruling classes to create obedient workers
  -inequality- instead of a meritocracy schools serve to reproduce class inequality

Question 18

What are Feminist criticisms of Functionalism

Answer 18

Patriarchal values- education transmits patriarchal values reinforcing traditional gender roles
Hidden curriculum- perpetuates stereotypes through textbooks, gendered subject choice and reinforcing gender norms

Question 19

What are other criticisms of Functionalism

Answer 19

-Over socialised view of pupils- pupils aren’t passive puppets who simply absorb school values.
-Student resistance- doesn’t account for rejection of school values and rules.