...The Impact of Sociological Theories in Education SOC101 Sheila Schmitz May 7, 2012 Education is the key to success in a person’s life. Not being educated people would be hurting just to try and get through day to day life situations. There are three main theories that help with understanding education and that is functionalist theory, the conflict theory, and the interactionist theory. Theory helps us comprehend why different groups may disagree about how they view social problems, but why they all believe they are right (Vissing, Y., 2011, Chap 1.6). Education could be the difference from getting a low paying job or a high paying job. Education also plays a huge role in helping you to understand things better, it helps your social skills, the way people view you and also the way you view yourself. Functionalism Functionalism approach held that all social structures (institutions or stable units of society) exist because they fulfill some specific functions (Vissing, Y., 2011, Chap 1.6). They view schools as an institution to educate the next generation to give them the knowledge and skills to prepare the youth in their future occupational jobs and leadership roles. The functionalist theory also views all the ways education serves the need of society. Functionalists such as Parsons and Durkheim believe that the school environment is a microcosm (small version) of the adult occupational world and therefore prepare students for their future (Casey Kingsland...
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...conflict theorists look at society, they see the social domination of subordinate groups through the power, authority, and coercion of dominant groups. In the conflict view, the most powerful members of dominant groups create the rules for success and opportunity in society, often denying subordinate groups such success and opportunities; this ensures that the powerful continue to monopolize power, privilege, and authority. You should note that most conflict theorists oppose this sort of coercion and favor a more equal social order. Some support a complete socioeconomic revolution to socialism (Marx), while others are more reformist, or perhaps do not see all social inequalities stemming from the capitalist system (they believe we could solve racial, gender, and class inequality without turning to socialism). However, many conflict theorists focus on capitalism as the source of social inequalities. The primary cause of social problems, according to the conflict perspective, is the exploitation and oppression of subordinate groups by dominants. Conflict theorists generally view oppression and inequality as wrong, whereas Structural-Functionalists may see it as necessary for the smooth running and integration of society. Structural-Functionalism and Conflict Theory therefore have different VALUE-ORIENTATIONS but can lead to similar insights about inequality (e.g., they both believe that stereotypes and discrimination benefit dominant groups, but conflict theorists say this...
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...Sociology essay Assess the view that the main function of the education system is to reproduce & legitimise social inequalities. Functionalists believe that education serves a purpose and gives everyone an equal chance to achieve and succeed. They believe education has a function to create a fully operational society and allocate roles fitting the correct people. However, a conflict argument (Marxism), disagree. Marxism believe that not everyone at school gets an equal opportunity (The myth or meritocracy) and that social class, gender and ethnicity all impact on what grades you will come out with. They also believe that education system reproduces social inequalities and legitimises them. Functionalists say the education system socialises children to adapt to a meritocratic view of achievement. At home a child is given a status (Particularistic standards) and at school universalistic standards apply, this means your status starts at a level playing field. This status will go up or down based on merit. One theorist who picked up on this was Talcott Parsons, and he suggested that education is a vital part to instil the major value of achievement. Marxist theorist Bourdieu disagrees with this view, he believe once at school not everyone starts at a level playing field and it is the lower classes who suffer most, this is evident in Item A. Item A states “School systematically fail the majority of working class pupils” this is supported by Bourdieu who adds that the...
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...Asses the view that the introduction of capitalism in developing countries liberates women… By taking different perspectives to approach the assessment that capitalism in developing countries liberates women, we can gain an insight of the arguments justifying the view and those opposing. This essay will proceed to demonstrate how the modernisation theory and marginalisation liberate women, and then add conflicting suggestions such as that of a Marxist Feminist. Perhaps most significantly, modernisation theorists such as Walt Rostow blame internal cultural factors for women’s subordination in the developing world; it can be seen that in many cultures it is within the norms, values and customs of society to be patriarchal, causing status to be ascribed on a basis of gender. Van de Gaag argues that the birth of a boy is often celebrated, whereas the birth of a girl is commiserated. Modernisation theorists would argue that this is a matter of development towards capitalism and the final stage of Modernity –which Rostow argues UK and USA sit at – where women experience full liberation and equality. The view that capitalism may help ‘liberate women from the oppression they suffered in traditional society’ (item A) can be supplemented further by highlighting the lack of status that they have in developing countries. In underdeveloped countries (Traditions Societies – Stage 1 – Rostow), females have less human rights than males, such as the last of healthcare and education (Boserup)...
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...The view that working class children cultural deprivation is the reason of their underachievement can be very rightly true. Cultural deprivation is the lack of certain rules of behavior in social situations, values, belief that something is a worthwhile, attitude and skills these are all of what society calls “normal”. Working class children are less likely to succeed in life because they are less likely to be found in nursery schools, less likely to go to university and more likely to be poor readers when they start school, more likely to be in lower sets and streams in secondary school, more likely to leave school early, more likely to underachieve at GCSEs and a level, more likely to be excluded and suspended. This is because the middle-class culture children are suitably prepared for school, but it's totally reverse for working-class culture; it basically fails to prepare children adequately for educational success/achievement. Cultural deprivation has been identified as one reason why the working class children are generally achieving less than middle class pupils. It attributes the working class under-achievement to the fact that they have often been brought up with a negative attitude towards education. The difference is working class people have a different culture from middle class people. That means working class children do less well in education. Some people then make a causative link between the two ideas and come up with the idea that working class children do less...
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...Javon SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology Instructor: Jeanette Maxey November 11, 2012 Theorists of Choice W.E.B Du Bois Sociology is the study of group behavior through the use of scientific investigation and research (Vissing, 2011). This class has shown so many different views on sociology. It explains how different people see society and how they live and interact with them. My theorist of choice is W.E.B Du Bois, because he laid down the foundation for the study of black sociology and the work of scholars such as E. Franklin Frazier (Vissing, 2011). In this paper I will discuss why I feel that W.E.B Du Bois views align with my personal views. W.E.B Du Bois real name is William Edwards Burghardt and was born February 23, 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Du bois was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author and editor. Du Bois grew up in a tolerant community and experienced little racism as a child. He was the first African American to earn a doctorate at Harvard University. Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim were widely recognized as the trinity of sociological theory. These three were trailblazing social theorists, who enhance the study of human behavior and its relationships to social institutions. There was one more scholar that they didn’t mention by the name W.E.B Du Bois. Du Bois was a political and literary giant of the 20th century. Du Bois also published over twenty books and thousands...
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...efforts and ability. This view sees education as a system where the most talented and hard working will succeed. According to Item A, structural theorists have competing views as to whether education is meritocratic. The view held by Functionalists is that the education system performs an essential role in the selection process of people into appropriate roles in the economy. Parsons and Davis and Moore all saw education as meritocratic. They argue that individuals are not born intellectually equal. The role of the education system is to sift and sort people. This involves selecting the most able for the mot functionally important roles in society. Therefore, doctors and lawyers are naturally more intelligent than cleaners and porters so it is good for society they get these jobs. In Parson’s view a meritocratic education system was essential in modern society. He saw the education system as a bridge between home and work. In the family individuals are judged on ‘particularistic’ values and have ascribed statuses. However, the education system, like the world of work is based on ‘universalistic’ values and the status is achieved. However, not all Functionalists share this view. Tumin said that Davis and Moore’s work was too simplistic because there was no way of measuring the functional importance or particular jobs. Other structural theorists like Marxists see education as ‘reproducing social inequality’ (Item A) and reject the view that education is a meritocracy. They...
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...Cognitive Theorist – Jean Piaget Terry Cross University of Phoenix 10/17/2014 Contribution of the theorist in the field of learning Jean Piaget was one of the pioneer psychologists who concentrated on the systematic analysis of cognitive development. Jean Piaget contributed in the field of learning by developing a theory of cognitive development in children. His detailed and close observational studies of children’s cognition in addition to administering ingenious tests to children revealed varying cognitive abilities. Piaget’s drive to study the cognitive development in children was informed by the psychological assumption that children have reduced or less thinking competency that adults. As such, Piaget made observations that children have a different mode of thinking compared to adult members of the society. Piaget established that children have innate and basic genetically inherited and evolved mental structures upon which later knowledge and learning stems from (Piaget, 1936). The cognitive theory developed by Piaget contributes to the understanding of cognitive development in children. Cognitive development theory by Piaget concentrates more on the cognitive development and does not argue about learning and acquiring information on given behaviors. Cognitive theory details elaborate stages of cognitive development that differ from one another. As such, the cognitive theory contributes to the field of cognition by explaining processes and systems by...
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...Sociological Theories In Education Introduction to Sociology Professor Whited Monday February 13th 2012 Education is often considered as the most important aspect of an individual’s life. Education essentially shapes a person’s future. Without an education, moreover a good education, in today’s economy people would struggle in everyday life just to make ends meet. In fact, according to statistics published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, on a survey taken by 11,437 people in January 2011, is 16.5%. That is a staggering 1,892 people who are unemployed because they do not have adequate education. Thus it is therefore evident that an education, or some education is paramount to a person’s success or accomplishments in life. There are three theories that help understand education. Although most view these theories as opinions, these theories support the need for education by allowing society to better understand education and they demonstrate or help identify what education really is. The three theories that are important for purposes of this paper are: Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism. These three theories play a vital role in helping understand education and why it is so important. Contrary to most beliefs, the theories previously mention are not simply one man’s opinions, rather they give a prime meaning to the necessity of education. Traditionally, American education has served both...
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...‘’Assess the view that working class children under-achieve because they are culturally deprived’’ Cultural deprivation theorists argue that most of us are taught the attitudes and skills needed for educational success during primary socialisation. However, there are a percentage of students who do not have cultural capital, and are therefore deprived of what is needed to be successful at school – this percentage, according to cultural deprivation theorists, are working-class. There are three main aspects of cultural deprivation: intellectual development, language, and attitudes and values. Cultural deprivation theorists argue that intellectual development plays a big part in the educational failure of the lower classes. Due to cost constraints, working-class parents are unlikely to buy educational toys which would stimulate their child’s mind, and intellectual development. This stimulation of the mind is vital for when a child begins their educational journey, as many middle-class mothers would say. J.W.B Douglas found that working-class children tend to score less on tests of ability than middle-class students because working-class parents are less likely to support their child’s intellectual development – even by simply reading to them. Bernstein and Young also found that middle-class mothers are more likely to buy toys which encourage thinking and reasoning – skills which are needed for educational success. However, although intellectual development may seem like a major...
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...Introduction It cannot be disputed that there indeed lies an ocean of difference between that of an adult and a child. The difference transcends beyond age, size, gender, weight, and other obvious physical attributes. The matter of importance lies in the difference in terms of the grasp of understanding as between the two since the ability of one to comprehend greatly influences the person that the child ought to become in the future. As rightfully said, it is the things you do in the present that shape your future. Basic premises of cognitive development theory It is properly established that the field of cognitive development primarily tackles the mental faculties of individuals in the pursuit of understanding their mental undertakings. It goes as far as the extent of realizing and assessing their mental abilities in order to aid the individual concerned in making used of his mental faculties to the fullest extent for his own benefit so that such individual can achieve its maximum potential. The study of cognitive development covers a wide array of endeavors in the form of theoretical and actual practice applications. It is theoretical and practical in the aspect of concept understanding and problem solving wherein a child is placed in a situation to determine if projected theories based on studies are effective and efficient given the predicament of the child concerned. (Bjorklund, 2004) Cognitive development also covers the study of the thinking process, language...
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...ability to provide nursing care to the healthy and wounded soldiers, using her great base knowledge and understanding about the cause and effect of disease and the influence of the environment in healing process, provided a major impact in healthcare and started the beginning of the nursing profession. Her satisfaction however did not end alone in taking care of her patients. She broadened the concept of nursing by research and studies on how to come up with more effective care using statistics, cases and data. Her dedication and the positive outcomes influenced many peoples around the globe and inspired the continuation of her great work. In 1859, Florence Nightingale published her views on nursing care in “Notes on Nursing”. The basis of nursing practice was based on this theory. 1960s Theorist Year Nursing Theories V. Henderson 1960 Basic Principles of Nursing Care I.J. Orlando 1961 The Dynamic Nurse-Patient Relationship: Function, Process, and Principles. E. Wiedenbach 1964 Clinical Nursing: A Helping Art J. Travelbee 1966 Her theory is based on existential humanity , meaning humans are constantly faced with choices and conflicts and are accountable to the choices they make in life, as well as Interpersonal Aspects of...
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...Cognitive Theorist – Jean Piaget Terry Cross University of Phoenix 10/17/2014 Contribution of the theorist in the field of learning Jean Piaget was one of the pioneer psychologists who concentrated on the systematic analysis of cognitive development. Jean Piaget contributed in the field of learning by developing a theory of cognitive development in children. His detailed and close observational studies of children’s cognition in addition to administering ingenious tests to children revealed varying cognitive abilities. Piaget’s drive to study the cognitive development in children was informed by the psychological assumption that children have reduced or less thinking competency that adults. As such, Piaget made observations that children have a different mode of thinking compared to adult members of the society. Piaget established that children have innate and basic genetically inherited and evolved mental structures upon which later knowledge and learning stems from (Piaget, 1936). The cognitive theory developed by Piaget contributes to the understanding of cognitive development in children. Cognitive development theory by Piaget concentrates more on the cognitive development and does not argue about learning and acquiring information on given behaviors. Cognitive theory details elaborate stages of cognitive development that differ from one another. As such, the cognitive theory contributes to the field of cognition by explaining processes and systems by...
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...Theories of Education Historically, American education served both political and economic needs, which dictated the function of education. Today, sociologists and educators debate the function of education. Three main theories represent their views: the functionalist theory, the conflict theory, and the symbolic interactionist theory. The functionalist theory The functionalist theory focuses on the ways that universal education serves the needs of society. Functionalists first see education in its manifest role: conveying basic knowledge and skills to the next generation. Durkheim (the founder of functionalist theory) identified the latent role of education as one of socializing people into society's mainstream. This “moral education,” as he called it, helped form a more‐cohesive social structure by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, which echoes the historical concern of “Americanizing” immigrants. Functionalists point to other latent roles of education such as transmission of core values and social control. The core values in American education reflect those characteristics that support the political and economic systems that originally fueled education. Therefore, children in America receive rewards for following schedules, following directions, meeting deadlines, and obeying authority. The most important value permeating the American classroom is individualism—the ideology that advocates the liberty rights, or independent action, of the individual...
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...diverse society earlier on in education we are taught to define ourselves scholastically through high achieving grades, test scores, and athletic abilities. Individualism is soon expressed exposing the inner most parts of self, and we are then defined by those achievements. For example, athletic team activities are shifted more toward the leader bringing the team home for a win. Instead of applauding the collaborative efforts exerted during the game, the focus shifts on the individual who scored the most points. Left unsaid, winning becomes a fixation to our mentalities associated with accolades. Competition is pumped through our veins, and soon sears our conscience with a hot iron! In our culture, similar to the Japanese we embrace both theories of conflictive and functionalism theories. Durkheim (father founder of the functionalist theory) primary focus was on “moral education” meaning to implement a more permanent social structure by joining together people from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, he states that the role of education is one of identifying socialization into today’s society. The Functionalist theory focuses on education as a whole and also implements the basic skills essentials for education such as social placement, networking and sorting. The conflict theory views the purpose of education by maintaining social inequality, giving power to the elite (upper class) while downplaying the lower class. In the United States, our education system implies that we spend...
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