Introduction to Sociology 110
Major Theoretical Approaches in Sociology
Structural-Functional
Approach (Emile Durkheim;
Herbert spencer; Robert
Merton)
What is the level of
Macro-level
analysis?
What image of
Society is a system of
society does the
interrelated parts that is
approach have?
relatively stable.
Each part works to keep
society operating in an
orderly way.
What core questions
does the approach
ask?
Members generally agree
about what is morally right
and morally wrong.
How is society held together?
Name:
Student ID:
Social-Conflict (Karl Marx), Gender-Conflict
(Harriet Marineau), and Race-Conflict
Approaches (W.E.B. Du Bois)
Symbolic-Interaction Approach (Max
Weber; George Herbert Mead; Erving
Goffman)
Macro-level
Micro-level
Society is a system of social inequality based
on class, gender (gender-conflict theory and
feminism, and race (race-conflict theory).
Society is an ongoing process.
Society operates to benefit some categories
of people and harm others.
People interact in countless settings
using symbolic communications.
The reality people experience is
variable and changing.
Social inequality causes conflict that leads to
social change.
How does society divide a population?
How do people experience society?
What are the major parts of
society?
How do advantaged people protect their
privileges?
How do people shape the reality they
experience?
How are these parts linked?
How do disadvantaged people challenge the
system seeking change?
How do behaviour and meaning
change from person to person and
from one situation to another?
What does each part do to
help society work?
What are the
drawbacks or
critiques of the
approach?
(Macionis, Jansson , Benoit, & Burkowicz, 2017, p. 20)
Introduction to Sociology 110
Name:
Student ID:
Structural-Functional Approach
Q: What are the manifest and latent functions of education in society?
 Manifest functions – the recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern
 Latent functions – the unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern
Social-Conflict Approach
Q: How does the institution of education reproduce (class, gender, sexual orientation, or race) inequality?
Symbolic-Interaction Approach
Q: How do interactions in the classroom shape students’ social reality? How do you experience education? How is your experience different
from how another person (different socio-economic class, gender, race, nationality) might experience education?