SED2601 Study notes overview
UNISA 2020
Based on the textbook Sociology of Education (Oxford)
S. Du Plessis T.Mathebula V.Gasa P.Siyakwazi L.Maharajh
S.Vilakazi
Functionalist Theory
Main proponents
Main ideas
Assumptions about
Functionalist
3 Main theories of sociology
Macrosociological theory
Functionalist theory
Microsociological Critique of functionalist
Conflict Theory
theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Definitions of Sociology,
Education & Sociology of
Education
Conflict Theory
Sociology of Main proponents
Education Main ideas
Diversity in Education Assumptions about
Diversity conflict
Culture theory
Social stratification Critique of Conflict theory
Race
Gender
Class Symbolic Interactionism
Access to education Ecology & role of school Main proponents
in society Main ideas
Social institutions Critique of symbolic
Role of school in society interactionism
Citizenship Education Perspective of
Modern & Ancient school/education: The 3
concepts of citizenship theories
History of South African
citizenship
Citizenship in the UK
Bronfenbrenner's theory of
Citizenship in the USA
ecological systems
Citizenship post-
Microsystem
apartheid SA
Mesosytem
Future of Citizenship in
Exosystem
SA
Macrosystem
Chronosystem
, Theories of sociology
Functionalist Conflict Social Interactionism
Macro-sociological Macro-sociological Micro-sociological
Main proponents: Main proponents: Main proponents:
☆ Emile Durkheim ☆ Karl Marx ☆ Max Weber
☆ Talcott Parsons ☆ Max Weber ☆ George H. Mead
☆ Robert Merton ☆ C. Wright Mills ☆ Erving Goffman
☆ Bowles and Gintis ☆ Herbert Blumer
☆ Pierre Bourdieu ☆ Charles H.Cooley
Main ideas:
Main ideas: Main ideas:
Conflict
Social order Capacity for thought, meaning,
Social class
Social systems interaction, interpretation,
Inequalities
Consensus self and agency
Power struggle Focuses on self and society
Critique of Functionalism: Critique of Conflict theory: Critique of Social Interactionism:
Assumes that society Neglects social stability Focuses too much on
is the same in terms Does not consider freewill, small (micro-sociologocal)
of culture,values and human agency and the ability interactions.
norms to move to a different class Does not consider bigger
position picture
Downplays the role
of individual thought and Presumption that only the
action ruling class benefits
Deterministic nature of this model
When looking at the different sociological theories, think of it as looking at a
perspective through a pair of glasses/lenses Each perspective is different.
(Sociological theories try to explain how
societies work. Sometimes the theories
will clash)
UNISA 2020
Based on the textbook Sociology of Education (Oxford)
S. Du Plessis T.Mathebula V.Gasa P.Siyakwazi L.Maharajh
S.Vilakazi
Functionalist Theory
Main proponents
Main ideas
Assumptions about
Functionalist
3 Main theories of sociology
Macrosociological theory
Functionalist theory
Microsociological Critique of functionalist
Conflict Theory
theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Definitions of Sociology,
Education & Sociology of
Education
Conflict Theory
Sociology of Main proponents
Education Main ideas
Diversity in Education Assumptions about
Diversity conflict
Culture theory
Social stratification Critique of Conflict theory
Race
Gender
Class Symbolic Interactionism
Access to education Ecology & role of school Main proponents
in society Main ideas
Social institutions Critique of symbolic
Role of school in society interactionism
Citizenship Education Perspective of
Modern & Ancient school/education: The 3
concepts of citizenship theories
History of South African
citizenship
Citizenship in the UK
Bronfenbrenner's theory of
Citizenship in the USA
ecological systems
Citizenship post-
Microsystem
apartheid SA
Mesosytem
Future of Citizenship in
Exosystem
SA
Macrosystem
Chronosystem
, Theories of sociology
Functionalist Conflict Social Interactionism
Macro-sociological Macro-sociological Micro-sociological
Main proponents: Main proponents: Main proponents:
☆ Emile Durkheim ☆ Karl Marx ☆ Max Weber
☆ Talcott Parsons ☆ Max Weber ☆ George H. Mead
☆ Robert Merton ☆ C. Wright Mills ☆ Erving Goffman
☆ Bowles and Gintis ☆ Herbert Blumer
☆ Pierre Bourdieu ☆ Charles H.Cooley
Main ideas:
Main ideas: Main ideas:
Conflict
Social order Capacity for thought, meaning,
Social class
Social systems interaction, interpretation,
Inequalities
Consensus self and agency
Power struggle Focuses on self and society
Critique of Functionalism: Critique of Conflict theory: Critique of Social Interactionism:
Assumes that society Neglects social stability Focuses too much on
is the same in terms Does not consider freewill, small (micro-sociologocal)
of culture,values and human agency and the ability interactions.
norms to move to a different class Does not consider bigger
position picture
Downplays the role
of individual thought and Presumption that only the
action ruling class benefits
Deterministic nature of this model
When looking at the different sociological theories, think of it as looking at a
perspective through a pair of glasses/lenses Each perspective is different.
(Sociological theories try to explain how
societies work. Sometimes the theories
will clash)
