QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY

DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun 3401, Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Module 3 SOCIAL SCIENCE THEORIES AND THEIR IMPLICATION TO

Week 7 EDUCATION
Structural Function Theory; Conflict Theory; Symbolic Interaction theory

Competencies At the end of the chapter, the students should be able to:

1. Explain three social science theories and its implication to

education
Discussion Introduction

The three primary theories : Structural Function Theory, Conflict Theory

and Symbolic Interaction theory offer sociologists theoretical paradigms
for explaining how society influences people, and how people influence
society .
1. Sing the song Dem Bones ([Link]
the melody)
2. a. Choose any object in the room to symbolize your care for
someone. Keep the meaning to yourself. Give the symbol to
someone in class.
2. b. Ask that someone for the meaning he/she gave to your symbol ,
Is it the same meaning that you originally gave?

ANALYSIS-LET’S ANALYZE

1. According to the song what are connected?

2. What do you expect if these bones are connected?
Does malfunction of one bone affect the other bone?
3. In activity #2 was the meaning you gave to your
symbol the same as the meaning that the receiver gave? If
not, how this affect you? Do you feel you are
misunderstood?

ABSTRACTION –LET’S CONCEPTUALIZE

Three Social Theories

1. Structural-functional Theory

Herbert Spencer, the proponent of

structural-functional views society as “ a
system of interconnected parts each with a
unique function. The parts have to work
together for stability and balance of society”.
Society is compared to the human body with
different but with interrelated parts performing
different functions. Society also has different
but interrelated components such as the
family, the state, the school, the Church, mass
media , economics. These must coordinate and
collaborate for society to function well. When
one component of society does not do its part, society will not function
well. This is the message of the song Dem Bone. The bones are
interconnected. Each has a unique function.

For example, the rise of single parent and dual earner families means
families have less time or sometimes no more time left for the supervision

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun 3401, Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

of children in their homework which may result to an increase on non-

performing students in school.

In a high tech world, educational institutions must teach adults the new
skills to relate to the tech-savvy young and the world and to be more
effective in the workplace.. With more women in the workplace, policies
against sexual harassment and discrimination were formulated. The
Cybercrime Act of 2012 came about to address legal issues concerning
online interactions and the internet in the Philippines.

The functionalist theory of education focuses on how education serves

the need of society through the dev’t of skills encouraging social
cohesion. The role of schools is to prepare students for participation in
the institutions of society. Functionalism does not encourage people to take
an active role in changing their social environment.

Purposes of Schooling according to Functionalists

1. Intellectual purposes acquisition of cognitive skills, inquiry skills

2. Political purposes- educate future citizens; promoting patriotism,
promote assimilation of immigrants, ensure order, public civility,
and conformity to laws.
3. Economic purposes – prepare students for later work roles; select
and train the labor force needed by society;
4. Social purposes – promote a sense or social and moral
responsibility; serve as a site for the solution or resolution of social
problems; supplement the efforts of other institutions of
socialization such as the family and the church.

2. Conflict Theory

According to this theory, there are

always two opposing sides in a conflict
situation. People takes sides between
maintaining the status quo and
introducing change the arrive at an
agreement.
The factory workers want change – better
working conditions , high salaries. The factory owners naturally
opposed to such. The resolution of the conflict however, leads to a
compromise , a change in the way the factory is managed where
both workers and owners are happy.

How Proponents of Conflict Theory Regard Education

According to the conflict theory, education is not truly a social

benefit or opportunity as seen by the functionalists. Rather,
education is a powerful means of maintaining power structures
and creating a docile work force for capitalism. The purpose of
education is to maintain social inequity and to preserve the power
of those who dominate society and teach those in the working class
to accept their position as a lower class worker.

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun 3401, Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

3. The Symbolic-interactionist theory perspective

Three tenets of symbolic-interactionist theory are:

1. An individual’s action depends on meaning . We act based on

the meaning we give to symbols. For example, if a student
understands that the teacher believes in his ability, he tries to
prove that indeed he is able. If a teacher does otherwise, a student
tends to behave in accordance with the teacher’s poor perception.
2. Different people may give different meanings to the same
thing. When teachers are strict, some students see it as an
expression of care. Others rebel because they perceive teacher’s
behaviour as limiting their moves and desires.
3. Meanings changes as individuals interact with one another. A
negative meaning that you used to associate with hospital when
you went to a hospital which looked more as a hotel than the usual
hospital you know is changed. After you have taught well, your first
impression of teaching is boring is changed to teaching is exciting.

Implications to Teaching

Let us continue to teach for meaning. Let us promote and create

opportunities for genuine interaction among students, teachers, between
student and teachers.

Let us use positive symbols – in the form of gestures, words, actions and
appearance – to express our trust, belief in or students’ abilities, an
affirmation of their being.

Faulty communication can result from differences in the perception of the

same events and symbols. This happens in real life. Often we are
misunderstood or we misunderstand others. So let’s keep on
communicating.

Enrichment
Activities Let’s Apply!
The purposes of schooling according to functionalist theory are:

1. Intellectual purposes acquisition of cognitive skills, inquiry skills

2. Political purposes- educate future citizens; promoting patriotism,
promote assimilation of immigrants, ensure order, public civility,
and conformity to laws.
3. Economic purposes – prepare students for later work roles; select
and train the labor force needed by society;
4. Social purposes – promote a sense or social and moral
responsibility; serve as a site for the solution or resolution of social
problems; supplement the efforts of other institutions of
socialization such as the family and the church.

Question 1: Cite how schools at present are working on the realization of

these 4 purposes

Question [Link] to the conflict theory claim that schools teach

loyalty so that those in power remain in power and those below will
forever be at the bottom. Do you agree? Why or why not?
VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”

 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun 3401, Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Question 3. Individuals act based in meaning. This meaning is based on

individuals’ experiences. Meanings change. Give two implications of these
symbolic interactionist thoughts to education.

Research in the net

1. Research on more school practices based on the functionalist
theory, conflict theory and symbolic interaction theory. Submit
your outputs online. Cite you references.

Comprehension Quiz will be given separately..

Check
Reference Prieto, Nelia G.,[Link]. (2019). The Teacher and the Community School
Culture and Organizational Leadership. Lorimar Publishing , Inc.

VISION MISSION
The leading center for academic and technological excellence Develop competent and morally upright professionals and generate
and prime catalyst for a progressive and sustainable Quirino appropriate knowledge and technologies to meet the needs of Quirino
Province and Southern Cagayan Valley. Province and Southern Cagayan Valley.

“Molding Minds, Shaping Future”