Final answer:
Manifest functions, as defined by Robert Merton, are the intended and recognized consequences of a social process, such as acquiring knowledge from education, while latent functions are the unintended results like making new friends.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the American sociologist Robert Merton, manifest functions of a social process are the intended and clearly recognized consequences of that process. For example, a manifest function of college education is to acquire knowledge, prepare for a career, and obtain a good job that uses that education. In contrast, latent functions are the unintended or unrecognized outcomes, such as making new friends or participating in extracurricular activities during college years. These functions contribute to maintaining social stability and facilitating social order within society. However, sometimes social processes can have dysfunctions, which are outcomes with the potential to disrupt the social system, such as the recent economic disruption caused by risky lending practices and an underregulated financial market.