Question

Sociologists argue that the sociological perspective combined with the scientific method gives them the ability to make significant contributions toward an understanding of human social behavior. Describe how a theorist from each of the three sociological perspectives (structural-functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionism) would go about studying behavior in a college classroom. What questions would the theorist ask, and what would the theorist be likely to do?

Answer 1

A follower of structural-functionalism would look at the college classroom as an institution, and try to find what holds it together. He would analyze tertiary education is an important factor in today's society, and why college classroom s are the means to access tertiary education.

A follower of the conflict perspective would look at the conflicts between professor and students, or among the students themselves, and how those conflict shape social relationships in the classroom.

A follower of symbolic interactionism would look at the symbols in the classroom, and how students and professors relate to them, or in other words, what those symbols mean to them.