Social Science Theories and Their Implications to Education

Multiple Choice

Which theory would be most interested in the face-to-face interactions between teachers and students in a single classroom?

• Structural-Functionalism

• Conflict Theory

• Symbolic Interactionism

Multiple Choice

A functionalist theorist would view a school's graduation ceremony as a vital event. Which key function of education does this ceremony primarily serve?

• Social Integration

• Social Placement

• Cultural Innovation

Multiple Choice

From a conflict theorist's perspective, the fact that schools in wealthy neighborhoods have more resources than schools in poor neighborhoods is an unfortunate dysfunction of an otherwise fair system.

• True

• False

Open Ended

A teacher reads a student's file and sees they have been labeled an "at-risk" student. The teacher begins to interact with that student with lower expectations. According to Symbolic Interactionism, what two concepts are at play here, and what is a likely outcome?

Open Ended

Consider the practice of "tracking"—placing students in different academic paths like vocational, general, or honors. Briefly explain how each of the three sociological theories would analyze this practice.