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Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences

Quarter 1 - Module 3 :

Week 5: Analyze the Basic Concepts and

Principles of the Major Social Science Theories
namely:

a. Structural-Functionalism
b. Marxism
c. Symbolic interactionism

Prepared by:
Julio M. Bocauto Jr. Ruel O. Perez
SHS TEACHER II SPST I
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the HUMSS-Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences-Grade 12

Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Analyze the Basic Concepts and
Principles of the Major Social Science Theories!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators

both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in
helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while
overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

For the learner:

Welcome to the HUMSS-Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences 12

Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Analyze the Basic Concepts and
Principles of the Major Social Science Theories!

The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a
learner is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant
competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in
your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
Introduce and Analyze the Basic Concepts and Principles of the Major Social
Science Theories. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different
learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of
students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.
But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the
textbook you are now using.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. The learners demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts and
approaches in the Social Sciences
2. Learners shall be able to interpret personal and social experiences using
relevant approaches in the Social Sciences

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 Pretest

Directions. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Who is the most important structural functional theorists in sociology?

a. Talcott Parsons c. Jeffrey Engles
b. Karl Marx d. Robert Meryon

2. It is a complex of activities directed towards meeting a need or needs of the

system.
a. Production c. Altercasting
b. Function d. Neofunctionalism

3. Which among the following is not a part of the four action system?
a. Behavioral Organism c. AGIL Scheme
b. Personality System d. Cultural system

4. It is termed as the base and the source of energy in the action system
created by Parsons.
a. Personality System c. Social System
b. Cultural System d. Behavioral Organism

5. Theory believed that the society has social order where the dominant groups
manipulate and control the society.
a. Consensus theory c. Symbolic interaction
b. Evolution theory d. Conflict theory

6. Scheme created by Parson that a society must perform in order to survive.

a. GAIL c. ABEL
b. AGIL d. BEAL

7. It is the study of human interaction in which people make sense of their

social world through exchange of language and symbols.
a. Structural Functionalism c. Symbolic interactionism
b. Marxism d. Neofunctionalism

8. System as a structure, pointing out the stratification of positions in the

society.
a. Stratification system c. Social system
b. Personality system d. Action system

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9. Type of economic system in which factories, equipment, or other means of
production are privately owned rather than controlled by the government.
a. Feudalism c. Capitalism
b. Socialism d. Communism

10. AGIL Scheme stands for.

a. Analysis, Geography, Integration, Latency
b. Adaptation. Goal attainment, Integration, Latency
c. Adaptation, Goal Attainment, Investigation, Latency
d. Analysis, Geography, Investigation, Latency

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 Lesson

1 Major Social Science Theories

This lesson will introduce you the macro level of the major social
science theories in sociological analysis includes the Structural-functionalism and
Marxism. These two approaches concerned with the broad aspects of society such
as institutions and large social groups that influence the social world. It looks at
the big picture of society and suggests how social problems are affected at the
institutional level. On the other hand, the Symbolic Interactionism is a micro level
of sociological analysis concerned with the social psychological dynamics of
individuals interacting in small groups.

Two types of Social Science Theory:

Consensus theory see shared norms, and values as fundamental to the
society and view social change as occurring in a slow and orderly fashion.
Conflict theory emphasize that the society has social order where the
dominant groups manipulate and control the society. It also views social change as
occurring rapidly and in a disorderly fashion as subordinate groups overthrow
dominant groups.

1.STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
It is a theory that focused on the large scale social structures and
institutions of society, their interrelationships, and their constraining effect on
actors. It is a type of a consensus theory and believed as the dominant and the
most significant sociological theory (Ritzer, 1996 & Turner and Maryanski, 1996).
However, it’s importance as a sociological theory declined after the World War II
and evolved into a new theory called neo-functionalism (Demerath and Paterson’s,
1967).

The Functional Theory of Stratification

The functional theory of stratification is the best known single piece of work
in structural functionalism theory (Davis & Moore, 1945). They believed that the
society is stratified and need system in order to properly operate. Stratification
system for them is a structure pointing out that stratification of positions in the
society is necessary. They focused on how certain positions come to carry with
different degrees of prestige. Given this focus, the major functional issue is how a
society motivates and places people in their proper positions in the stratification
system however it has two disadvantages: (1) How does the society instill in the

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“proper” individuals the desire to fill certain positions? (2) Once people are in the
right position, how does the society then instill in them the desire to fulfill the
requirements of these positions?

Three Problems for Proper Social Placement in the society:

1. Some positions are more pleasant to occupy than others.

Ex. Being a teacher is more pleasant to serve the society rather than
being a street sweeper.
2. Some positions are more important to the survival of the society.
Ex. Being a farmer is more important in the society rather than
advertising executive however they have less prestige.
3. Different social positions require different abilities and talents.
Ex. Being a doctor requires knowledge about human anatomy and being
a laborer also requires the knowledge about mixing gravels and sand.

According to Davis and Moore, high ranking positions in the stratification

system are those that are less pleasant to occupy but more important to the
survival of the society that require the greatest ability and talent, however they
acquire sufficient rewards such as great prestige, high salary, and sufficient
leisure. On the other hand, low ranking positions are presumed to be more
pleasant and less important and require less ability and talent.

Talcott Parson’s Structural Functionalism

Over the course of his life, Parson did a great deal of theoretical work.
One of his great work is the synthesis of the four functional imperatives for
all “action systems”, the AGIL Scheme.
A function according to Rocher 1975, is a complex of activities directed
towards meeting a need or needs of the system. Parson believes that in
order for a system to survive it must perform the four functions known as
the AGIL Scheme. AGIL stands for:
1. Adaptation: A system must adapt its environment.
2. Goal attainment: A system must define and achieve its primary goals.
3. Integration: A system must regulate the interrelationship of the three
functional imperatives (A, G, L).
4. Latency: A system must furnish, maintain, and renew both the
motivation of individuals and the cultural patterns that create and
sustain the motivation.

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The Action System
The overall shape of the action system created by Parson is a system of level
of social analysis. Where the lower levels provide the conditions, the energy, needed
for the higher levels. While the higher levels control those below them in the
hierarchy. (See figure 1)

L I
Cultural System Social System

Behavioral Personality
A Organism System G

Figure 1. AGIL Scheme

Four Action System

a. Behavioral organism is the action system that handles adaptation

function by adjusting to and transforming the external world.
b. Personality system performs the goal attainment function by defining the
goals and mobilizing resources to attain them.
c. Social system copes with the integration function by controlling each
component.
d. Cultural system performs the latency function by providing actors with
the norms and values that motivate them for action.

Social System
A social system consists in a plurality of individual actors interacting with
each other in a certain situations motivated to achieve gratification that are
mediated by the culture.
Based from the analysis of Parsons a social system must have functional
prerequisites in order to survive. The following are the prerequisites according to
Parson:

a. Social system must be organized so that they can operate compatibility

with other systems.
b. The social system must have the requisite support from other systems.
c. The system must meet a significant proportion of the needs of its actors.
d. The system must elicit adequate participation from its members.
e. It must have minimum social control over potentially disruptive
behavior.
f. A social system requires language or communication in order to survive.

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 He also believed that the integration of norms and values is important in the
process of internalization and socialization. Thus, socialization must be
supplemented through the life cycle with a series of more specific socializing
experience. Due to the conformity induced by lifelong socialization, wide range of
varying individuals in the social system arise. In order to reduce variations and
maintains equilibrium in the system, social control was implemented and built
social order into the structure of Parson’s social system.
As a result of his work regarding the AGIL scheme, he distinguished four
subsystems in the society representing the functions of the AGIL Scheme he
created. The economy is the subsystem that performs the function for the society
of adapting to the environment through labor, production, and allocation. The
polity (political system) performs the function of goal attainment by pursuing
societal objective and mobilizing actors and resources. The fiduciary system that
handles the latency function by transmitting culture to actors allowing it to be
internalized by them. Societal/Social Community which coordinates the various
components of the society.

L I
Social
Fiduciary System
Community

Economy Polity
A G
Figure 2. Subsystems and Functional
Imperatives

Cultural system
According to Parson’s Cultural system is not simply a part of the social
system but also has a separate existence in the form of social stocks of knowledge,
symbols and ideas. Culture is the major force binding the various elements of the
social world. It is seen as patterned and ordered system of symbols that are objects
of orientation to actors. Thus, through learning and socialization culture can be
passed from one social system to another.

Personality system
It is the main content of the structure derived from socialization, it is an
independent system with unique personality based from its experiences.
Personality means as the organized system of orientation and motivation of action
of the individual actor.
Behavioral Organism
It is the source of energy or resources needed by the rest of the system.

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Robert Merton’s Structural Functionalism
One of the students of Talcott Parsons and authored some of the most
important statement in structural functionalism in sociology. He criticized the three
basic postulates of functional analysis and stated that any object can be subjected
to structural functional analysis must “represent a standardized item” meaning it
has organizational framework. According to him, structural functionalism should
focus on the function of the social structure or institution rather than on individual
motives. Functions according to Merton, are those observed consequences which
make for the adaptation or adjustment of the system.

Three Postulates of Functional Analysis According to Merton

a. Postulate of the functional unity of the society states that all

standardized social and cultural beliefs and practices are functional
for society as a whole as well as for individual society. However, he
argued that small and primitive societies cannot be extended to larger
or more complex societies.
b. Universal functionalism holds that all standardized social and cultural
forms and structures have positive functions. However according to
him, not every structure, custom, idea, belief and etc. has positive
functions.
c. Postulate of Indispensability states that standardized aspects of the
society does not only have positive functions but also have
indispensable parts of the working whole. Merton said, there are also
various structural and functional alternatives to be found within the
society.

Dysfuntion is the term used by Merton to the negative consequences of social

systems. Example of which is slavery that was used for supplying cheap labor.
Nonfunction on the other hand are consequences that are simple irrelevant to
the system. He also introduced the concepts of manifest and latent functions.
Manifest functions are those are intended to do and latent functions are
unintended to do by a certain institution. For example, the lowering of rice price
to 11 pesos per kilogram, the manifest function there is to make the rice
affordable however it creates a latent function by bankrupting or lessen the
income of the farmers.

Neo-funtionalism
Due to the declined in significance of structural functionalism in 1960,
Jeffrey Alexander and Paul Colomy revive the theory and name it as
Neofuntionalism. Neofunctionalism according to them, is a self-critical strand of
functional theory that seeks to broaden functionalisms intellectual scope while
retaining the theoretical core. However, in the Mid-1980’s Alexander conclude
that neofuntionalism is not a developed theory due to some weaknesses.

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 Problems of structural functionalism according to Alexander needed
to overcome to redefine the theory:
A. Anti-Individualism
B. Antagonism to change
C. Conservatism
D. Idealism
E. Anti-empirical bias

Basic Orientation of Neofuntionalism

1. It operates with a descriptive model of society that sees society as composed
of elements interacting with one another.
2. It focuses mainly and equally to the actions of social structure.
3. It recognizes equilibrium within the social system.
4. It retains the Parson’s emphasis on personality, culture and social systems.
5. Focuses on social change in the process of differentiation within the social,
cultural and personality systems.
6. It implies the commitment to the independence of conceptualization and
theorizing from other levels of sociological analysis.

1. MARXISM

What is Marxism?

Marxism is an intellectual process which tries to unify scientific

analysis and emancipatory social movements for the purpose of
revolutionizing human society.

Marxism according to Webster is a theory and a practice of socialism

including the labor theory of value, dialectical materialism, the class
struggle, and dictatorship of the proletariat until the establishment of a
classless society.

Marxism is an intellectual process established by the first great

practitioners Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles.

Historical Materialism

Is a philosophy or metatheory that provides an overarching framework

for comprehending the whole of human history and suggestive guidelines for
the construction of theories about specific social formations.

Material Production

It is the foundation of human society not from any inherent economic

disposition of human nature but a necessary condition of social existence.

Process of Production

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1. Forces of Production including all those things which determine the
technical efficiency of the production process, such as human skill, tools,
knowledge, energy, land and etc.
2. Relations of Production refers to the social relations which govern the use
of labor production and disposition of the economic product.

Capitalism

An economic system in which factories, equipment, or other means of

production are privately owned rather than controlled by the government.
According to Karl Marx, capitalism was the most dynamic mode of
production wherein technological revolutions motivate the replacement of
human labor by machines.

Advantages

1. Individuals in the society have the freedom to choose.

2. People can work wherever, buy whatever and do whatever they want.
3. Competition in the market keeps prices low with high quality.
4. High standard of living and economic security.
5. Market determines what goods will be sold at what price.

Disadvantages
1. Larger corporations out compete the smaller producers.
2. There is big gap between the rich and poor. Rich get Richer and leaving the poor
behind.

Communism
An economic or political system in which the state or the community
owns all property and the means of production, and all citizens share the
wealth.

Communist Manifesto
1. Abolition of Property
2. Heavy, progressive taxes
3. Confiscation of property of all emigrants and rebels
4. Central banking
5. State controlled communication and transportation
6. State controlled education of the children

Advantages
1. The basic needs of the people are the priority. everyone would have a job, house,
wealth, and care are provided by the government.
2. Government owns the means of production and determines what goods will be
sold at what price
3. No competition and low quality goods are produced
4. Everyone expected to be the same.

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 Disadvantages
1. People does not have freedom to choose.
2. No reward for being a better worker or punishment for being a slacker.

3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
Symbolic interactionism mirrors the miniaturized scale sociological
viewpoint, and was to a great extent affected by the works of early sociologists and
scholars such as George Simmel (1858-1918), Charles Cooley (1864-1929), George
Herbert Mead (1863-1931), and Erving Goffman (1922-1982). Symbolic
Interactionism is a theory that centered to human communication both verbal and
non-verbal and to images, symbols significance through language and the manner
of individual understanding.
The symbolic interactionism focuses on the study of human interaction in
which people make sense of their social world through exchange of language and
symbols. The establish meanings come from human interactions with others and
the society. These definitions develop their views in life and use it to communicate
with each other. Communicating with one another makes society goes on and
continues.
Sociologist W.I. Thomas (1966) highlighted the significance of definitions and
implications in social conduct and its outcomes. He recommended that humans
react to their meaning of a circumstance as opposed to the objective circumstance
itself. Subsequently Thomas noticed that circumstances that we characterize as
genuine becomes genuine in their outcomes. Representative interactionism
additionally proposes that our personality or feeling of self is formed by social
cooperation. We build up our self-idea by seeing how others collaborate with us
and mark us. By seeing how others see us, we see a reflection ourselves that Cooley
calls the "looking glass self."

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Activity 1. Essay Writing. Directions. Write at least five (5) sentences by
answering the question below.

1. Are garbage collectors really any less important to the survival of the
society than advertisers? Why? Why not?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Activity 2. Poster Making

Directions:
1. Use your creativity by drawing a poster reflecting social inequalities in our
society because of class conflict.
2. Write short analysis of your work in a separate sheet.
3. Use coupon bond and any available coloring materials in this activity.

Rubrics

Criteria Highest Possible Points

Creativity (artistry) 20
Content (relevance to the topic)) 15

Originality (uniqueness, own work) 15

Total

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 Posttest

I. Multiple Choice. Directions. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the
chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What is the scheme created by Parson that a society must perform in

order to survive?
a. ALIG c. GAIL
b. AGIL d. LIGA

2. An intellectual process which tries to unify scientific analysis and

emancipatory social movements for the purpose of revolutionizing human
society.
a. Structural functionalism c. Marxism
b. Neofunctionalism d. Symbolic Interaction

3. Theory that centered to human communication both verbal and non-verbal

and to images, symbols significance through language and the manner of
individual understanding.
a. Structural Functionalism c. Marxism
b. Neofunctionalism d. Symbolic interaction

4. It refers to the technical efficiency of the production process, such as human

skill, tools, knowledge, energy, and land.
a. Forces of Production c. Function
b. Production d. Relations of production

5. It is a self-critical strand of functional theory that seeks to broaden

functionalisms intellectual scope developed by Jeffrey Alexander and Paul
Colomy.
a. Structural functionalism c. Marxism
b. Neofunctionalism d. System interaction

6. Which among the following is not a theory of social science?

a. Structural functionalism c. System Interactionism
b. Marxism d. Neofunctionalism

7. Type of economic system in which factories, equipment, or other means of

production are privately owned rather than controlled by the government.
a. Communism c. Feudalism
b. Socialism d. Capitalism

8. Which among the following is not part of the four subsystems of the action
system based on their functions?
a. Fiduciary system c. Economy
b. Proletariat d. Polity

9. These are the negative effects of social systems, sometimes intended and
unintended to happen.

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 a. Function c. Corruption
b. Non-function d. Dysfunction

10.System as a structure, pointing out the stratification of positions in the

society.
a. Action system c. Social system
b. Stratification system d. Personality system

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 Answer Key

Pretest Activity 1 Activity 2

1. A 1. Essay
1. essay
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. D
6. B
7. C
8. A
9. C
10. B

Posttest
I.
1. B
2. C
3. D
4. A
5. B
6. C
7. D
8. B
9. D
10. B

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References

A. BOOK
Abulencia, Arthur S. Sadera, Jefferson, Arabit-Zapatos, Ma.
Lorella C., Reyes, Wensley M., Serafico, Nikolee Marie A.
(2017). Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences. Pasig
City, Philippines: DepEd-Bureau of Learning Resources.

B. ONLINE SOURCES

Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and

method. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Retrieved
fromhttps://books.google.com.ph/books/
about/Symbolic_Interactionism.html?
id=HVuognZFofoC&redir_esc=y

Coleman, J. S. (1990). Foundations of social theory.

Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; Homans, G.
(1961). Social behavior: Its elementary forms. Orlando,
FL: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Retrieved from
https://www.hup. harvard.edu/catalog.php?
isbn=9780674312265

Collins, R. (1994). Four sociological traditions. New York, NY:

Oxford University Press. Retrieved from
https://global.oup.com/ushe/.../four-
sociologicaltraditions-9780195082081

Society. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from

https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/society

http://warehouse.olc.edu/~sauer/webfolder/SoSc103/SoSc10
3_reader_30MB_color.pdf

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