SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
OF EDUCATION
A theory explains how society or
aspects of society work
Its defined as facts, ideas and
DEFINITION principles that attempt to explain
the nature of society
Principles of a theory , guide
observations and lay the foundation
for sociological description
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF EDUCATION
STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM/CONSENSUS THEORY
CONFLICT THEORY
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONALISM THEORY
LABELLING THEORY
• Educational sociologist utilize theories to examine how groups influence
individual leaners
Structural functionalism/consensus theory
Emphasis on the Draws its explanatory Explains how society is
contributions made by power from biological maintained in a state
individuals to the working of an of consensus while
society organism avoiding conflict
Compares the society Different parts of the
Each institution has
to the human body body perform different
specific an different
and various functions which aim to
functions that depend
institutions that satisfy the basic needs
upon one another
function in harmony or organism
Society is held together by value consensus
This is agreement regarding the goals of a
system and the means to achieve them
Every social structure of the society has a
purpose , various roles should be assigned to
qualified people e.g., teachers, doctors
Society is bound by goals known to all regardless
of their status
Effective control of disruptive behavior must be
put in place
People must recognize legitimate authority and
obey willingly
Education is an integral and a recognized social
institution structured to carry out a specialized function
It provides a suitable way of finding out whether certain
structures such as the school organization and learning
Implication of facilities are fulfilling their work to both themselves and
the functional the education institution comprehensively.
It explains why society selects and trains high performers
theory to such as experts who serve it adequately and thus serve
to maintain the whole.
education It implies how /why society is a kin to giving out rewards
like jobs and higher social status using academic
qualifications only.
Its preoccupied with maintenance of social stability at
the expense of innovation
Human beings are approval seekers and resent and over
Criticism of integrated view od the society
Society rather than individual are said to have needs
functionalism motivation and requirements
theory It eliminates conflicts as a possible alternative to social
order
Society and culture are not seen as being shaped by
individuals
Conflict theory
It emphasizes opposition among
individuals ,groups or social structures
It explains the differences by individuals
and groups in terms of their access to and
ability to use resources in the society
The resources include; Materials , benefits
, wealth , privileges ,status and
knowledge
It prevents stagnation of society
It stimulates interest and curiosity
It prevents open war and social disintegration
Functions of
The process brings out personal and social change
conflict theory Helps to strengthen existing norms
Conflict in education for instance due to student behavior
can breed conflict in other social institutions for example
the family.
Reforms in education should come after change in other
institutions like economy and politics which have stronger
and firm foundations for cushioning against change and
conflict when they occur as it is a delicate institution.
Implications of Education should be reviewed constantly to take into
consideration the views of other interested parties and
conflict theory assist in minimizing instances of disagreement and conflict
among stakeholders.
to education Dependence on academic examinations as the only
acceptable form of assessing a whole a person should be
discouraged as it encourages individuals to compete and
not co-operate as competition is a form of conflict.
There should be equal provision of educational resources
for all learners to ensure harmonized achievement and
avoid conflict.
Criticism of Its overemphasis the influence of economic dimension
the conflict over other aspects of society
theory
Symbolic interactionism theory
The theory proposes that people are actors acting on a stage that is the social world or the human society.
Whatever each person is doing in society is likened to playing or performing a role in a play scene on that stage.
Human beings do not act individually on the social world stage, they interact between each other, reacting to
each other on that stage.
To interact people use symbols. Symbols include both written and spoken language, gestures, art,(drawings,
paintings, carvings), signs, music and drama.
Behaviors keep changing depending the social circumstances or situation people find themselves in. People learn
to modify, limit or change largely following their observations in society. These rules govern how we are
expected to behave and act in different situation and environments.
For human beings to interact and communicate mutually, they must be able to recognize and interpret a
symbol(s) and place the right meaning on a them. People act and react in accordance with what they know and
understand.
Since individuals are faced with such these symbols daily, they must be able to differentiate them so as to
interact and communicate with others mutually.
Every society must have in place a maintained learning process that will enable its members acquire and
recognize the popular symbols of interaction .
Social events and activities are only able to acquire their unique and desired characteristic and value in society
because of the type of symbols and interactions they are given for example a wedding ceremony is an important
social event because people associate it with procreation, children, family etc.
For the education activities to thrive well, the teachers and learners
must socially interact.
This interaction is accomplished by use of symbols, e.g., language,
gesture, tools, rules and regulations which imply and lead to the
aspects of education.
An education/school process should always be based on properly
thought-out symbols which can convey the correct meanings of the
Implications to social life in a particular society. This would guard against the
learners being handicapped in understanding what a teacher is saying.
education A schoolteacher, instructor etc. must be conversant with and be able
to use, interpret convey or transmit the symbols and their correct
meanings to the learners.
A teacher must use constant evaluations in the class to determine
whether or how well the learners have internalized, interpreted and
applied the symbols correctly.
All indicators of negative symbolic meanings should not be used as
part of the teaching learning activities.
Labelling theory
The theory explains the basis upon which certain individuals in society that are seen to be different,
or out of the norm are given names which are not their own names or born with .
These names are based on how some individuals are perceived by others or how they portray
themselves to the other members of society.
These names are referred to as symbols.
They are mainly in form of names, tags and gestures.
Labels can either be positive or negative; thus, they can either boost or depress someone’s
capabilities, self image, self identity, perception and even one's behavior.
Labels can bring about what is a dangerous situation known as the “self-fulfilling prophesy” In which
the labeled individual tends to see/picture /perceive him/herself as the label, act like or portray the
label and even perform the label, thus erasing the real personality/individual identity.
Implies the basis on which teachers can give labels to
certain students using factors like a student's academic
ability race or ethnic origins, character or behavior,
physical appearance etc.
Implies the perceptions that students may use when
developing labels for certain teachers e.g. good versus
bad, a good versus a bad listener, the way a teacher
talks, laughs, dresses etc.
Implications to Points to the potentially self-fulfilling prophesy, which
can develop if a student is, or certain students are
education continuously called and referred to by the label by both
the teachers and students.
Cautions and advises the school/class teachers to use
academic evaluations so that students’ academic ability
Is not used as means of giving students negative labels.
