MODULE 3

Q1: WEEK 5-6

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Module 3: Emergence of the Social Sciences

Content Standard
The students demonstrate an understanding of the emergence of the
Social Sciences and the different disciplines key concepts and approaches in
the Social Sciences.

Performance Standard
The learners shall be able to connect the disciplines with their
historical and social foundations

Learning Competencies (Week 5)

*Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social
science theories:
a. Structural-functionalism
b. Marxism
c. Symbolic Interactionism

Learning Objectives
Specifically, this module will help you to:
• understand the concepts and principles of Structural-
functionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic Interactionism;
• determine the manifest and latent functions as well as
dysfunctions of social structure;
• analyze social inequalities in terms of class conflict; and
• appraise the meaning that people attach to everyday forms of
interaction in order to explain social behavior

Concept
Social Science Disciplines Table
On the previous lesson, you studied about the introduction and
historical context of the emergence of Social Science disciplines. To test
the knowledge you gained from the lesson, I want you to do the activity
below.
Directions: Write a short definition of the following disciplines and
provide one major event on its history. Use separate sheet of paper for this
activity.

Introduction
The major Social Science theories provides different point of view in
looking into the social world. People may have his/her own perspective or

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essential viewpoint about the world. But, there are existing theories or
propositions and standards intended to respond to a question or clarify a
specific phenomenon. The sociological theories help us to clarify and
foresee the social world where we live. In this lesson, you will understand
the concepts and principles of the major Social Science theories namely:
Structural-functionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic Interactionism. Also, you
will determine the manifest and latent functions as well as dysfunctions of
social structure. Analyze social inequalities in terms of class conflict and
appraise the meaning that people attach to everyday forms of
interaction in order to explain social behavior.

Major Social Science Theories (Discussions)

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. Sociology offers three major Social
Science theories namely, Structuralfunctionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic
Interactionism. Each perspective offers a variety of explanations about
the social world and human behavior.

STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONALISM

The structural functionalism depends to a great

extent on the works of Herbert Spencer (1820-1903), Emile
Durkheim (1858-1917), Talcott Parsons (1902- 1979), and
Robert Merton (1910-2003). Structuralfunctionalism sees
society as an arrangement of interconnected parts that
are incongruity to keep up a condition of parity and social
equilibrium. Functionalists use the terms functional and dysfunctional to
describe the effects of social elements on society. Elements of society are
functional if they contribute to social stability and dysfunctional if they
disrupt social stability. Some aspects of society can be both functional
and dysfunctional. For example, crime is dysfunctional because it is
associated with physical violence, loss of property, and fear. But
according to Durkheim and other functionalists, crime is also functional for
society because it leads to heightened awareness of shared moral bonds
and increased social cohesion. Robert Merton (1968) has identified two
types of functions: (1) Manifest function; and (2) Latent function. The
manifest functions are consequences that are intended and commonly
recognized. An example of manifest function in education is to transmit
knowledge and skills to the youth in society. While, latent functions are
consequences that are unintended and often hidden. An example of
latent function in education is the socialization with peers and adults and
conformity to the norms.

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MARXISM
The starting point of the conflict perspective can be rooted with the
great works of Karl Marx (1818–1883). He proposed that all
social orders experience phases of financial turn of events.
As societies evolve from agricultural to industrial concern
over meeting survival needs is replaced by concern over
making a profit, the hallmark of a capitalist system.
Industrialization prompts the improvement of two classes of
individuals: (1) the bourgeoisie or proprietors of the
methods for creation and (2) the proletariat or laborers
who triumph for compensation. The division of society into two expansive
classes of individuals the "haves" and the "havenots" is valuable to the
proprietors of the methods for creation. The laborers, who may gain just
means compensation, are denied access to the numerous assets
accessible to the rich proprietors. As indicated by Marx, the bourgeoisie
utilize their capacity to control the establishments of society for their
potential benefit. For instance, Marx recommended that religion fills in as
a "sedative of the majority" in that it calms the pain and enduring related
with the average workers way of life and spotlights the laborers'
consideration on other worldliness, God, and existence in the wake of
death instead of on such common worries as day to day environments.
Basically, religion redirects the laborers with the goal that they focus on
being compensated in paradise for carrying on with an ethical life instead
of on scrutinizing their misuse. The conflict perspective sees society as
made out of various gatherings and enthusiasm seeking force and assets.
The conflict perspective clarifies different parts of our social world by
seeing which gatherings have force and advantage from a specific social
game plan. Max Weber (1864-1920) added that there were also
inequalities of social structure and political power that caused struggle.
He noted that various groups were treated differently based on race,
educational, and gender. Relative to this is the normative feminist view
society as a male centric culture—a various levelled arrangement of
association constrained by men. In spite of the fact that there are
numerous assortments of women's activist hypothesis, most would hold
that feminism “demands that existing economic, political, and social
structures be changed” (Weir and Faulkner 2004, p.xii).

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 n-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

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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 "mirror self."
DISS_Q1_Mod5_Major_Social_Science_Theories.pdf.pdf

Quarter 1: Week 5: Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social science
theories: a. Structural-functionalism b. Marxism c. Symbolic Interactionism

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Name: ________________________ Date: ______________
Section: _______________________ Score: _____________

Activity 1 Data Retrieval

Chart Objective: Understand the concepts and principles of the major
Social Science theories.
Directions: 1. Complete the data retrieval chart below.
2. Use a separate sheet of paper for this activity.

Name: ________________________ Date: ______________

Section: _______________________ Score: _____________

Activity 2: Social Functions

Objective: Determine the manifest and latent function as well as
dysfunctions of social structure.
Directions: 1. Give situational examples of the following social structure.
3. Use a separate sheet of paper for this activity.

Quarter 1: Week 5: Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social science
theories: a. Structural-functionalism b. Marxism c. Symbolic Interactionism

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Name: ________________________ Date: ______________
Section: _______________________ Score: _____________

Activity 3: ACROSTIC POEM

Objective: Evaluate the meaning that people attach to everyday forms of

interaction, in order to explain social behavior in our society using word
acrostic poem.
Directions: 1. Using the word “SOCIETY”, create an acrostic poem that
tackles symbols, gestures that we used in human interactions.
2. Use separate sheet of paper for this activity.

Quarter 1: Week 5: Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social science
theories: a. Structural-functionalism b. Marxism c. Symbolic Interactionism

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Name: ________________________ Date: ______________
Section: _______________________ Score: _____________

Assessment: Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it
on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following theories believes that society is an arrangement

of interconnected parts that cooperate in congruity to keep up a
condition of parity and social harmony for the entirety?
a. Feminism
b. Marxism
c. Structural-functionalism
d. Symbolic Interactionism

2. ________________ accentuates that human conduct is impacted by

definitions and implications that are made and kept up through symbolic
interaction with others.
a. Feminism
b. Marxism
c. Structural-functionalism
d. Symbolic Interactionism

3. Which of the following sociologists accepted that the bourgeoisie

utilized their capacity to control the foundations of society to their
potential benefit?
a. Emile Durkheim c. Karl Marx
b. George Simmel d. Talcott Parsons

4. The Structural-Functionalism is based on the following premises EXCEPT

one:
a. social structure
b. social conflict in the society
c. function can be small or substantial
d. change is evident within any society

5. How to keep up the balance of the framework in the society?

a. Social instability in the society
b. If the people will work together with one goal for stability
c. If there’s lack of consensus among people in a given society
d. Imbalance among people due to differences in backgrounds

Quarter 1: Week 5: Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social science
theories: a. Structural-functionalism b. Marxism c. Symbolic Interactionism

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Activity Exit: Poster Making

Objective: Analyze social inequalities in terms of class conflict

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 long bond paper and any available coloring materials in this
activity

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Concepts to REMEMBER

• Structural functionalism perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness

of society by focusing on how each part influences by other parts.
According to functionalist, society is a system of interconnected parts that
work together in harmony to maintain a state of balance and social
equilibrium for the whole.
• The two types of functions: manifest and latent functions (Merton 1968).
Manifest functions are consequences that are intended and commonly
recognized. Latent functions are consequences that are unintended and
often hidden.
• Functionalists use the terms functional and dysfunctional to describe the
effects of social elements in society. It is functional if it contributes to social
stability and dysfunctional if it disrupts social stability.
• Marxism is the conflict perspective views society as composed of
different groups and interest competing for power and resources. The
conflict perspective explains various aspects of our social world by looking
at which groups have power and benefit from a particular social
arrangement.
• Karl Marx (1818–1883) the proponent of conflict perspective suggested
that all societies go through stages of economic development. As
societies evolve from agricultural to industrial, concern over meeting
survival needs is replaced by concern over making a profit, the hallmark
of a capitalist system.
• Industrialization leads to the development of two classes of people: (1)
the bourgeoisie or the owners of the means of production and (2) the
proletariat or the workers who earn wages. According to Marx, the
bourgeoisie use their power to control the institutions of society to their
advantage.
• Symbolic interactionism emphasizes that human behavior is influenced
by definitions and meanings that are created and maintained through
symbolic interaction with others.
• Symbolic interactionism also suggests that our identity or sense of self is
shaped by social interaction. We develop our self-concept by observing
how others interact with us a label us. By observing how others view us, we
see a reflection ourselves that Cooley calls the “looking glass self.”

Quarter 1: Week 5: Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social science
theories: a. Structural-functionalism b. Marxism c. Symbolic Interactionism

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REFLECTIVE LEARNING:

Name _____________________________ Grade and Section ______________

School: ______________________ Date: _____________
Subject Teacher: _______________

Quarter: 1st Module No.: 3 Week No.: 5

MELC: Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social
science theories: Structural-functionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic
Interactionism

Objectives: 1. Interpret the situation in our society using the basic

concepts and principles of the major Social Science theories
3. Create a journal entry analyzing the situations in our society because of
the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topic: The Major Social Science Theories Journal Entry Directions:

Create a journal entry on how these Social Sciences theories namely,

Structural Functionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic Interactionism can help us
understand the situations of the people in our society because of the
Coronavirus Disease. Write your journal entry on a separate sheet of paper.
You may read news articles or surf the internet about the crisis that we
Filipinos are facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Criteria for the written output:

Content (in-depth and comprehensive) - 15 points
Organization (Presentation of thought) - 10 points
Conventions (grammar, spelling) - 5 points
Total: 30 points

Quarter 1: Week 5: Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social science
theories: a. Structural-functionalism b. Marxism c. Symbolic Interactionism

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