Three Sociological Perspectives

Structural functionalism is a theoretical framework based on the view of society as a system of many different parts that work together to generate relative stability (Macionis, 1989, p. 16). In general, functionalist theories in sociology are those which conform to the following principle: "Because societies are open systems--systems that exchange with their environments--it proves useful to explain social structures on the basis of their consequences, or functions, for other parts of the system, especially as these parts come under pressure from the environment" (Stark, 1987, p. 97).

Some of the general research interests of the structural functionalist would be the following: the role of the family (as a microcosm) in the larger society or culture (macrocosm); the role of the delinquent, tagger, gang member, or, in general, societal deviate in the larger society (one could conceive of society as an ever-widening series of concentric circles generating out from the sole deviate--passing from family to neighborhood, culture, etc.); or the role of poverty on the rise of inner-city crime. The above are just a few examples of research topics of interest to structural functionalists.

Looking more specifically at a research topic relevant to structural

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te social change (p. 18). Sociologists interested in conflict and its stratification effect would investigate social class, prestige, and socioeconomic levels, and the accompanying political views inherent in different levels of stratification. The U.S. is supposed to be a nation dedicated to freedom and liberty for all, but such is an ideal, and not a sociological reality, especially for the social conflict theorist. An interesting project would be to test the sociologist Mills' contention that a powerful elite group controls most of what happens in America. What happens in corporate America "trickles down," to the little guy, so to speak. While less than five percent of the nation's power broker elite control most of the wealth, it should not be hard to prove Mills' contention. References Macionis, J. J. (1989). Sociology. Second edition. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. Stark, R. (1987). Sociology. Second edition. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company. During this century, researchers into differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar have been able to discern patterns that define three major geographical dialect areas in the U.S.--Northern, Southern, and Mid-land. Each of these areas also has r
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