SOCIOLOGY OF

EDUCATION

BASIC CONCEPTS OF SOCIOLOGY

DEFINITION OF SOCIOLOGY

– The science of society, social institutions, and social

relationships : the systematic study of the development, structure,
interaction, and collective behaviour of organized groups of
human beings.
– Sociology is the scientific study of human society and social
interactions. The main focus of sociology is the group, not the
individual.
– The study of human behavior.
– Sociology is the study of relationship between man and his human
environment.
– The word Sociology was first used by Augustine Comte (Father of Sociology)
(1798-1857).
– Comte combined the Latin word Socius meaning sharing in a group with the
Greek word logos meaning science.
– Thus Sociology is:
a. the science of society.
b. the science of social relationships
c. the study of social life
d. the study of human behaviour. The study of social action
e. the study of social groups and social systems.
WHY WE STUDY SOCIOLOGY?

– Sociology helps us look more objectively at our society and other societies. It

directs attention to how the parts of society fit together and change, as well as
makes us aware of the consequences of that social change.
– Sociology teaches people not to accept easy explanations. It teaches them a
way to organize their thinking so that they can ask better questions and
formulate better answers.
– It makes people more aware that there are many different kinds of people in
the world who do not necessarily think the way they do. It increases their
willingness and ability to try to see the world from other people’s perspectives.
THEORIES IN SOCIOLOGY

A. Functionalism theory
B. Conflict theory
C. Interactionism theory
Sociological Theories or
Perspectives.
Sociological Paradigm Level of Analysis Focus

The way each part of society

Structural Functionalism Macro or mid functions together to
contribute to the whole

The way inequalities

contribute to social differences
Conflict Theory Macro
and perpetuate differences in
power

One-to-one interactions and

Symbolic Interactionism Micro
communications
– Sociologists develop theories to explain social events, interactions, and
patterns.
– A theory is a proposed explanation of those social interactions. Theories have
different scales.
– Macro-level theories, such as structural functionalism and conflict theory,
attempt to explain how societies operate as a whole.
– Micro-level theories, such as symbolic interactionism, focus on interactions
between individuals
FUNCTIONALISM THEORY
– also called structural-functional theory.
– sees society as a structure with interrelated parts designed to meet the
biological and social needs of the individuals in that society.
– Functionalism grew out of the writings of English philosopher and biologist,
Hebert Spencer (1820–1903).
– Spencer saw similarities between society and the human body. He argued that
just as the various organs of the body work together to keep the body
functioning, the various parts of society work together to keep society
functioning (Spencer 1898).
– The parts of society that Spencer referred to were the social institutions, or
patterns of beliefs and behaviours focused on meeting social needs, such as
government, education, family, healthcare, religion, and the economy.
– Émile Durkheim believed that society is a complex system of interrelated and
interdependent parts that work together to maintain stability (Durkheim 1893),
and that society is held together by shared values, languages, and symbols. 
– Durkheim believed that to study society, a sociologist must look beyond
individuals to social facts such as laws, morals, values, religious beliefs, customs,
fashion, and rituals, which all serve to govern social life.
– Durkheim believed that individuals may make up society, but in order to study
society, sociologists have to look beyond individuals to social facts. 
– Social facts are the laws, morals, values, religious beliefs, customs, fashions,
rituals, and all of the cultural rules that govern social life (Durkheim 1895). 
CONFLICT THEORY
– Conflict theory looks at society as a competition for limited resources.
– This perspective is a macro-level approach most identified with the writings of
German philosopher and sociologist Karl Marx (1818–1883).
– Marx saw society as being made up of individuals in different social classes who
must compete for social, material, and political resources such as food and
housing, employment, education, and leisure time. 
– Social institutions like government, education, and religion reflect this
competition in their inherent inequalities and help maintain the unequal social
structure.
– Some individuals and organizations are able to obtain and keep more resources
than others, and these “winners” use their power and influence to maintain
social institutions. 
– German sociologist Max Weber agreed with Marx but also believed that, in
addition to economic inequalities, inequalities of political power and social
structure cause conflict. 
– Weber noted that different groups were affected differently based on
education, race, and gender, and that people’s reactions to inequality were
moderated by class differences and rates of social mobility, as well as by
perceptions about the legitimacy of those in power.
INTERACTIONISM THEORY

– Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theory that focuses on the relationships

among individuals within a society.
– Communication—the exchange of meaning through language and symbols—is
believed to be the way in which people make sense of their social worlds.
– Studies that use the symbolic interactionist perspective are more likely to use
qualitative research methods, such as in-depth interviews or participant
observation, because they seek to understand the symbolic worlds in which
research subjects live.
Sociology of Education
– Education is a well developed branch of sociology which examines an important
social activity and institution in many societies.
– According to Brown, educational sociology is the study of interaction of the
individual and his cultural environment including other individual, social groups
and patterns of social behaviour.
– Robinson Smith defines educational sociology as the application of the
systematic methods and principles of sociology to the study of education.
SOCIOLOGISTS’ VIEWS ON
EDUCATION
- SOCIAL CONTROL
- CULTURE DISSEMINATION
- SOCIAL SELECTION AND SOCIAL STRATA
- STATE IDEOLOGY
SOCIAL CONTROL

– A system of social control must exist in society.

– The MOE, Malaysia controls the education administration system in Malaysia
together with certain organizations, political powers, legislatures and parents.
– Controls include providing financial assistance, determining students’ health,
ensuring academic status, addressing disciplinary issues.
CULTURE DISSEMINATION

– Malaysia is made up of various races and ethnicities.

– Pupils in schools introduce their own costume, language and culture based on
their cultural background.
– Various schools in Malaysia spread various languages and cultures through their
teachers and students.
SOCIAL SELECTION AND SOCIAL STRATA

– Social inequality exists in all country.

– Studies show that social strata influence the schools and students.
– To reduce social strata, the government has introduced the democratization of
education and vision schools.
STATE IDEOLOGY

– State ideology refers to the ideology of Constitutional

Democracy.
– Education is used to spread the ideology of a country
where the equal rights of all citizens are exercised in
obtaining educational opportunities.
– The spirit of patriotism is also emphasized to defend the
country.
THE IMPORTANCE OF
SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
– Sociology will enable you to gain a better understanding of the social forces that
shape your own life, so that you will be better poised to deal with them.
– Studying sociology will enhance your ability to be an active and informed citizen,
able to influence societal choices and policies.
– Analyse the socialization process of children whether in the family, school or
community.
– Analyse the status of education in society.
– Analyse the involvement of educated people in social activities.
– To determine the purpose of education.
– To focus on the relationship between school processes, practices, and the
outcomes to the organization of society as a whole.