Literature Review 5: Functional and Conflict Theories of Educational Stratification

2) MLA Citation: 

Collins, Randall. "Functional and Conflict Theories of Educational Stratification." American Sociological Review 36.6 (1971): 1002-019. Web.

3) Summary:

Within this text, sociologist Randall Collins, outlays two types of theories, both functionalist and conflict, as a means of explaining educational stratification.  Educational stratification deals with the classification of people into separate categories based on socioeconomic conditions within the realm of education. 

4) Author:

Randall Collins is an American sociologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania as well as a member of the Advisory Editors Council of the Social Evolution & History journal.

5) Key Terms:
Conflict Theory of educational stratification: "that employment requirements reflect the efforts of
competing status groups to monopolize or dominate jobs by imposing their cultural
standards on the selection process"

Technical Function Theory of educational stratification: "stating that educational
requirements reflect the demands for greater skills on the job due to technological change"

6) Quotes:

“employment requirements reflect the efforts of competing status groups to monopolize or dominate jobs by imposing their cultural standards on the selection process” (Collins, 1002). 

 “in general, the organization elite selects its new members and key assistants from its own status group and makes an effort to secure lower-level employees who are at least indoctrinated to respect the cultural superiority of their status culture”(Collins, 1010)

“Business school training is similarly regarded, less as evidence of necessary training (as employers have been widely skeptical of the utility of this curriculum for most positions) than as an indication that the college graduate is committed to business attitudes”(Collins, 1012)

7) Value:
 This poses interesting arguments about credentialism and the validity of credentials as a measure of actual ability.  Within my paper, this will be my third main section.  It will be used as a means of explaining how the job selection process is not an even playing field but merely a social construct dominated by elite culture.  Those below the upper class must show respect to their overlords to gain lower level positions.  Obviously, my paper will focus mainly on the conflict theories.