He noted that there were two functions to social structure. The first is the manifest function. This is the "recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern" (14). The second, latent functions, "are the functions that are largely unrecognized and unintended" (14). An example of this is going to out to a club with friends. The manifest function: wants to have fun; the latent function: wants to find a mate. Merton saw that the social patters affected everyone differently. He re-labeled it social dysfunctions, which are the unwanted consequences as society operates. Some questions that pertain to the structural-functional paradigm are: "How is society integrated? How are these parts interrelated? What are the consequences of each part of the overall operation of society?" (19). Earlier on sociologists mostly used the structural-functional paradigm, but found that it didn't look at social class, race, and gender.Because social class, race, and gender can cause major changes and conflicts, a new theoretical paradigm was created to compensate. It was called the social-conflict paradigm. This paradigm saw that inequality brought about conflict, which in turn brought out changes. Two major contributors to this paradigm were W.E.B. DuBois and Karl Marx. DuBois was against racial separation. In order to change this "conflict" he helped begin the NAACP (the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Karl Marx wanted to see changes with in society rather than just analyzing it. Again, there are questions that pertain to this paradigm and some are as follows: "How is society divided? What are the major patterns of social inequality? How do some category of people try to protect their privileges?" (19). Critics say that this paradigm is very limited; meaning that if lacks focus in looking at people independently and on an everyday basis.
The symbolic-interaction paradigm is on a micro-level rather than a macro-level.
