SOC 201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Unintended Consequences, Manifest And Latent Functions And Dysfunctions
Document Summary
Here is an example of how unintended or latent functions may have an impact on one aspect of your life. New college professors generally must endure a six-year probationary period. At the end of this time, the quality of the professor"s teaching, research, and service work is evaluated by senior colleagues. If the accomplishments of the probationary professor are deemed acceptable, they will grant him or her tenure. But if he or she has not lived up to expectations, the professor is denied tenure and forced to leave the university. In the past few decades, most universities and colleges have tightened up their tenure requirements. Fifty years ago, tenure was practically a given. Today, things are different; most junior professors 4 spend their first years working like crazy to fulfill tenure requirements. One of the most important requirements is to conduct research and publish the results.
