jean--positivism

=** Efficient Operations/Functionalism [|Health Plan] **= Many aspects of American society are based in the theory of positivism. Our national psyche views anything that is not functioning optimally as fixable, given time, ingenuity, and technology. One example is health care, which certainly is not working well for everyone (and not working at all for some). There are major differences in opinion as to which method is “best” to provide universal coverage but each side believes that there **is** a way to provide health care to all Americans. What is necessary is to study the “facts” and then propose the “best” solution to the problem. According to Donaldson, the decision makers (Congress, the president) will choose the method that is most effective.

= **Cause and Effect [|Friedman]** = Syndicated columnist Thomas Friedman contends that only when the price of gas reaches and stays at $5.00 per gallon will American automakers begin to be serious about making fuel-efficient vehicles. The public will demand such vehicles by refusing to buy gas guzzlers and the government will mandate such action, which in turn will lower pollutants in the atmosphere, reduce global warming, and decrease our dependence on foreign oil. This is an example of structural contingency theory.

= Social Norms and Sanctions = During our in-service days at the end of the school year, our teachers held a lengthy discussion about the discipline policy found in our student handbook. The teachers came up with a list of suggested changes to both the norms and the sanctions in an effort to improve both academics and behavior. At the end of the second such session, one teacher came up with a telling, tongue-in-cheek remark: “I wonder how long it will take for our students to become perfect!”

= Differentiation/Specialization = Our school was founded thirteen years ago and began with a very small student body and faculty. As the number of students has increased over the years, the faculty, the academic courses, and the after-school activities have become more specialized. This specialization has come about not only because of the increased number of students but also because of the different needs of the students. It seems that the ratio of administrators to teachers has also increased (contrary to Blau’s assertions) but that would require further, in-depth study of these ratios during the past thirteen years.

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