A neighborhood has an annual food drive for the purpose of collecting food for disadvantaged families. However, this event also has the effect of creating a stronger sense of community in this neighborhood. The stronger sense of community would be an example of Robert K. Merton's concept of __________.
A) manifest functions
B) latent functions
C) microsociology
D) functionalism

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The stronger sense of community created by the food drive is an unintended consequence of the event, making it a latent function according to Merton's concept of functionalism. The manifest function of the food drive is to collect food for disadvantaged families. The terms microsociology and functionalism do not apply to this specific example.

A Neighborhood Has an Annual Food Drive for the Purpose