It is the dominant ideology of our time and characterized by a concern for social order, consensus and social integration. Its epistemology tends to be positivist. Functionalists want practical solutions to practical problems and are usually committed to scientific engineering as a basis for change with an emphasis on gradualism, order, and the maintenance of equilibrium.
Functionalists attempt to apply models derived from natural sciences to human behaviour.
Generalization across contexts is desirable. Within this world view a good theory is testable, parsimonious and significant. Hopefully, it will explain and predict phenomena everywhere. Related Theory Evolutionary perspectives, neo-evolutionary theory, systems analysis and human capital theory are all part of a functionalist world view. Learners are constructed as human capital.