Abstract
This is a classroom activity designed to help clarify Merton’s blocked opportunity structures and innovation deviance. Merton (1939;1959) defined the innovator as one who uses unconventional means in order to attain culturally approved goals. Often the illustration of a drug dealer is used to clarify this point. However, many students misidentify this...Download this resource to see full details. Download this resource to see full details.
Details
- Subject Area(s):
- Criminology/Delinquency
- Resource Type(s):
- Class Activity
- Class Level(s):
- Any Level
- Class Size(s):
- Any
Usage Notes
This activity was created for a sixth week of a College Teaching course. Unless presenting video/online media as the source of critique, there is only need of copies of any printed sources utilized for critique. However, if utilizing video/online media, internet connection, computer, video/sound cable and/or projector may be necessary. The activity is...Download this resource to see full details. Download this resource to see full details.
Learning Goals and Assessments
Learning Goal(s):
- To recognize the circumstances of deviance under which the identity of Innovator applies. Specifically, to clarify the circumstance of block opportunities as they apply to the identification of an Innovator.
- To understand the role of inequality within circumstances of innovation deviance.
- The student will be assessed through their ability to explain the relationship between inequality and blocked opportunities.
Goal Assessment(s):
- The student will be assessed through ability to identify the inclusion or absence of blocked opportunity within the context of social media (article, movie, youtube, etc.) chosen by the professor.
- The student will be assessed through their ability to discuss the relationship between the innovator, inequality and blocked opportunities; both writing and verbal skills will be utilized in this assessment.
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