Discussion
Which is the appropriate example of Merton’s concept of ‘functional’ equivalents ?
Answer: A
The appropriate example is a political ideology such as communism can provide a functional alternative to religion.
Merton introduced functional alternatives (equivalents or substitutes) to reject the postulate of indispensability: the same function can be met by different items. His own illustration is that a political ideology such as communism can meet some of the needs of meaning and solidarity that religion meets elsewhere.
The other options are not Merton's examples, and they misstate the institutions involved: a test tube baby does not replace the family's functions, and the family does not replace the education system.
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