PPT AO2 Evaluation
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Transcript PPT AO2 Evaluation
EVALUATION?
Adapted from W Kidd et al 2003
What does evaluation mean?
Making criticisms
Pointing out possible problems with
evidence
Showing comparisons between ideas
Showing contrasts between ideas
Saying what is good about an idea
Saying what is bad about an idea
Backing opinions up with evidence
Why is evaluation important?
Evaluation helps you pull all the ideas and
theories together
Some examination questions focus upon
evaluation
Evaluating at AS/A Level will help you at
university level
Developing evaluative skills will improve
your grades
How do you evaluate?
Use theories to criticise other theories
Think through the eyes of a theorist. For
example, how would Marxists or
postmodernists see a certain event?
Make methodological criticisms about how
a study’s research was conducted
Use real life examples as evidence with
which to assess what sociologists are
saying
Use historical examples as evidence to
support or criticise a theory
Some studies are conducted in order to
test other studies. Show how they
support/contradict the original points.
Use synoptic tools to think about a study
or theory.
Note when a concept, study or theory was
created. Is it still useful?
Point out the good things about an idea as
well as the bad.
Point out political biases and valuejudgements in some theories. (Left
wing/right wing? Does this distort their
judgement?)
Assess the contribution made to sociology
by a theory; say what we would miss or
lack if the idea had not been invented.
The End
Keep practising your sociology
skills if you want to improve your
grades.