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This Objectivity and Values, and The Science Debate bundle within the Theory and Methods section of A Level Sociology (AQA 7192/3) provides students with a rigorous and evaluative understanding of two of the most fundamental questions in sociology: Can sociology be objective? and Is sociology a science? The PDF summary outlines key debates surrounding value freedom, the role of values in research, and the scientific status of sociology, drawing on major thinkers such as Comte, Durkheim, Weber, Gouldner, Becker, Popper, Kuhn, and Lyotard.

Students will explore distinctions between positivism and interpretivism, the criteria of scientific enquiry (falsifiability, paradigms, objectivity), and the influence of funding, ideology, and power on research agendas. The bundle also examines Postmodernist critiques of science and truth, arguing that sociology—like all knowledge—is socially constructed.

The PowerPoint presentation breaks down each theory and debate with clear visuals, key terms, timelines, and real-world examples to help students understand how these issues impact sociological research, methods, and theory.

To support high-level analysis and exam performance, the bundle includes connectives worksheets and skills-based activities such as value-debate writing prompts, theory comparison tables, science-definition challenges, and essay scaffolds. A focused podcast episode summarises both the objectivity and science debates in an accessible format, making it ideal for revision or flipped learning.

Altogether, this bundle prepares students to confidently tackle some of the most conceptually challenging yet high-yield topics in Theory and Methods, giving them the theoretical insight and evaluative depth required for success on Paper 3.