NCJ Number
84104
Date Published
1981
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Societal values often influence the development of criminological theory in a given period, as well as the perception of evidence used to support theory.
Abstract
T.S. Kuhn views the development of scientific theory as a succession of paradigms oriented toward puzzlesolving based on revolutionary scientific evidence. Kuhn's notion of paradigms is inappropriate for the social sciences, especially criminology, since there is little support for advances made through novel scientific discoveries. The recent focus on value orientation and domain assumptions, while beneficial to an understanding of unspoken theoretical positions, is also detrimental to theory advancement. By focusing on values and assumptions, the actual content of the theory is often ignored. Moreover, the imputation of domain assumptions may itself be imbued with values. This creates a climate in which theories are contrasted with each other rather than analyzed with a view toward integrating the content of each to form a more comprehensive perspective. For criminology to advance, it must reassess its theoretical structure by determining which theories may interact and by seeking modes of integrating those theories in wider context. Four notes and 33 references are provided.