Capital Punishment and Homicide Rates: Sociological Realities and Econometric Distortions

Abstract

Sociological methods have consistently succeeded while econometric methods have failed in research on capital punishment and homicide. But econometricians aggressively promote their findings in public policy venues, while sociologists are less assertive. This is due to cultural differences between the disciplines, and to a philosophy of science that values falsification of hypotheses over progress in answering research questions. This problem has occurred and is likely to reoccur in other policy areas where sociologists are insufficiently assertive in defending their accomplishments.