Analysing Values in reading

Analysing Values
Values analysis involves the gathering, analysing, organisation and appraisal of facts in order to
understand value positions held by individuals, groups or organisations. The process of values analysing
can assist students to:
b identify values involved in an issue, situation or problem
b distinguish facts from interpretations of facts or opinions
b identify different kinds of bias in statements
b identify values implicit in laws or rules and their manner of enforcement
b give reasons based on evidence, for either accepting or rejecting particular values
b predict outcomes from given value positions.

Planning
1. Select an issue or situation for values analysis from a suitable context.
2. Prepare a suitable recording device for listing relevant facts, eg a table, plus and minus columns,
alternatives list, consequence chart, graph of survey data.3. Provide materials to assist values analysis, eg research questions, incomplete sentences, cartoons.
4. Determine one or two activities to test a value principle which has been found when examining
facts of an issue.

Managing
1. Select the issue to be analysed from an ongoing unit, everyday context or current affairs topic.
2. Question students to ensure they understand the values question to be examined, as well as its
context.
3. Collect positive and negative evidence for the viewpoints held on the issue.
4. Test where possible, all the facts which can be put forward to support each side of the issue.
5. Discard irrelevant facts and rank the rest in order of importance.
6. Make a decision, as far as the facts allow, concerning the issue.
7. Deduce the main values principle on which the decision rests.
8.  Test the value principle with specific case examples.