Department of Education

Bureau of Learning Delivery Teaching

and Learning Division

Grade Levels: Grade 11

Specialized Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences
Semester: First Semester, Q1

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY:

(Differentiate the nature and functions of Social Science disciplines with the natural
sciences and humanities.)

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 SOCIAL SCIENCES vs. NATURAL SCIENCES and HUMANITIES

What is Social Sciences? This question left us so many queries about the meaning and
scope of social sciences and its relationship with Humanities and Natural Sciences.
This topic will let you identify the meaning, scope and limitation of social sciences as
compared to natural science and humanities. This will also enhance your skills to
differentiate one from the other.

It is but a must for every HUMSS student to know the basics, the meaning of Social
Sciences. The realities as well as meaning of Social Sciences shall be imbibed in every
HUMSS student. Lastly, one must know the reasons behind the integration of
Humanities and Social Sciences, to understand deeply the essence of being a student
of the said strand.

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

A. Differentiate the meaning of Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Humanities.
B. Compare and contrast the two branches of sciences (natural and social sciences)
based on given categories and realities; and
C. Appreciate the importance of Social Sciences in our day-to-day basis.

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Direction: Read each item carefully and use your notebook to write your answers.

Analyze whether there are concepts of social science in the following situations or not. Write
SS if it has or NSS if otherwise.

1. Jack examined about how ants propagate and multiply.

2. Mario surveyed about how students of Himamaylan National High School take care of the
environment.

3. Anna decided to be exposed in one of the tribes in their community.

4. Ruffa examined his friends’ lungs and found out that he has lung cancer.

5. Christine managed his constituents well and became a good leader to them.

Multiple Choice. Understand the following statements and write the letter of the
correct answer:

6. This is a method of natural sciences that consists of observation, measurement and

experiment:
a. Scientific Method b. Scientific Theory c. Case Studies d. Survey

7. Why arts and sciences is inseparable?

a. Both disciplines deal with the truth.
b. Both disciplines are dealing with human persons and their capabilities.
c. Social Sciences are both humanistic and empirical.
d. Science is art and art is science.

8. Anna is doing a sculpture of a local hero in order to recall them of their history. Is it under
social science?
a. Yes, because it involves history and arts
b. Maybe, if it involves the history of the hero.
c. No, for it only focus on sculpture.
d. Yes, for it reminds society to give importance and involves humanities.

9. The following are the disciplines of social sciences with empirical research except:
a. Economics b. Sociology c. Philosophy d. Demography

10. What is the similarities between social science and natural science?
a. They are both using scientific method in addressing issues
b. They uses methods of inquiry to construct theories
c. They both studies aspects of human society.
d. They both uses natural methods in solving problems.

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Task 1: Social Science is?
Below is a picture describing what social sciences is. The goal of this activity is to
know how you understand social sciences from the words being given to you. Extract
words from the chosen picture and out of those choices, give your own definition of
social sciences. You can choose with a minimum of 2 and maximum of 3 words. You
can only give one definition so give your best definition. The chosen best definitions will
be posted in our board to be acknowledged.

(image from quotemaster.org)

Task 2:
Match it!
Match the definitions being given in Column A with the concepts given in Column
B. Write your answers on your notebook.

Definitions Concepts
1. An endeavour to understand, explain and predict the A. Humanities
world we live in using distinctive methods of enquiry in
an attempt to construct theories. (Okasha, 2002)
2. Disciplines that deal only with events independent and B. Natural Science
dependent in nature using scientific methods. (Ledoux,
2002)
3. The systematic study of various aspects of human C. Science
society.
4. Study of the ways in which the human experience is D. Social Science
processed and documented.

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 1. What is Social Science?
2. What are the similarities between Social Science and Humanities? Social
Science and Natural Science?
3. Can we say that Social Science is Natural Science and vice versa? Why?
4. Is Humanities and Social Science inseparable? Why do you think so?

SCIENCE
Science is generally understood as an endeavour to understand, explain and predict the world we live in
using distinctive methods of enquiry in an attempt to construct theories. It is, however, not easy to find a
set of features that define what separates sciences from other attempts to understand and explain the
world, such as religion, astrology and fortune telling, which are generally not regarded as branches of
sciences (Okasha, 2002).

There are a number of similarities between the natural and social sciences, which include the use of
similar methods and partly overlapping epistemological and ontological stances, i.e stances regarding the
creation of knowledge and the nature of reality. However, there are also a number of elements that
distinguish the two, such as their different origins, subjects of study, and limitations.

SOCIAL SCIENCE
Refers to the systematic study of various aspects of human society. This is a major classification of
educational fields related with civilization and the interactions among people in a society. According to
ESRC (2015), the social sciences speaks of matters concerning the world beyond our experience and
aids in elucidating how our society works. This has not been a clearly defined area historically; indeed the
classification of the various disciplines as social sciences rather than humanities or life sciences has not
been consistent throughout the years. Instead, each discipline that can be considered a social science
has developed rather independently. Hence, the history of social science is divided by discipline, as there
are only few who attempted it to write as a whole.

The idea that society may be studied in a standardized and objective manner, which scholarly rules and
methodology, is comparatively recent. The term “social science” first appeared in the 1824 book An
Inquiry into the Principles of the distribution of Wealth Most Conducive to Human Happiness by William
Thompson (1775 - 1833).

NATURAL SCIENCE
Refers to the disciplines that deal only with natural events (i.e. independent and dependent variables in
nature) using scientific methods (ledoux, 2002, p. 34). While the employment of scientific methods is
generally regarded as typical but not exclusive of natural sciences, it is the focus on natural events that
distinguishes natural from social science.

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SOCIAL SCIENCE in CONTRAST with NATURAL SCIENCE
Below is a table of contrast between the two sciences:

Category Natural Science Social Science

Origin Marked by changing world views introduced by Younger than the natural sciences. Scientific
Renaissance thinkers who questioned earlier studies of social interactions began as late 19 th
explanations about the world and turned to more century, through the publications of Emile
systematic methods of investigation. Durkheim’s “Suicide” and Auguste Comte’s
“Systeme de Politique Positive”.
Subject of study To discover the laws that rule the world (Buchel, Subjects of study are the phenomena of social
1992). The focus lies hereby on the natural world. interaction and coexistence and through a
specific subject of study.
Methods Scientific methods, characterizing “natural Mainly uses observation, and is more difficult
science since the 17th century, consisting in than natural sciences because of
systematic observation, measurement and uncontrollability of social environments. Other
experiment.” (American Oxford Dictionary) methods are interviews, surveys and case
studies.
Philosophical Karl Popper – a theory cannot be confirmed by Positivist position – advocated by early social
stances induction, but only falsified by a simple scientists, Comte in particular argued that the
observation (Buchel, 1992, p. 227 study of social sciences should apply same
methods as natural sciences.
Interpretivism – social reality cannot be
measured by natural events but at grasping
the subjective meaning of social actions.
Limitations Technical boundaries (related to the inability to Factors including the need to base findings on
conduct precise measurements) and financial interpretations, the complexity of a field,
boundaries (employs expensive equipment as ethical issues and financial problems.
well as other expenses).

HUMANITIES
Refers to the study of the way humans manage and sort out and record their experiences. According to
Stanford (2015), to understand and record the world, we have used philosophy, literature, religion, art,
music, history and language.

The Humanities as a discipline started in the West. It was conceived as a response to the theology-
centered education of the Middle Ages that focused on humans apart from their sociohistorical context.
The term “humanities” itself was taken from the Latin words studia humanitatis, which means “studies of
humanity”. during the Renaissance, proponents of the discipline dedicated themselves to the study of
ancient Latin and Greek secular texts. By studying the literature of the past, one can fully understand how
history has shaped humanity. It provides light on how people should live today and how to prepare for the
future (Witt, et. Al., 1997, pp. 2 - 3)

B. Arts vs. Sciences and social vs. Sciences

The term SOCIAL SCIENCE is a body of knowledge characterized by an objective to understand what
society is and what does it do to people living inside it. This is a group of independent disciplines - with its
own respective philosophies, intellectual histories and research histories - but are fundamentally bound
together because they deal after all with the same entity that is called “society”.

HUMANITES, the idea of examining and celebrating the human side of our social existence, enters
our discussion!

 We have on one hand, an empirical and objective approach to human existence and, on the other
hand, an imaginative, creative and “humanist” side of social analysis.
 Disciplines of Social Sciences related to humanities are: HISTORY, ANTHROPOLOGY (including
archaeology), and LINGUISTICS for it deals with the human past and touch the meaning of being
human, which makes the whole exercise border abstraction and subjectivity.
 Social Sciences related to empirical research and aims are the following: ECONOMICS,
SOCIOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, POLITICAL SCIENCE and DEMOGRAPHY.
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 Social Science, however, cannot be wholly categorized as exclusive to empirical study or humanistic
concerns because they can be both!

If we take it to heart that all social science disciplines deal with people as social beings with creative
capabilities as well as with physical needs and live in the physical world, we would not see a line that
divides the “arts” from the “sciences”, nor the “social” from the “sciences”.

Task 4: Venn Diagram

Using the diagram below, compare and contrast Social Science with Natural Science
and Humanities based on this discussion:

Natural
Sciences

Social
Humanities
Sciences

Task 5: Case Analysis

Read the story of Arnold in the class and analyze the situations being present in the
story.

Arnold is a social scientist in nature. He resides in a community that is highly populated.

However, he started to wonder how to resolve the dilemma that they experience. COVID-19
virus become an epidemic in their town. The mayor, however, divert health funds to industrial
ones. His friend, Pedro, is the only doctor in their town, and there was chaos in their community.

As a social scientist, what can he do?

A. What situations can be addressed by social sciences? Give one and justify.
B. What situations can be addressed by humanities? Give one.
C. What situations can be addressed by natural science? Give at least situations that can be
resolved by natural science.
D. Using the realm of social sciences, how will you resolve the issue/s being present? Give one
and discuss briefly.
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Let the students complete the following statement:

“For me, Social Science is ________________________________________________.

Social Science can help me later in my life by ___________________________________. For
this, I am committed to learn faithfully and will comply on the demands of this subject”.

Direction: Read each item carefully and use your notebook to write your answers.

Analyze whether there are concepts of social science in the following situations or not. Write
SS if it has or NSS if otherwise.

1. Jack examined about how ants propagate and multiply.

2. Mario surveyed about how students of Himamaylan National High School take care of the
environment.
3. Anna decided to be exposed in one of the tribes in their community.
4. Ruffa examined his friends’ lungs and found out that he has lung cancer.
5. Christine managed his constituents well and became a good leader to them.

Multiple Choice. Understand the following statements and write the letter of the
correct answer:

6. This is a method of natural sciences that consists of observation, measurement and

experiment:
a. Scientific Method b. Scientific Theory c. Case Studies d. Survey

7. Why arts and sciences is inseparable?

a. Both disciplines deal with the truth.
b. Both disciplines are dealing with human persons and their capabilities.
c. Social Sciences are both humanistic and empirical.
d. Science is art and art is science.

8. Anna is doing a sculpture of a local hero in order to recall them of their history. Is it under
social science?
a. Yes, because it involves history and arts
b. Maybe, if it involves the history of the hero.
c. No, for it only focus on sculpture.
d. Yes, for it reminds society to give importance and involves humanities.

9. The following are the disciplines of social sciences with empirical research except:
a. Economics b. Sociology c. Philosophy d. Demography

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10. What is the similarities between social science and natural science?
a. They are both using scientific method in addressing issues
b. They uses methods of inquiry to construct theories
c. They both studies aspects of human society.
d. They both uses natural methods in solving problems.

Glossary

The following terms used in this module are defined as follows:

HUMANITIES - study of the way humans manage and sort out and record their
experiences.
NATURAL SCIENCE - Refers to the disciplines that deal only with natural events (i.e.
independent and dependent variables in nature) using scientific methods
(ledoux, 2002, p. 34).
SCIENCE - generally understood as an endeavour to understand, explain and predict
the world we live in using distinctive methods of enquiry in an attempt to
construct theories.
SOCIAL SCIENCE - The systematic study of various aspects of human society.

Answer Key

TRY THIS:
1. NSS 2. SS 3. SS 4. NSS 5. SS
6. A 7. B 8. D 9. C 10. B

TASK I. SOCIAL SCIENCE IS:

Answers may vary. Words can be found in the picture illustration above.

TASK II. MATCH IT:

1. C 2. B 3. D 4. A

TASK IV. VENN DIAGRAM

Answers Vary. Refer to the table “Social Science in contrast with Natural
Science” and “Humanities”

TASK V. CASE ANALYSIS

1. Sample Social Science Cases – population issues (demography), diversion of funds
(Political Science), managing chaos (Psychology)
2. Sample Humanities Cases – History of COVID 19 Virus, Nature and cause of the
Virus (under Anthropology)
3. Sample Natural Science Cases – Characteristics of the Virus, how to avoid the
spread/contact with the virus, the cure for the virus, esp. vaccine.
4. Answers Vary

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ASSESSMENT:
1. NSS 2. SS 3. SS 4. NSS 5. SS
6. A 7. B 8. D 9. C 10. B

References

Apulencia, Arthur S, et. al, Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences Reader, Pasig City,
Philippines: Department of Education – Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd – BLR),
2017, pp. 2 – 5

3G Elearning FZ LLC, Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Science, UAE: 3G Elearning
FZ LLC, 2017, pp. 1 - 7

Tatel, Carlos P. Jr, Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences, Sampaloc, Manila: Rex
Bookstore, May 2016, pp. 10 - 13

Prepared by:

BENHUR P. DORONILA
Teacher II
Schools Division of Himamaylan City
Region VI

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