DISCIPLINE AND IDEAS

IN THE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
CONTENT:
EMERGENCE OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

Objectives:
1. Define Social Sciences as the study of society
2. Distinguish Social Science and Natural Sciences
3. Compare and contrast the various Social Science disciplines and their
fields, main areas of inquiry, and methods
4. Trace the historical foundations and social contexts that led to the
development of each discipline
 Defining
Social Sciences
 SOCIAL
- Closely related to human society
as it refers to the interaction of
individuals and groups as well as
to the welfare of humans as
members of the society
(Jose and Ong, 2016 p.6)
 SCIENCE
- Scientia: knowledge based on
demonstrable and reproducible
data; aims for measurable results
through testing and analysis; based
on fact; focuses only on the natural
world and is designed to challenge
ideas through research
(Bradford, 2017)
Defining Social Sciences
The disciplines that use the scientific
method to examine the social world
and “study human relations in a
society”. (Jose and Ong, 2016 p.9)

Body of knowledge characterized by

an objective to understand what society
is and what does it do to people living
inside it. (Tatel, 2016 p.12)
 SOCIAL SCIENCE as the Study of Society
• Basically, social science refers to the systematic
study of various aspects of human society.

• It is a major category of academic disciplines,

dealing with society and the relationships among
people within a society.

• Established in 19th century.

NATURAL SCIENCE
• A major branch of science that deals with
the description, prediction and
understanding of natural phenomena,
basically based on observational and
empirical evidence.
 
Two main branches of natural science:
1. LIFE SCIENCE OR BIOLOGICAL
SCIENCE
2. PHYSICAL SCIENCE
• Physics • Astronomy
• Chemistry • Earth Science
 SOCIAL SCIENCE
vs.
NATURAL SCIENCE
 DIFFERENCES THINGS IN COMMON
SOCIAL SCIENCE NATURAL SCIENCE
• Arose 300 years later • Started during the 16th century • Both sciences employ the
• Deals with subject. (Human • Deals with object scientific model in order to gain
being) • Characterized by exactness, information.
• It is spontaneous, controlled variables, and • Both sciences use empirical
unpredictable and predictability and measured data evidence
uncontrollable, as it deals with • Experimental Data that can be seen and discerned
human emotions and behavior. • The typical method of science by the senses.
• Experiential Data is doing repetitive and • Both sciences, theories can be
• Typically involves alternative conventional laboratory tested to yield theoretical
methods of observation and experiments. statements and general
interaction with people within • Closed System positions.
community.
• Open System
History of the Emergence
of Social Sciences
● Albeit debatable, SS’s birth was made
possible by the important revolutions (See
Giddens, 1976; Seidman, 1994)
Industrial Revolution

Scientific Revolution
French Revolution
Social Sciences – are the fields of scholarship/study of
human society and of individual relationships in and to society.
 The
Social Science
Disciplines
 SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCUS The basic question asked
DISCIPLINE
1. Anthropology– study of The physical and cultural What are the cultural patterns
development of humans and that help define these societies
humanity’s origins, customs and
their societies. and the people in them?
beliefs.

◄ Social-Cultural Anthropology
◄ Physical (Biological) Anthropology
◄ Archeological Anthropology
◄ Linguistic Anthropology
◄ Applied Anthropology
 SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCUS The basic question asked
DISCIPLINE
The production, distribution How do people organize the
2. Economics – study
and consumption of production and distribution
concerned with the use of goods
resources, goods and of goods and services?
and services. services among individuals
  and groups within a society.

◄ Macroeconomics
◄ Microeconomics
 SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCUS The basic question asked
DISCIPLINE

The distribution of the How has society been

3. Geography – study of
features of the physical shaped by the use of the
the earth’s surface and physical environment and of the land and its resources?
features, climate, products and people who use those
population. features.

◄ Human Geography
◄ Physical Geography
 SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCUS The basic question asked
DISCIPLINE
The production, distribution How do people organize the
and consumption of production and distribution
resources, goods and of goods and services?
services among individuals
2. Economics – study and groups within a society.
concerned with the use of goods
and services.
 

◄ Macroeconomics
◄ Microeconomics
 4. History – study of human affairs
and past events; important sequence of
events; emphasis on cause and effect
regarding decisions made by those in power.

◄ Military History ◄ Environmental History

◄ History of Religion ◄ World History
◄ Social History ◄ Universal History
◄ Cultural History ◄ Intellectual History
◄ Diplomatic History ◄ Public History
◄ Economic History ◄ History of the Arts
 5. Linguistics – scientific study of
language and its structure (i.e. morphology,
syntax, phonetics and semantics).

◄ Sociolinguistics
◄ Comparative Linguistics
◄ Stylistics ◄ Historical Linguistics
◄ Psycholinguistics ◄ Applied Linguistics
◄ Computational Linguistics
 SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCUS The basic question asked
DISCIPLINE
6. Political Science – The organizations How are people
study of government and its people have developed governed?
structure and activity associated to make rules and laws
with it.   for their society.

◄ Political Theory ◄ Political Behavior

◄ Comparative Politics ◄ Public Policy
◄ International Relations ◄ Public Administration
 SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCUS The basic question asked
DISCIPLINE
The behavior and thought What is going on inside a
7. Psychology– scientific
processes of the individual, person’s mind that causes
study of behavior and the mind.
and the ways in which an them to behave this way?
  individual acts and reacts to
other humans and to society.

◄ PURE BRANCHES ◄ APPLIED BRANCHES

● General Psychology ● Social Psychology ● Educational Psychology
● Physiological Psychology ● Biopsychology ● Clinical Psychology
● Developmental Psychology ● Cognitive Psychology ● Industrial Psychology
● Child Psychology ● Social Psychology ● Forensic Psychology
● Animal Psychology ● Parapsychology
● Abnormal Psychology
 SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCUS The basic question asked
DISCIPLINE
Relationship among humans What are the functions of the
8. Sociology – systematic
and groups living together in various groups in society
study of relationship among
societies. and what factors do people
people; in these groups have in
common?

◄ Social Morphology ◄ Sociology of knowledge

◄ Social Physiology ◄ Criminology
◄ General Sociology ◄ Political Sociology
◄ Historical Sociology ◄ Human Ecology
9. Demography – interdisciplinary
study of human populations, its
characteristics and development through
time.

◄ Formal Demography
◄ Social Demography
 ACTIVITY: DISCIPLINE IN THE
SOCIAL SCIENCES

Direction: Discuss the following scenarios and determine how

each of the social sciences would address the scenario.
Comment on which of the social sciences would be most useful
in assessing each scenario. You are responsible for completing
your own organizer.
 Scenario Anthropology Psychology Sociology Best suited and why?
       

1. Understanding the  
 
 
 

causes for eating  

disorder.
       

2. Finding a solution to  
 
 
 

our garbage problem.  

 

       

3. Understanding a  
 
 
 

teenager’s suicide.  

       

4. Helping a salesperson  
 
 
 

increase her sales.  

       

5. Explaining why a  
 
 
 

high school student  

constantly misbehaves
in class.
       

6. Understanding a  
 
 
 

ritual at holiday time  

 

(eg. why people color

Easter eggs)
       

7. Explain why a person  

 
 
 

is a compulsive gambler  
 ACTIVITY: Conceptualization of Social
Science Disciplines

Direction: Complete the table. Words, phrases or short

sentences may be used to describe the applicable
answers.
 Basic Unit of analysis Important
Definition Assumptions
Anthropology
Archeology
Economics
Geography
History
Pol. Science
Psychology
Sociology Society, social Interactions, social The context is society.
interaction & structures and The world is a social
relationship systems, social construction
institutions