Disciplines in Social Sciences

Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences

• This course introduces fundamental concepts, subjects, and investigative methods within social sciences.
• It delves into the thought processes of influential thinkers and their ideas.
• The course connects these ideas to contemporary global trends and the context of the Philippines.

Natural and Social Sciences

• Natural Science: A branch of science focusing on the physical world. Its knowledge is grounded in natural laws and the physical world itself.
• Natural Science is concerned with understanding, predicting and describing natural events. This is done through observation and experimentation, using empirical evidence.
• Social Science: This branch of science is concerned with the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within these societies. It examines the functioning of institutions in human society and interpersonal relationships between individuals as members of a society. It also encompasses the sociocultural aspects of human behavior and how people interact, behave, develop as cultures, and affect the world around them.

Branches of Natural Science

• Earth Science (Geology, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, Meteorology, Zoology)
• Life Science (Anatomy, Environmental Biology, Genetics, Pathology, Zoology)
• Physical Science (Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy)

Branches of Social Science

• Anthropology
• History
• Archaeology
• Human Geography
• Economics
• Law
• Development Studies
• Education
• Criminology
• Political Science
• Translation Studies
• Media Studies
• Business and Management
• Philosophy
• Health
• International Relations
• Linguistics
• Cultural Studies
• Sociology
• Psychology

Natural Science vs Social Science: Similarities

• Both utilize the scientific method for information gathering.
• Both rely on empirical, measurable evidence discernible by the senses.
• Both can develop theories that can be tested to produce general statements and positions.

Natural Science vs Social Science: Differences

• Natural Science: Started in the 16th and 17th centuries, involves study of objective elements, characterized by exactness, controlled variables, and predictability. Relies on experimental data, conventional laboratory experiments, and operates within a closed system.
• Social Science: Developed about 300 years after natural science, focused on studying subjective elements including people, human behavior, emotions and experiences. It is characterized by spontaneity, unpredictability, and uncontrollability. Relies on experiential data, observation, interaction among people within a community, and operates within an open system.

This quiz explores key concepts, subjects, and research methods in social sciences, linking historical ideas from influencers to contemporary issues in the Philippines. Understand the distinctions between natural and social sciences and how they shape our understanding of the world.