Introduction to Social Sciences and Anthropology

• Social science examines society and the relationships among individuals.
• It includes many branches, each focusing on a particular area.
• Branches encompass anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, linguistics, political science, psychology, sociology, and demography.
• Social science aids in understanding societal functions.

Anthropology

• Anthropology studies humans, both past and present.
• It uses a broad method for understanding different aspects of human experiences.
• Cultural anthropology studies how individuals in different places understand the world focusing on culture, practices, values, and social structures.
• Biological anthropology studies the biological and behavioral aspects of humans, ancestors, and related primates.
• Linguistic anthropology studies the role of language in social life.
• Archaeology studies human history via excavation and analysis of physical remains.

Archaeology

• Archaeology studies human history and prehistory by excavating sites and analyzing artifacts/remains.
• Archaeologists recover and analyze material remains to understand cultures and societies.
• It needs systematic excavation, documentation, and interpretation of artifacts.
• Dating methods determine the age of artifacts and sites.
• Archaeological findings help understanding of human behavior, social structures, and cultural changes.

Economics

• Economics studies how societies allocate limited resources.
• It focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
• Microeconomics studies the behavior of individuals, households, and firms regarding resource allocation.
• Macroeconomics examines the behavior of the economy as a whole, including inflation, unemployment, and economic growth.
• Core economic concepts are supply and demand, market equilibrium, elasticity, and opportunity cost.

Geography

• Geography studies the Earth's surface, distribution of features, and human-environment interactions.
• Physical geography focuses on the natural environment, examining climate, landforms, vegetation, soils, and water resources.
• Human geography examines organization of human activities and interactions with their environment.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to analyze and visualize spatial data.
• Geographers study urbanization, migration, globalization, and environmental sustainability.

History

• History is the study of the past.
• It involves examining and interpreting past events, people, and societies.
• Historians use primary (documents, artifacts) and secondary sources (books, articles) to analyze the past.
• Differing historical perspectives and interpretations reflect diverse viewpoints and biases.
• History helps to understand how the past shaped the present and provides insights into the future.

Law

• Law is a system of rules enforced by a governing authority to regulate behavior and maintain social order.
• It includes criminal, civil, constitutional, and international law.
• Legal systems vary across countries and jurisdictions.
• Law provides a structure for resolving disputes, protecting rights, and ensuring justice.
• Legal studies involve analyzing legal principles, institutions, and processes.

Linguistics

• Linguistics is the scientific study of language.
• It examines the structure, sounds, meaning, and use of language.
• Phonetics studies language sounds, while phonology examines sound organization.
• Morphology studies word structure, and syntax examines word combinations.
• Semantics studies meaning in language, and pragmatics examines how context contributes to meaning.

Political Science

• Political science studies politics, government, and political behavior.
• Examines the theory/practice of politics, including political systems, ideologies, institutions, and processes.
• Political scientists study elections, public opinion, parties, groups, and international relations.
• Comparative politics analyzes different political systems and institutions.
• Political theory explores questions about politics, like justice, rights, and power.

Psychology

• Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.
• It covers perception, cognition, emotion, motivation, and social behavior.
• Clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing/treating mental disorders.
• Developmental psychology studies how people grow and change.
• Social psychology studies how individuals are influenced by others.

Sociology

• Sociology studies society, social interactions, and phenomena.
• It examines social structures, institutions, organizations, and groups.
• Sociologists study social inequality, social change, crime, deviance, and family.
• Major perspectives include functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism.
• Research methods include surveys, interviews, experiments, and participant observation.

Demography

• Demography is the statistical study of human populations.
• It examines population size, structure, distribution, and changes over time.
• Demographers study birth, death, and migration.
• Demographic data is used for planning/policy in healthcare, education, and social welfare.
• Key indicators are birth rates, death rates, fertility rates, and life expectancy.

Overview of social sciences and anthropology, including cultural, biological, and linguistic anthropology. Focuses on the study of humans, societies, and their development. Explores the relationship among individuals within a society.