DISS Disciplines and Ideas in The Social Science – CNHS

Learning Area: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences (DISS)

Classification: Specialized Subject

Track/Strand: Academic / Humanities and Social Sciences (HumSS)

Type of Material: Self-Learning Modules

Download Links:

• DISS_mod1_Introduction to Social Sciences with Natural Sciences and Humanities
  
  DISS_mod2_Nature and Functions of Social Sciences Disciplines
  
  DISS_mod3_Historical Context of the Emergence of Social Science Disciplines
  
  DISS_mod4_Concepts and Principles of the Social Science Theories
  
  DISS_mod5_Structural – Functionalism and its Importance in Examining Socio – Cultural, Economic, and Political Conditions
  
  DISS_mod6_Marxism and Symbolic Interactionism and its Importance in Examining Socio – Cultural, Economic, and Political Conditions
  
  DISS_mod7_Dominant Approaches and Ideas of Social Sciences – Psychoanalysis and Rational Choice
  
  DISS_mod8_Dominant Approaches and Ideas of Social Sciences – Insitutionalism and Feminist Theory
  
  DISS_mod9_Dominant Approaches and Ideas of Social Sciences – Hermeneutical Phenomenology and Human- Environment Systems
  
  DISS_mod10_The Importance of Psychoanalysis, Rational Choice,
  
  DISS_mod11_The Importance of Feminist Theory, Hermeneutical Phenomenology, Human Environment Systems in Examining Sociocultural,
  

Click here for DISS Quarter 2 Modules

Module 1
Introduction to Social Sciences and Applied Social Sciences

Introduction: (GET STARTED)
This module helps you understand the works of the different disciplines in social sciences and applied social sciences. This topic introduces the connections, relationships, and differences between and among Applied Social Sciences such as counselling, social work, and communication, etc. that will help you explore career opportunities for your post-secondary career track

Learning Objectives: (SET THE DIRECTION)
Generally, at the end of the module, you are expected to explain clearly public
perceptions about the work of social sciences and applied social science practitioners.
Specifically, you are most likely to exhibit the following competencies:

Write a survey report on the perspective of the people to the 3 careers of the
applied social sciences.

• Differentiate social sciences from applied social sciences
• Describe your perspective on the relationship of social sciences and applied
  social sciences.
• Self-assess the benefits and importance of Applied Social Sciences to human
  life.

Vocabulary List: RECALL AND RECONNECT

When you took-up Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences, you learned the
different disciplines under social sciences which belong to Pure Social Sciences.
Can you still remember them? Answer the following. The jumbled words will guide
you in identifying the social science discipline being described. Ready, Go and
answer.

1. Study of society, social institutions, and social relationships
   L O G I C O S Y O – ___________
2. Study of human origins, societies, cultures, and races,
   P Y L O G H A N T H O R – ______
3. Branch of social science that deals with the production, distribution, consumption,
   and management of goods & services
   M O C O N I E C S – ___________
4. Study of the natural features of the earth’s surface, including topography, climate,
   soil, vegetation, etc., and man’s response to them
   G Y R E O G A H P ______________
5. Scientific study of language
   G L U I T I N A C S – ____________
6. Scientific study of all forms of human and animal behavior, sometimes concerned
   with the methods through which behavior can be modified
   S C H O O G L Y P Y – _________
7. Scientific study of human populations especially with reference to their size,
   structure, and distribution
   P H O M R A G D I E C S _________________
8. Study of government of states and other political units
   S C E N I E C L O C L A P I L I T – __________
9. Discipline of recording and interpreting past events involving human beings
   S T I R O H Y – __________

Historical Background of Social Sciences Quexbook 2018

The history of the social sciences begun in the roots of ancient philosophy. In ancient history, there was no difference between Mathematics and the study of history, poetry or politics, only with the development of mathematical proof did there gradually arise a perceived difference between “scientific” disciplines and others such as the “humanities” or “liberal arts.”

The Age of Enlightenment saw a revolution within natural philosophy, changing the basic framework by which individuals understood what was “scientific”. In some quarters, the accelerating trend of mathematical studies presumed a reality independent of the observer and worked by its own rules. Social sciences came forth from the moral philosophy of the time and were influenced by the Age of Revolution, such as the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution.

The Social Sciences developed from the sciences (experimental and applied), or the systematic knowledge – bases or prescriptive practices, relating to the social improvement of a group of interacting entities.

According to Stearns et al. (2000) In the period of 1760

• Some effort was spent on the study of man and society. Hobbes` Leviathan; Lock’s Two Treatises on Government; Vico`s New Science; and Montesquieu Spirit of Laws were all published in this period.
• The revival of interest in social science occurred in the middle of the 18thcentury.
• By the middle of 18th century, capitalism had begun to outgrow its early state and gradually it became the dominant socio-economic system in western and northern Europe.
• In the second half of the 18th century, urbanization and population growth became accelerated, and during this period slums, alcoholism, brutality of manners etc. developed which were to become the targets of social reforms.
•  In the other half of the 18th century, in response to the above there is a multiplication of works with a scientific character Essential Questions

What are the benefits and importance of Applied Social Sciences?

1. What are the similarities and differences between social sciences and applied
   social sciences?
2. What is the relationship of between social sciences and applied social science?
3. In which aspects of human life can Applied Social Sciences be of real value?

Social Sciences

• Focus: Understanding society and human behavior through research and theory.
• Goal: To expand knowledge of social phenomena.
• Examples: Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology

Applied Social Sciences

• Focus: Applying social science theories and research to solve practical problems.
• Goal: To use social science knowledge to improve outcomes in various fields.
• Examples: Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Health, Education, Criminology

Similarities

• Both rely on research methods to gather data and analyze social phenomena.
• Both are concerned with understanding human behavior and social systems.
• Both contribute to our understanding of the world and how it works.

Differences

Social Sciences:

• Focus: Social sciences are academic disciplines that use scientific methods to study human behavior, society, and social institutions.
• Scope: Social sciences encompass a wide range of specialized fields, each with its own specific area of study and research methodologies.
• Approach: Social sciences emphasize empirical research, data analysis, and the development of theories to explain social phenomena.

Social Studies:

• Focus: Social studies is an interdisciplinary field that aims to develop students’ understanding of history, civics, culture, and society.
• Scope: Social studies is broader and more integrated than social sciences, covering a range of topics related to citizenship, government, economics, geography, and history.
• Approach: Social studies emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, preparing students to be informed and engaged citizens.

Here’s a table summarizing the key differences:

1. Anthropology: The study of humanity, including its origins, development, and cultures. It has sub-branches like cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and biological anthropology.  “father of anthropology” is often attributed to Franz Boas.
2. Sociology: The study of social behavior, institutions, and structures. It examines topics such as social inequality, social change, and social interactions.
3. Economics: The study of how societies allocate scarce resources to satisfy human wants and needs. It includes microeconomics (individual behavior) and macroeconomics (aggregate economy).
4. Political Science: The study of political systems, government, and political behavior. It covers topics such as political theory, public policy, and international relations.
5. Psychology: The study of the human mind and behavior. It includes various subfields like clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and social psychology.
6. Geography: The study of the Earth’s surface, including its physical features, human populations, and interactions between them. It includes physical geography and human geography.
7. History: The study of past events and their significance. It involves analyzing historical sources and interpreting the past to understand the present.
8. Archaeology: The study of past human societies through the excavation and analysis of material remains.
9. Linguistics: The scientific study of language, including its structure, history, and use.
10. Communication Studies: The study of human communication processes, including interpersonal, group, and mass communication.
11. Law – Law is a system of rules and guidelines, usually enforced through a set of institutions, that shapes behavior in a society. It serves as a framework for resolving disputes, maintaining social order, and protecting individual rights and liberties. Laws are created through various processes, such as legislation, judicial decisions, and customs.
12. Demography: The statistical study of human populations, including their size, composition, and distribution.