Talk Natural Vs Social 20151013 PDF

Natural and Social Sciences:
Similarities and Differences

Prejudices of a Natural Scientist
Dezső Boda
Department of Physical Chemistry

University of Pannonia
boda@almos.vein.hu
Kőszeg, 2015.10.13.
Dezső Boda (U. Pannonia) Natural and Social Sciences Kőszeg, 2015.10.13. 1 / 13
Similarities
What is the goal of research?

Similarities.
Natural Sciences Social Sciences
Understanding phenomena Understanding phenomena
Making prediction Making prediction
Causality: what causes what Causality: what causes what
Pillars: Logic and observation Pillars: Logic and observation
Studying what and why Studying what and why
Looking for generalities Looking for generalities
Looking for patterns Looking for patterns
Establish relations between Establish relations between
variables variables
Similarities
Similarities in methodology – the Wheel of Science
Earl Babbie: The Practice of Social Research, 13th Edition

suggested by László Kákai. Thanks!
Differences
We study different things

Study of János Abonyi on the basis of Scopus database
Environmental Science Sociology
Differences
Different approaches to numbers:

Qualitative vs. Quantitative
Discussion usually involves Discussion is often verbal
math (notable exceptions: Variables are taken from
descriptive sciences, biology, etc) databases (Big Data),
Variables denote well-defined questionarres, or polls.
things that are produced by Observation is less of a problem.
either reproducible experiments Hunt for patterns that indicate
or first-principle laws through correlations between the
mathematics variables
Hunt for basic laws that explain Challenge: find basic laws that
the relations between variables can explain these correlations
Challenge: find basic laws that
can explain phenomena in realms
hard to observe (micro, galactic)
Differences
Qualitative vs. Quantitative: Camps inside a Camp?

Thompson, Paul. 2004. Researching Family and Social
Mobility with Two Eyes: Some Experiences of the
Interaction between Qualitative and Quantitative Data.
International Journal of Social Research Methodology 7 (3):
237–57.
„Only a few sociologists would openly deny the logic of
combining the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative
methods in social research. . . . In practice, however, despite such
wider methodological aspirations in principle, social researchers
have regrettably become increasingly divided into two camps,
many of whose members know little of each other even if they are
not explicitly hostile.”
Earl Babbie: The Practice of Social Research, 13th Edition
Differences
The problem of reproducibility
Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science

by Open Science Collaboration, Science, 2015, 349(6251):4716
suggested by János Abonyi. Thanks!
Differences
Different approaches to modeling:

What are the variables?
Models are simplifications – we Variables are sets of attributes,
cannot take everything into categories, values (yes or no,
account. male or female, numbers, etc.)
We neglect unimportant things. Model: logical generalizations on
Example: when we describe the the basis of observed patterns
orbit of a falling apple, we do from which principles can be
not include the worm in the developed and predictions can be
apple in the model. made
The main question: What is Understanding comes through
important? It is usually not so the model.
obvious. If the model is successful and
Studying the model: using basic very general, it is called a
laws and theories developed on paradigm
the basis of them
Differences
Different approaches to presenting results

More data, less discussion – the More discussion – data are not
data speak for themselves always available
Rigorous structure of scientific Papers are often essays and
papers: introduction, methodology, analyses
results, discussion, conclusion
Presentation: reading of the text
Extensive references to others (it is
(a cultural shock for me)
a requirement): it is rare that
nobody else did something similar Lack of conciseness: things are
Graphs rather than tables complex so they need to be
expounded
Slideshows with carefully chosen
sets of results that make the point
Establish the „point” at the
beginning
Efforts to be concise
Differences
Different approaches to „Agency” and the

„Politically Correct”
The Human Side of Research
Agency: the capacity of individuals to act independently and to make
their own free choices
Social Sciences are about Humans – feelings can be hurt by the
results (not really a problem in Natural Sciences)
Results can change the studied object – a Strange Loop
More space for Opinion Terrorists (PC)
Events that you are blacklisted by scientific authorities (even if you
are right) is quite rare in Natural Sciences.
Is there a fear from Opinion Terrorists? Is that the reason of careful
wording, blurred discussions, lack of to-the-point statements?
Similarities
Similar hierarchy: Microworld vs. Macroworld

Microscopic (molecular) level: „Microtheory deals with issues of
molecules buzzing around social life at the level of
Their motion can be described individuals and small groups.”
with classical (Newton) or (psychology, social psychology,
quantum (Schrödinger) microsociology, etc.)
mechanics „Macrotheory deals with large,
The zillions of microscopic aggregate entities of society or
events average out into a even whole societies.”
macroscopic answer that can be (macrosociology, history, etc.)
measured (thermodynamics) What is the link between them?
The link between the two level is Can a law (similarly to stat.
described by statistical mech.) be developed?
mechanics (first-principle)
Similarities
Applicability of a mechanism that decreases

Entropy: Evolution – Genes vs. Memes
Replicator: the gene Replicator: the meme
Genes code organs, bodies, Memes code everything beyond
instinctive behavior genetic coding
Organisms carry the replicator Human brains carry the
Fit genes make the organism replicator
survive and multiple thus passing Fit memes make the Humans
the gene to future generations remember the meme and pass to
Creates more and more complex other Humans thus multiply the
(ordered) organisms that are meme
better and better in adapting to Creates more and more complex
the environment ideas, cultures that make
Fight against the 2nd Law of Humans better in surviving (for
Thermodynamics example: Science)
Similarities and Differences
Summary
Similarities Differences
Goal of research: understanding Relation to math vs. relation to
and making predictions verbal discussion
The World is ordered. What is Meaning of variables: numbers
the nature of this order? How vs. attributes
does this order emerge from Existence of a few first-principle
Chaos? Religions have a laws vs. existence of many
different answer. patterns
World is structured and Different meaning of models
hiarerchical. See: micro and (simplification is common)
macro leves.
Different degree of
Search for patterns and reproducibility of results
regularities (quantitatively if
Different ways of discussion,
possible)
publication, and presentation
Both use deterministic and
Different approach to „Agency”
probabilistic approaches

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Natural and Social Sciences:

Similarities and Differences

Department of Physical Chemistry

What is the goal of research?

Similarities in methodology – the Wheel of Science

Earl Babbie: The Practice of Social Research, 13th Edition

We study different things

Environmental Science Sociology

Different approaches to numbers:

Qualitative vs. Quantitative: Camps inside a Camp?

Earl Babbie: The Practice of Social Research, 13th Edition

The problem of reproducibility

Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science

Different approaches to modeling:

Different approaches to presenting results

Different approaches to „Agency” and the

Similar hierarchy: Microworld vs. Macroworld

Applicability of a mechanism that decreases

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