DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (GRADE 11)

QUARTER 1 - WEEK 1 (AUGUST 24-28, 2020)

LESSON 1: UNDERSTANDING THE DOMAIN OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Overview
The great Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that “man is a social animal”. We are all born and raised in a
society. We belong to a particular group and we share a certain territory. As rational animals, we use reason in order
to satisfy our curiosity and discover the how and why of so many things around us. When questions present
themselves, we try to find answers depending on different modes of inquiry. It is obvious that there is need to study
society for us to provide explanations on its workings and to understand a wide array of phenomena that baffles the
human mind. This lesson will help us understand the social sciences, its importance, and its difference from the field
of the natural science and humanities.

Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:
1. Differentiate the nature and functions of Social Science disciplines with the natural sciences and humanities
2. Define social sciences as the study of society
3. Distinguish the difference between the social sciences, the natural sciences, and the humanities.
4. Apply the concept of scientific method when studying various human phenomena.

TEST YOURSELF (1 point each)

A. What are some of the professions you might want to pursue in the future? List down five career opportunities
that you may want to take in the academe.
1. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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B. Try scanning articles titles from a local newspaper. Identify five social issues that you have read in the
newspaper.
1. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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Processing Questions: (3 points each)

 Have you listed some professions that you think belong to the academe? Do you think they belong to the
Social Science?
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 Can you identify which professions can address the particular social issues you listed? How important is it
solve the problems in our society?
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STUDY THESE TERMS

1. Humanities – seeks to human reactions to events and the meaning created by experience
2. Hypothesis – an educated guess
3. Mixed method – a combination of quantitative and qualitative method
4. Natural Science – aims to predict all natural phenomena and its studies are based on experimentally
controlled condition
5. Poverty Threshold – this is the minimum income required to meet the basic needs like food, clothing,
housing, transportation, health and education expenses
6. Qualitative Research – analyzes qualitative data such as interviews, narratives and literary texts
7. Quantitative Research – analyzes quantifiable or numeric data and subjects them to statistical analyzes
8. Research – investigation of different sources in order to pursue the advancement of knowledge
9. Research design – sets the tone for the type of data that will be used in the study, the methodology that
will be used in gathering and analyzing data and the direction of the narrative, which ultimately addresses
the research problem
10. Research Problem – subject of the inquiry or investigation
11. Review of Literature – the wealth of materials or resources that have been previously written on the
subject matter
12. Scientific Method – a standardized set of techniques for building scientific knowledge, such as how to
make valid observations, how to interpret result and to generalize results
13. Social Science – a study of the historical, cultural, sociological, psychological and the political forces that
shape the actions of individuals and its impact on society
14. Subsistence Threshold – this is the minimum income required to meet basic food needs

DISCUSSION
GUIDE QUESTION: What is social science and how can it be used to study and understand society?

A. THE HUMAN KNOWLEDGE

There exist several classifications of human knowledge. One practical way of classifying would be to divide
knowledge into three broad categories namely, the natural sciences, the social sciences and humanities.
 Social Sciences: is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural
sciences. As the name itself suggests, Social Science is concerned about society. It aims at understanding all
aspects of society as well as finding solutions to deal with social problems. It is a broad area of knowledge
and includes several different disciplines under its domain, the Anthropology, Economics, Geography,
History, Linguistics, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology and Demography.
 The field of human knowledge that deals with all aspects of the group life of human beings. So, it is
subject to change with the changes the human behavior.
 Social sciences are sciences, and this vast field of study includes subjects that adopt a scientific
approach to study. However, these subjects are close to both human lives and natural sciences.
Subjects like law, political science, history, education, psychology economics etc. classify to be called
social sciences. Study of politics is called social science. The thing to remember is that the subjects
 included in social sciences are those that are in one way or the other connected with human society
and human nature. While traditionally only psychology, anthropology, sociology, and economics
were included in social sciences, it has come to include many of the erstwhile humanities subjects
such as law, political science, and linguistics.

 Natural Sciences: is a major branch of sciences that deals with the description, prediction, and
understanding of phenomena such as atomic particles, weather conditions and earthquake patterns. On the
other hand, the two main branches of natural science are Life Science and Physical Science.
 a branch of science that seeks to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using the
Empirical and Scientific method.
 Natural sciences are the branches of science that go into the details of the natural world by using
scientific methods. It is important to know that natural sciences employ scientific methods to go
deep into details regarding natural behavior and natural condition. This is the main difference
between social science and natural sciences. Sciences such as logic, mathematics, and statistics are
called as formal sciences and they too are different from natural sciences. Astronomy, Biology, Earth
Science, Physics, Chemistry, Oceanography, Material Science, Earth Science and Atmospheric Science
are some of the well-known natural sciences. It is interesting to note that subjects such as
meteorology, hydrology, geophysics and geology also fall under natural sciences since they all
involve scientific methods in their approach.

 Humanities: study of the ways in which human experiences is processed and documented. It comprised the
different knowledge that tend to humanize human as they express themselves in various forms. It
encompasses the fields of Philosophy, Literature, Religion, Arts, Music, History and Language.
 are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical,
critical, or speculative. ancient and modern languages, visual and performing arts such as music,
theater arts, literature, history, philosophy and religion. (more on aesthetics)
 Science and scientists are expected to uncover the truth and enhance our knowledge. However, lots
of people feel that science must offer solutions to the problems faced by human societies also. The
academic subjects or fields of study that provides students’ knowledge of concepts and skills that are
intellectual rather than occupational are classified under humanities. Study of cultures is one of the
important parts of this vast field of study that also includes languages, literature, religion,
philosophy, visual and performing arts etc. The subjects that are clubbed together under humanities
are not sciences for sure. However, these subjects aim to bring into focus the human or social
aspects of sciences. These subjects are descriptive and move ahead through analysis and some
speculation. Music, visual arts, theater etc. are also humanities subjects.

EXERCISE
Direction. Below are some research problems. Identify if the study falls under the Natural Science, the Social
Science or both. Explain your answer. (3 points each)
1. Why is there an increased number of typhoons that hit the Philippines every year?
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2. Why do students engage in school bullying?
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3. How can the government control the rising population?
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4. What are the effects of K-12 Basic Education Program in the Philippine collegiate level?
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5. How is COVID-19 or “Coronavirus Disease 2019” transmitted?
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B. THE DIFFERENCES
Science and The Social Science
 Society is commonly defined as” people in general thought of living together in organized communities
with shared laws, traditions, and values”. The term “social” is 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.
 Science pertains to “knowledge about or study of the natural based on facts through experiments and
observation.” It also refers to the various methods or modes of inquiry utilized in order to obtain that
knowledge. However, as science is oftentimes associated with matter, chemicals, rocks, motions, and
others (natural science), but it should be noted that it can be also utilized systematically to study human
experience such as attitudes, behavior, opinions, feelings, and ideologies among others (social science).
 Modern-day research provides us a more efficient way of gaining knowledge and solving problems through
scientific method. It is a systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a
problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of
hypotheses.
*Both Social Science and Natural Science use scientific method. However, these fields differ from each other
as the former focuses on human relationship while the latter undertake controlled experiments.

The Social Sciences Vis-A-Vis the Natural Sciences

a. Natural Science deals with objects whereas social science deals with subjects, that is human beings.
b. Natural Science is characterized by exactness, controlled variables, and predictability. Contraries, Social
Science is marked by the opposite, it is spontaneous, unpredictable, or uncontrollable.
c. The basis of Natural Science is experimental data, while Social Science rely on experiential data.
d. The typical method of Natural Science is doing repetitive and conventional laboratory experiments. In
contrast, Social Science in lies of experiential data, typically involves alternative observation and interaction
with people within a community.
e. The Natural Science work within a closed system while Social Science work within an open system.
*Our present social ills can be effectively addressed by obtaining knowledge from both the natural science and
social sciences. For example, researchers working in climate change will be definitely dealing with Biology and
ecology in the natural sciences. In the same way, they may have to familiarize themselves with geography and then
analyze its effects on humans and society using the social sciences approach. The two domains work hand in hand in
order to help alleviate problems in the society and improve human conditions.

LESSON PRE-TEST
TRUE OR FALSE. Write T if the statement is TRUE and F if it is FALSE. (10 points)
___1. The scientific method is systematic approach in acquiring and explaining knowledge.
___2. The scientific method can only be used in the natural sciences.
___3. The scientific method starts with defining the problem and ends with the collection of data.
___4. Research design determines the type of data that will be used in the study and the methodology that will be
used in the gathering and analysis of data.
___5. Research and the scientific method both aim to pursue the advancement of knowledge.
___6. Qualitative and quantitative research methods cannot be used at the same time in the same research
problem.

C. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND ITS APPLICATIONS

 The scientific method refers to a standardized set of techniques for building scientific knowledge, such as
how to make valid observations, how to interpret results and to generalize results. It allows researchers
independently and impartially test pre-existing theories and prior findings.
 It has same objectives with research which investigates and studies different materials and sources in the
pursuit of advancing knowledge. A researcher tests his or her hypothesis by subjecting it to careful scrutiny
and debate and finally comes up with conclusion that either validates or disproves the hypothesis.
 In pursuing research, the use of scientific method is required. The steps in the scientific method are as
follows:
Stages of the Research Process Key Questions
1. Define the research problem What are the variables or the units of analysis being
studied?
What is the time frame or period of the study?
2. Review the related literature What has already been written about the topic?
What are the research gaps?
3. Formulate hypothesis What are the specific parameters of the research
problem?
What are the means of manipulating the variable
and/or measuring the result of the study?
4. Prepare research design Is the research going to be descriptive, exploratory or
experimental?
How should the sample be selected from the
population?
5. Collect data Will the interviews be done personality or over the
phone?
Who are the target participants od the survey?
6. Analyze data What do the data reveal about the relationships of the
variables being studied?
How do the data answer the research problem?
7. Interpret the results and write the report What are the social implications and significance of the
findings?
Are the sources, both primary and secondary, properly
cited in the study?

TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGN:

 Qualitative Method – analyzes qualitative data such as interviews, narratives and literary texts. The
emphasis in qualitative analysis is sense-making or understanding a phenomenon rather than predicting or
explaining. It relies heavily on the knowledge of the researcher of the social context of the gathered data.
 Quantitative Method – analyzes quantifiable or numeric data and subjects them to statistical analyzes.
While statistics or numerical data does not provide an absolute measurement of human ideals like happiness
 and quality education, it does provide measurement of its indicators like the size of the population of the
country, the presence or absence of corruption or the levels of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
 Mixed Method – combination of both qualitative and quantitative information and analysis in a single study
or in a sustained long-term program of inquiry to address research questions. The data collection includes
both numeric and text information like interviews.

LESSON POST-TEST
ARRANGE CHRONOLOGICALLY. Arrange the statements below (write 1 to 6 on the lines) following the step-by-step
procedure of the scientific method. Describe each statement in relation in relation to the step it represents in the
scientific method. (6 points)
___1. There is an increase in government funding toward information campaign that supports vaccination of
expectant mothers before and during the pregnancy.
___2. Mothers and caregivers should have their doubts dispelled over the effectiveness and safety of the use of
vaccines.
___3. Do vaccines on pregnant women cause abnormalities and birth defects to their unborn babies?
___4. A survey by the Center for Disease Control last 2015 has revealed a 99% decrease in the incidence of
diphtheria and measles among babies whose mothers were vaccinated during their pregnancy.
___5. The target population for the National Immunization Survey are children who are or will be 19 to 35 months
old within a few weeks of being selected to participate in the survey.
___6. Vaccines help keep expectant mothers and their babies healthy.

D. The Functions of Social Science and Humanities

The Humanities  are neither empirical nor statistical. There is no objective way to verify the data. The only
methods of judgment that we enjoy in the Humanities are intuition, feeling, opinion, debate, and criticism. There is
almost never a consensus about them.
Humanities functions: (1) to better appreciate the meaning and purpose of the human experience and (2) to
reveal wisdom.
The functions of Social Science are (1) to analyze, explain and possibly predict human behavior as groups or
individuals (2) to generate and produce new knowledge and factual information.

In very brief terms:

 The Natural Sciences  are empirical — that is, they are addressed by using our five senses of sight, sound,
touch, taste and smell. Their facts can be verified “empirically,” that is, with the five senses.  Everybody can
verify them.
 The Social Sciences  are statistical — that is, they are addressed by surveys of large populations, as well as by
empirical evidence. For example, anthropology compares social groups in so-called primitive economic
conditions with social groups in more advanced economic conditions. It also includes Archaeology,
Psychology, Politics, Economics and History. Though most observations of Social Science can be
verified, some observations are matters of opinion  — subject to a cultural bias of the scientist.
 The Humanities  are neither empirical nor statistical. This includes Ethics — the study of Right and Wrong
(Good and Evil). It includes Aesthetics — the study of the Beautiful. It includes Poetry, Rhetoric, Drama, the
Fine Arts and the Performing Arts. There is no objective way to verify the data. The only methods of
judgment that we enjoy in the Humanities are intuition, feeling, opinion, debate and criticism. There is
almost never a consensus about them.
Summary:

 One of the major differences between the two is that humanities involve a more critical and
analytical approach whereas social science deals with a more scientific approach.
 Humanities are a branch of science that deal with the heritage and the question of what makes
us human.
 As there is a scientific approach to social sciences, it is considered to be a branch of study in
between humanities and natural sciences.
 Humanities are considered to be more philosophical than social sciences.
 The study of humanities can be traced back to ancient Greece. It was during the Roman times
that the concept of seven liberal arts developed like rhetoric and logic, grammar, music.
astronomy, arithmetic, astronomy, and geometry. There was a great shift, however, to the study

APPLICATION
EXERCISE #1: Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer (10 points)
Name:_______________________________________ Strand and Section:____________________

Social Sciences Natural Sciences

Humanities
 How are they alike?

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How are they different? _______________________

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EXERCISE #2: Application of Scientific Methodology

Direction: Enumerate the different types of assessment you have been given as a student or the ways by which your
academic performance has been evaluated. Categorize each assessment or performance evaluation on whether it
falls under quantitative or qualitative methods. After completing the table, answer the guide question below.

Quantitative Methods (1 point each) Qualitative Methods (1 point each)

Guide Questions: (2 points each)

1. What are the characteristics of a good assessment/performance evaluation?
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2. Which method do you prefer and why?
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3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the quantitative and qualitative methods of assessment?
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4. How can you apply your knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods to social science research?
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EXERCISE #3
Direction: List down several social problems you have seen that you think must be addressed by proper authorities.
Make an informative writing on one particular social problem that interests you most. Include the following details:
1. Nature of Social Problem
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2. Cause of the problem
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3. Possible solutions
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CRITERIA DESCRIPTION POINTS POINTS OBTAINED

Content The work contained the required information as specified 5
in the instruction.
Evidence Thoroughly develops the topic with relevant facts, concrete 5
details and examples
Organization The work was well-written with ideas easily conveyed to 5
readers.
TOTAL 15

JAMAICA Q. CASTILLO
Teacher II