What I Need to KNOW

This module contains two (2) lessons, namely:

LESSON 1: DEFINING SOCIAL SCIENCES AS THE STUDY OF SOCIETY

LESSON 2: INTRODUCING THE DISCIPLINES WITHIN THE SOCIAL
SCIENCES

At the end of this module, the student is expected to:

 define Social Sciences as the study of society;
 distinguish Social Science, Natural Sciences and Humanities; and
 demonstrate understanding of the Social Sciences and the different disciplines.

General Instructions: Answer all the activities on this module. Use separate sheets of
paper for your answers.

Activity I
A. PICTURE ANALYSIS. Analyze the picture below and answer the following guide
questions.

www.newsflash.org
Guide Questions:
1. Describe what can be seen on the picture?
2. What could be the main issue or problem shown on the picture?
3. What can you say about the nature of living, the attitude or behavior of the people
who live there?

B. CONCEPT MAPPING. Fill out a concept map by giving your ideas about the topic.

SOCIETY

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Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 1
History of Social Science
The history of the social sciences begins in the Age of Enlightenment after 1650.
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.
Social science was influenced by positivism. Auguste Comte used the term
"science social" to describe the field, taken from the ideas of Charles Fourier; Comte
also referred to the field as social physics. The term "social science" may refer either to
the specific sciences of society established by thinkers such as Comte, Durkheim, Marx,
and Weber, or more generally to all disciplines outside of "noble science" and arts.

Here are the practical ways of categorizing human knowledge by distinguishing Social
Science, Natural Science, and Humanities:
 Social Science is the systematic study of various aspects of human society.
 Humanities an academic discipline that studies the human condition, using
methods which are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative.
 Natural Science is a branch of science that seeks to elucidate the rules that
govern the natural world by using the empirical and scientific method.

Social Science versus Natural Science

Things in common:
 Both sciences employ the scientific model in order to gain information.
 Both sciences use empirical and measured data evidence that can be seen and
discerned by the senses.

Differences:
Natural Science Social Science
Started during the 16th and 17th century Arose 300 years later
Deals with object Deals with subject
It is spontaneous, unpredictable and
Characterized by exactness, controlled and
uncontrollable as is with human emotions and
predictability
behavior
Experimental data Experiential data
The typical method of science is doing Typically involves alternative methods of
repetitive and conventional laboratory observation and interaction with people within
experiment community
Closed system Open system

Social Science versus Humanities

Things in common:
 Both the humanities and social sciences are concerned with human aspects like
law, politics, linguistics, economics, and psychology.
 Both are concerned with human lives and nature.
Differences:
Humanities Social Science
Emerged in the 15th century Influenced by and developed after the French
revolution and the industrial revolution
It involves more of a scientific approach It deals with more scientific approach
It is deemed to be more philosophical and It involves application of an empirical, rational
concerned with heritage and questions of what and objective methodology to present facts
makes us human. Comprise application of an
interpretative methodology
Functions:
Humanities Social Science
1. To better appreciate the meaning and 1. To analyze, explain and possibly predict
purpose of the human experiences experience - and produce new knowledge of factual
both broadly in the nature of the human information.
condition, as well as within each individual.

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Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 1
2. To reveal wisdom, to better explore and 2. To generate and produce new knowledge
address the big questions and meet the or factual information.
challenges in human condition.

INTRODUCING THE DISCIPLINES WITHIN THE SOCIAL SCIENCE

Social Science is a broad designation used to refer to the academic disciplines of

history, government/civics, economics, political science, sociology, and other areas.

Here are the major categories of academic disciplines under the Social Sciences.

 DISCIPLINES IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

1.) ANTHROPOLOGY is the study of all human aspects of human life and culture.

Four major fields of anthropology:

a. Cultural Anthropology — is the study of human culture, human beliefs,
behaviors, symbols etc.
b. Linguistic Anthropology — is a lot like cultural anthropology in that it studies a
specific aspect of culture and language.
c. Biological (or physical) Anthropology – is the study of the biology and evolution
of humans and closely related primates.
d. Archeology – is the study of humanly altered material culture, or artifacts.

2.) ECONOMICS it is the study of scarcity, the study of how people use resources, or
the study of decision-making.

Adam Smith is widely regarded as the father of modern economics. He wrote the book
entitled "The Wealth of Nations”.

Fields/Areas of Inquiry:
a. Microeconomics - is the branch of economics that focuses on the choices
made by individual decision, making units in the economy, typically consumers and
firms.
b. Macroeconomics - is the branch of economics that focuses on the impact of
choices on the total, or aggregate, level of economic activity.

3.) GEOGRAPHY is the study of places and the relationships between people and their
environments. Geography came from the Greek word ‘geographia’ literally "earth
description".

Major Fields in Geography:

a. Physical Geography - is the study of Earth’s seasons, climate, atmosphere,
soil, streams, landforms, and oceans.
b. Human Geography - is the study of the distribution of networks of people and
cultures on Earth’s surface.

4.) HISTORY is the study of the past as it is described in written documents. Events
occurring before written record are considered prehistory. History came from the Greek
word ‘historia’ meaning "inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation”. Herodotus, a
5th-century BC Greek historian is considered within the Western tradition to be the
"father of history".

5.) LINGUISTICS the scientific study of language and its structure.

6.) POLITICAL SCIENCE is the branch of knowledge that deals with systems of
government; the analysis of political activity, and behavior.

Major Fields of Political Science:

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Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 1
a. Comparative Politics - comparative politics compares systems of government in other
countries.
b. International Relations - international relations scholars examine the ways in which
nations interact.
c. Political Economy - political economy is the study of how economics and politics
affect each other.
d. Political Philosophy - some political scientists study the tradition of political
philosophies from Plato to the present.

7.) PSYCHOLOGY is the scientific study of behavior and the human mind.

 WILHELM WUNDT - He is referred to as the ―father of psychology because in

1879 he started the first laboratory in psychology for studying humans.

8.) SOCIOLOGY is the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human
society.

 AUGUSTE COMTE - Father of Sociology. One of his works is entitled Cours de

philosophie positive (1830–42; ―Course of Positive Philosophy‖; Eng. trans. The
Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte).

9.) DEMOGRAPHY is the study of the populations and the impact of population on
different parts of the world.

Activity II
A. VENN DIAGRAM COMPLETION. Give at least five (5) similarities and five (5)
differences of Social Science and Natural Science.

B. WHAT’S IN MY MIND? Read and answer the following questions.

1.) What does SOCIAL SCIENCE mean? Explain.

2.) What are the roles of social science in the society?
3.) How can it be used to study and understand society?
4.) What do you think the most useful discipline?
5.) What is the relevance of social science in the COVID-19 pandemic?

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Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 1
Activity III I AM SOCIAL SCIENTIST. Read and answer the following questions.

1. As senior high school learner, how do you use social sciences in your daily living?
2. How do you show appreciation for the relationship among people, society and
environment in the midst of pandemic?

Activity IV MULTIPLE CHOICE. Read and write the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which field of science attempts to explain and describe human behavior in a society
through anthropology, economics, psychology and sociology?
A. Social Sciences C. Humanities
B. Natural Sciences D. Earth and life Science
2. It is a branch of science that seeks to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world
by using the empirical and scientific method.
A. Social Science C. Natural Science
B. Humanities D. Political Science
3. Who is the father of Psychology?
A. Auguste Comte C. Herodotus
B. Wilhelm Wundt D. Adam Smith
4. If the focus of the Natural Science is to explore all-natural phenomena that occurred,
or are currently happening, in the world, what is the focus of the humanities?
A. To study the different aspects of human society.
B. To explore the laws of nature that rules our world.
C. To discover the effects of social phenomena on people’s live.
D. To understand the numerous human conditions and the ways wherein the
human experiences are treated and documented.
5. Social Science began to become slightly scientific during the ___________.
A. Age of Enlightenment C. Medieval Period
B. Industrial Revolution D. Renaissance
6. Which of the following statements best defines social science?
A. A science which deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects.
B. Deal with ―human society, societal groups, and
individuals in their relationships.
C. Study objects of social sciences can take notice of the forecast of scientists.
D. All academic disciplines which deal with the man in their social context?
7. Which of the following studies physical, natural world, and phenomena especially by
using systematic observation and experiment.
A. Natural Science C. Society
B. Scientific Method D. Applied Professions
8. In terms of the connection between Social Science and Humanities, some of the
disciplines of Social Science are also affiliated with Humanities. Which of the following
discipline of Social Sciences is NOT associated with Humanities?
A. History C. Anthropology
B. Linguistic D. Economics
9. Below are the subfields of Social Science EXCEPT?
A. Physiology C. Political Science
B. Anthropology D. Sociology
10. It is the study of scarcity, the study of how people use resources, or the study of
decision- making. What kind of discipline?
A. Economics C. Sociology
B. Demography D. Political Science
11. He wrote the book entitled "The Wealth of Nations".
A. Auguste Comte C. Durkheim

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Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 1
 B. Adam Smith D. Max Weber
12. Which academic discipline studies different human conditions and the ways wherein
the human experiences are processed and recorded?
A. Social Science C. Philosophy
B. Natural Science D. Humanities
13. What is the similarity between Social Science and Natural Science?
A. Both disciplines focus on the creative expressions of human experience.
B. Both studies explore the different laws of nature that govern our world through
objectives and experimental methods.
C. Both fields concentrate on observing and understanding numerous social
phenomena.
D. Both sciences employ the scientific model in order to gain information.
14. It is a branch of economics that focuses on the choices made by individual decision,
making units in the economy, typically consumers and firms.
A. Macroeconomics C. Inflation
B. Supply D. Microeconomics
15. It is the study of the populations and the impact of population on different parts of
the world.
A. Demography C. Anthropology
B. Sociology D. Geography

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Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 1