Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
Division of Bohol
DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES
FIRST QUARTER: WEEK 1
Competency : ● Differentiate the nature and functions of Social Science disciplines with
the natural sciences and humanities.

Reference : Abulencia, Arthur S.,et.al. Discipline and Ideas in the Social Sciences Teachers
Guide. Pasig City. DepEd-BLR. 2017. p.2

Copyright For classroom use only

LESSON 1: NATURE AND FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL

SCIENCE DISCIPLINES WITH THE
NATURAL SCIENCES

Social science is defined as any scholastic discipline or scientific field that investigates human
society. The discipline of social sciences are viewed as those that deal with “human society, societal
groups, individuals in their relationships with others or institutions of societies and material goods as
expression of human cohabitation.
The real nature of this discipline can be well understood by analyzing the above definitions.
1. A study of human relationships.
2. A unique combination of various disciplines.
3. A study of man’s development through ages.
4. Analyze the group life of man to achieve some idea of predictability for future planning.
5. It refers to ‘the application of scientific method of the study of intricate and complex networks of
human relationships and the forms of organization desired to enable people to live together in
societies.
6. It is a body of learning and study which recognizes the simultaneous and mutual action of
physical and non-physical stimuli which produce social reaction.

Social Science deals with “human society”, the study objects of social sciences can take notice of
the forecast of scientists. Social sciences can rather be classified by their common perspective than
through a specific subject of study. This consists of understanding and studying a social aspect of society,
a group of people or a single individual.

Functions of Social Science:

1. It develops civil qualities.
2. It develops social behavior.
3. It develops modernization.
4. It develops an all-round personality.
5. It develops moral and social values.
6. It provides knowledge of social development.
7. It develops the power of thinking and reasoning.
8. It develops the feeling of universal brotherhood.
9. It develops suitable proficiency and good habits.
10. It gives knowledge about civilization and culture.

Nature of Natural Science:

Natural Science deals only with natural events (i.e. independents and dependents variables in nature)
using scientific methods. While the employment of scientific methods is generally regarded as typical but
not exclusive of natural sciences, it is the focus on natural events that distinguishes natural from social
science.

It deals with objects and processes in nature and provides information on the nonhuman and physical
aspects in the natural world. They include the biological sciences such as biology, botany, zoology, and
bacteriology which study both human and nonhuman living organisms; and physical sciences such as
astronomy, geology, chemistry, and physics which examine the nonliving physical characteristics of the
world.

Functions of Natural Science:

● To develop science process skills
● To develop scientific knowledge and understanding
● To develop an understanding of the roles of science in society
● To reveal the potential for utilizing in practice the known laws, forces, and substances of nature
● To discover the essence of natural phenomena and their laws and, on this basis, to foresee or to
create new phenomena

Science may be categorized into two broad areas: the Natural Science and Social Science.

Natural Science Social Science

SCIENCE

Natural Sciences:
● It deals only with natural event (i.e. independents and dependents variables in nature) using
scientific method. It deals with objects and processes in nature and provide information on the
nonhuman and physical aspects in the natural world. The aim is to discover the laws that rule the
world. The focus lies hereby on the natural and not on the social world, although the
differentiation is not always simple.
Social Sciences:
● It deals with people, their behavior, and social systems. Human behavior includes a person’s
dreams, hopes, ambitions, activities and problems which involve other people. In contrast to the
natural sciences, social sciences study the phenomena of social interaction and coexistence of
society.
Natural vs. Social Sciences:
● An important difference between the natural sciences and the social sciences is that the subjects
of study in the natural sciences DO NOT TALK BACK TO THE RESEARCHER. There is no
human consciousness. The subjects in the social sciences CAN AND DO TALK BACK, and it is
possible to discern and change.
ACTIVITY: Give at least 3 functions of Social Science.

Functions of Social
Science
 ASSESSMENT

Multiple Choice. Encircle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer.
1. Which of the following is NOT a function of natural science?
A. It develops science process skills.
B. It develops the power of thinking and reasoning.
C. It develops an understanding of the roles of science in society. 
D. It reveals the potential for utilizing in practice the known laws, and substances of nature.
2. In your assignment, you are asked to enumerate the different projects accomplished under the “Build, Build, Build
Program” in your locality. Which function of social science does it belong?
A. It develops civil qualities. C. It develops the all-round personality.
B. It develops social behavior. D. It provides knowledge of social development.
3. Under the House Bill No. 4982 or “An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender
Identity or Expression (SOGIE), it points different practices to be considered discriminatory and unlawful like the
denial of rights to LGBTQ+ community on the basis of their SOGIE. It manifests what function of social science?
A. It develops civil qualities. C. It develops the all-round personality.
B. It develops social behavior. D. It provides knowledge of social development.
4. The following are the functions of social science EXCEPT:
A. It develops modernization.
B. It develops social behavior.
C. It develops suitable proficiency and good habits.
D. It helps in forming biases on different social issues.
5. Which of the following situations DOES NOT show the functions of social science?
A. Innovating a coconut husking machine
B. Assessing growth and development among 4Ps beneficiaries
C. Monitoring the functional livelihood programs in your barangay
D. Conducting stress debriefing to a barangay with COVID-19 outbreak
6. Social science is a body of learning and study which recognize the simultaneous and mutual action of physical and non-
physical stimuli which produce social reaction. Which of the following is an example of a product of social reaction?
A. National election in 2022
B. Faith-based debate in the town plaza
C. Free medical consultation in the far-flung areas
D. All of the above
7. During your Philosophy class, you are asked regarding your stand on a particular presidential candidate on why he/she
should be the next president. When you share your point of views, which function of social science does it show? It
develops_______.
A. modernization
B. all-round personality
C. feeling of universal brotherhood
D. power of thinking and reasoning
8. Your younger brother asks your help on their assignment regarding the predominant burial practices in your locality.
The situation above portrays what function of social science?
A. It develops the all-round personality.
B. It develops the feeling of universal brotherhood.
C. It develops the power of thinking & reasoning.
D. It gives knowledge about civilization & culture.
9. Which of the following situations show the functions of natural science?
A. Writing a reaction paper on your stand in the SOGIE Bill
B. Converting recyclable materials at home into handicrafts
C. Assessing qualified households for SAP (Social Amelioration Program)
D. Compiling different wedding practices among ethnic groups in your region
10. Natural science deals only with natural events using scientific method. Which of the following is an example of a
natural event?
A. 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol in 2013 C. Eruption of Mt. Taal in 2020
B. Super typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban in 2013 D. All of these

List down the function of Social Science Natural Science

1.

7. 1.

2. 8. 2.

3. 9. 3.

4. 10. 4.

5 5.