What I Need to Know

This module will help you grasp the Nature and Goals of Anthropology,
Sociology and Political Science. Sociology is the study of human social relationships
and institutions. Sociology’s subject matter is diverse, ranging from crime to
religion, from the family to the state. While anthropology is a branch of sociology, it
always describes human, human behavior and human societies around the world.
Political science, by nature, is a social science that deals with humans and their
interactions.

The competency included in this module:

1. Discuss the nature, goals and perspectives in/of anthropology, sociology
and political science.
 At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
o identify the nature and goals of anthropology, sociology, and political
science.
o identify the perspectives of Anthropology, Sociology, and Political
Science.
o explain the different perspectives.

The Nature, Goals, and

Lesson Perspectives of Anthropology,
1 Sociology and Political Science

What’s In

This self-learning module will assist you with understanding the ideas of
culture and society. Especially, you will learn culture and society as an unpredictable
entire, just as different angles. This module will assist you with understanding
society as that field which incorporates convictions, rehearses, values, mentalities,
laws, standards, antiques, images, information, and all that an individual learns and
offers as a citizen. Likewise, the module will assist you with understanding the
highlights of culture and society, and the critical changes or change occurring in the
current society.

What Is It
Here are the things to learn about the nature and goals of Anthropology,
Sociology and Political Science.

Anthropology is “the science of humanity,” which studies human beings in aspects

ranging from the biology and evolutionary history of Homo sapiens to the features of
society and culture that decisively distinguish humans from other animal species. It
is the study, analysis, and description of humanity’s past and present. Questions
about the past include pre-historic origins and human evolution.
The nature of anthropology can be viewed from its historical perspective because is
a global discipline involving humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Curiosity about strange people and customs in far off parts of the world is what
primarily motivated these early amateur anthropologists.

Sociology is the scientific study of human society and social behavior. Sociology is
a discipline in social sciences concerned with human society and human social
activities. The focus is on understanding and explaining society which ranges from
the individual in social interaction to groups to societies and global social processes.

The ultimate goal of sociology is to acquire knowledge about society like all the other
social sciences discipline, as Samuel Koenig has pointed out the ultimate aim of
sociology is” to improve man’s adjustment to life by developing objective knowledge
concerning social phenomena which can be used to deal effectively with social
problems”. In addition, it also aims to
• Understand how membership in one’s social group affects individual behavior.
• Understand the meaning and consequences of modernity, postmodernity and
the new globalization.
• Understand the meaning and consequences of modernity, postmodernity and
the new globalization.
• Understand how cultures and institutions interact in different societies.
• Understand the causes and consequences of social change in terms of general
causes and effects as well as unique historical circumstances.
• Understand the causes and consequences of population composition and
pressures and how population affects the environment and development of
societies.
• Provide information that reflects upon different policy initiatives

Political Science is a social science discipline that deals with systems of governance,
and the analysis of political activities, political thoughts, associated constitutions
and political behavior. Politics is not only a mere institution of governance but also
a mechanism for achieving societal goals. It includes matters concerning the
allocation and transfer of power in decision-making, the roles and systems of
governance including governments and international organizations, political
behavior and public policies.

The main goal of political science is the concern with the process of growth,
industrialization and change and the impact on government forms and policies. It
describes how various political systems function, and to find more effective political
systems. In addition, the goal of political science is to measure the success of
governance and specific policies by examining many factors, including stability,
justice, material wealth, peace and public health.

Anthropological perspectives are culture, cultural relativism, fieldwork, human

diversity, holism, bio-cultural focus. The four main perspectives of Anthropology
are the cross-cultural or comparative emphasis, its evolutionary/historical
emphasis, its ecological emphasis, and its holistic emphasis (Dudgeon). An
example for this is the analysis and solutions of the different aspects of the society
such as the environment issues of pollution, the issues on health and medicine
and other issues related to the human activities.
Sociological perspective introduces the discipline of sociology, including
something about its history, questions, theory, and scientific methods, and what
distinguishes it from other social science disciplines. Central features include
social interaction and relationships, social contexts, social structure, social
change, the significance of diversity and human variation, and the critical,
questioning character of sociology. It also explores what sociologists do.

Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives:

1. the functionalist perspective;

2. the conflict perspective; and
3. the symbolic interaction perspective.
Theoretical perspective is used to analyze and explain objects of social study,
and facilitate organizing sociological knowledge. In functionalist perspective,
societies are thought to function like organisms, with various social institutions
working together like organs to maintain and reproduce societies. The conflict
perspective sees social life as a competition, and focuses on the distribution of
resources, power, and inequality.

Political science perspective studies the tendencies and actions of people

which cannot be easily quantified or examined. Political science is more focused
than most social sciences. It sticks to the political arena and to the realm of
politics, either dealing with situations with two competing sides or the lateral
decisions that affect the group as a whole. An example is the study of democracy
as a form of government and why is democracy considered as the best form of
government.

What’s More

Activity 3. Cloud Web Organizer

Directions: Using the cloud web organizer, write the most important details about
the nature and goals of Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science in your activity
notebook.
 1. How do you find the activity?
2. What are the important details you find out about the topic?

3. Do you find it helpful to know about the details of the topic?

Activity 4. Jumbled Letters

Directions: There are five words that you can find below; however, the letters
are jumbled. A short description is provided to help you identify the words.
Kindly write the correct word/phrase on the blanks provided. Write your
answer in your notebook.
1. GYOLOPORTHAN Scientific study of man or human beings.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

2. GYOLOICOS Study of human social relationships and

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ institutions.

3. CALITILOP ECNEICS A social science that deals with humans

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ and their interactions.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __
 4. ERUTLUC Consists of beliefs, behaviors, objects, and
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ other characteristics common to the
members of a particular group or society.

5. SFEILEB A state or habit of mind in which trust or

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ confidence is placed in some person or
thing.

Assessment

Multiple Choice: Encircle the letter that corresponds to your chosen answer.

1. What perspective focuses on culture, cultural relativism, fieldwork, human

diversity, holism, and bio-cultural?

A. Anthropological Perspective C. Sociological Perspective

B. Political Science Perspective D. Theoretical Perspective
2. The following are the 4 main perspectives of Anthropology. EXCEPT:
A. Comparative emphasis C. Ecological emphasis
B. Comprehensive emphasis D. Historical emphasis
3. What perspective introduces the discipline of sociology?
A. Anthropological Perspective C. Sociological Perspective
B. Political Science Perspective D. Theoretical Perspective

4. It is a theoretical perspective of sociology that societies are thought to function

like organisms, with various social institutions working together.
A. Conflict perspective C. Symbolic interaction perspective
B. Functionalist perspective D. Theoretical perspective
5. It is a theoretical perspective of sociology that sees social life as a competition,
and focuses on the distribution of resources, power and inequality.
A. Conflict perspective C. Symbolic interaction perspective
B. Functionalist perspective D. Theoretical perspective
6. It is a theoretical perspective of sociology that focuses on understanding the
relationship between humans and society.
A. Conflict perspective C. Symbolic interaction perspective
B. Functionalist perspective D. Theoretical perspective
7. What perspective that used to analyze and explain objects of social study and
facilitate organizing sociological knowledge.
A. Anthropological Perspective C. Sociological Perspective
B. Political Science Perspective D. Theoretical Perspective
8. What perspective that studies the tendencies and actions of people which cannot
be easily quantified or examined.
 A. Anthropological Perspective C. Sociological Perspective
B. Political Science Perspective D. Theoretical Perspective
9. What is an example of anthropological perspective?
A. Democracy Environment issues of pollution C. Form of government
B. Environment issues of pollution D. Phenomenon
10. The following are the examples of Political Science. EXCEPT:
A. Federal Concept
B. Issues on health and medicine
C. Study of democracy as a form of government
D. Why democracy as the best form of government
11. This term which means the scientific study of man or human beings.
A. Anthropology B. Culture C. Politics D. Sociology
12. It always describes human, human behavior and human societies around the
world.
A. Anthropology B. Culture C. Politics D. Sociology
13. It attempts to explain how the social world operates.
A. Anthropological theory C. Political theory
B. Cultural theory D. Sociological theory
14. It defines how people relate to nature and their physical environment.
A. Anthropology B. Culture C. Political D. Sociology
15. It sees social life as a competition, and focuses on the distribution of resources,
power, and inequality.
A. Conflict perspective C. Functionalist perspective
B. Cultural perspective D. Theoretical perspective