Emergence

of the Social Science

Lesson 1. Defining Social Science as the Study of Society
Lesson 2. Introducing the Social Sciences
Lesson 3. Historical Context of the Emergence of the Social
Sciences
Lesson 1. Defining Social Sciences
as the Study of Society
 What is Social Science
• Basically, social science refers to the systematic study of various aspects
of human society.
• It is a major category of academic disciplines, dealing with society and the
relationships among people within a society.
• Established in 19th century.
 Natural Science

• A major branch of science that deals with the

description , prediction and understanding of
natural phenomena, basically based on
observational and empirical evidence.
 Two main branches of natural science:

1. LIFE SCIENCE OR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

2. PHYSICAL SCIENCE
• Physics
• Astronomy
• Chemistry
• Earth Science
SOCIAL SCIENCE vs. NATURAL SCIENCE

• 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.
• Both sciences, theories can be tested to yield theoretical statements and
general positions.
• Other one deals with object while the other deals with subject
 Doing Social Science Research
1. Historical method
2. Case Method
3. Comparative Method
4. Use of Statistics
Lesson 2. Introducing the Social
Sciences
 Disciplines of Social Sciences

Sociology Geography
Demography Economics
Anthropology Political Science
Psychology Linguistics
History
 Sociology
• Is a systematic study of society and people’s behaviour in groups,
otherwise known as collective behaviour
• The word sociology is a combination of the Latin work socius which
means “people together” and the Greek word logos meaning “study of”
 Demography
• Studies the statistical data of society such as birth and mortality rates,
income distribution, population, crimes, diseases, and other incidences
that affect human societies and structures.
 Anthropology
• Is considered part of the behavioural sciences because it is also a
systematic study of human behaviour
• The word anthropology comes from the Greek words Anthropos which
means “humankind” and logos which mean “study of”.
 Psychology
• It is part of the behavioural sciences because it is also a systematic study
of human behaviour
• Mainly concerned about the human mind
 History
• Is defined as the systematic study of the human past by reading accounts
from old documents, and analysing unwritten sources such as cultural
artifacts, or through recording on oral accounts
 Geography
• Is defined as the study of space and place, natural resources, and the
relationship of man to his environment.
 Economics
• Comes from the two Greek work oikos which means “house” and
Niemen which means “management”.
• Defined as the study of human livelihood and market dynamics.
 Political Science
• Defined as the systematic study of government and power
 Linguistics
• Is the scientific and organized study of language
• Central to the study of language is the interplay between the concepts of
sound and meaning.
 Independent Study

Read and make a short summary about the Lesson 3. Historical Context of
the Emergence of the Social Sciences.