Disciplines and

Ideas in the
Social Sciences
Module 1: Nature and Function of
Humanities, Social, and Natural
Science
Identify each disciple or profession being stated in each number
write SOC SCI if it is SOCIAL SCIENCES; NAT SCI if it is NATURAL
SCIENCES and HUMSS if it is HUMANITIES

_______1. Understanding of many societal issues.

_______2. Popular professions such as doctor, nurse, engineer, geologist,
astronomer, chemist, biologist, etc.
_______3. Academic subjects or fields of study that provides students’ knowledge
of concepts and skills that are intellectual rather than occupational.
_______4. Involves comprehension, description, and prediction of natural
phenomenon.
_______5. Consist of a variety of disciplines, subject areas, and methods, and
there is no reason to expect that these disciplines will eventually add up to a
single unified theory of society.
Identify each disciple or profession being stated in each number
write SOC SCI if it is SOCIAL SCIENCES; NAT SCI if it is NATURAL
SCIENCES and HUMSS if it is HUMANITIES

_______6. Political science, sociology and demography, history, anthropology,

economics, geography, psychology, linguistics, and area studies all provide their
own, largely independent, definitions of scope, research agenda, and research
methods.
_______7. Subjects aim to bring into focus the human or social aspects of sciences.
_______8. Music, visual arts, theater etc. are also ___________ subjects.
_______9. Biological science is concerned with living organisms whereas physical
science is concerned with the physical world.
_______10. This examine what it means to be a social being, ranging from the
minutiae of human behavior and brain functions to large scale social movements,
demographics, economics, and politics.
Identify each disciple or profession being stated in each number
write SOC SCI if it is SOCIAL SCIENCES; NAT SCI if it is NATURAL
SCIENCES and HUMSS if it is HUMANITIES

_______11. Their facts can be verified ―empirically, that is, with the five
senses.
_______12. Though most observations of Social Science can be verified, some
observations are matters of opinion.
_______13. Neither empirical nor statistical.
_______14. The only methods of judgment that we enjoy in the Humanities
are intuition, feeling, opinion, debate, and criticism.
_______15. It includes Poetry, Rhetoric, Drama, the Fine Arts, and the
Performing Arts.
LESSON Nature and Function of Social Science, Natural
1 Science and Humanities

Identify the word if it is related to SOCIAL SCIENCES or NATURAL SCIENCE.

1. BIOLOGY ______________________________________
2. ECONOMICS ______________________________________
3. ANTHROPOLOGY ______________________________________
4. PSYCHOLOGY ______________________________________
5. ZOOLOGY ______________________________________
6. HISTORY ______________________________________
7. POLITICAL SCIENCE ______________________________________
8. CHEMISTRY ______________________________________
9. PHYSICS ______________________________________
10. SOCIOLOGY ______________________________________
 Social sciences
Social sciences are key to the understanding of many societal issues such
as the balance between economic growth and impact on the environment. In
other words, the social sciences examine what it means to be a social being,
ranging from the minutiae of human behavior and brain functions to large
scale social movements, demographics, economics, and politics.
The social sciences consist of a variety of disciplines, subject areas,
and methods, and there is no reason to expect that these disciplines will
eventually add up to a single unified theory of society. Political science,
sociology and demography, history, anthropology, economics, geography,
psychology, linguistics, and area studies all provide their own, largely
independent, definitions of scope, research agenda, and research methods.
In addition, there is no grand plan according to which the disciplinary
definitions jointly capture all that is of scientific interest about the social.
On the other hand, social scientists are often based in
departments of health or science within universities, as
well as in social science areas. Many researchers work
outside of academia in industry and government.
 Natural Science
Natural science deals with the natural world. It is concerned with the
phenomena and objects of nature and the physical world. Natural
science involves comprehension, description, and prediction of natural
phenomena using empirical and observational evidence. Hypothesis
formed in natural sciences must be verified scientifically to be regarded
as a scientific theory.
Natural science can be divided into two main branches known as
biological science (life science) and physical science. Biological science is
concerned with living organisms whereas physical science is concerned
with the physical world. Physical science is divided into sub-branches,
including chemistry, physics, astronomy, and Earth science. These
branches can be further divided into more fields that are specialized.
Natural science is one of the major categories of
academic disciplines chosen by students all over
the world. This branch of natural science is
often simply called science, or scientific study.
Many popular professions such as doctor,
nurse, engineer, geologist, astronomer, chemist,
biologist, etc. require knowledge of natural
science.
 Humanities
Humanities, 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. History that has traditionally
been a subject under humanities is nowadays included among social sciences.
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.
Both humanities, as well as social sciences, concern themselves
with human lives and human nature. The difference lies in their
approach as social sciences are sciences and adopt a more
scientific approach, whereas humanities are descriptive and make
use of analytical methods to explain concepts. This is why one
finds lots of explanation in social sciences but a lot more
understanding in humanities.
 In summary:
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.
 Complete the Venn Diagram
Rubrics:
20 points – if the activity is clear, concise, substantial, and relevant to the topic and well explained.
15 points – if the activity is relevant to the topic but is not so clear and substantial.
10 points – if the activity is not substantial at all but shows effort.
(Subject teacher & students can modified the rubrics)

In 3 – 5 sentences briefly explain your answer.

Let us make it trending!
If you were to create a #HASHTAG for our topic Distinguish Social and Natural Sciences
and Humanities, what would it be?
Explain your answer in 3 to 5 sentences only.
Rubrics:
20 points – if the activity is clear, concise, substantial, and relevant to the topic and well
explained.
15 points – if the activity is relevant to the topic but is not so clear and substantial.
10 points – if the activity is not substantial at all but shows effort.
Draw a Logo representation based on your community icons, behavior, culture, norms
and traditions of Social Sciences, Natural Science and Humanities identifying their
differences.

Rubrics:
20 points – if the activity is clear, concise, substantial, and relevant to the topic and well
explained.
15 points – if the activity is relevant to the topic but is not so clear and substantial.
10 points – if the activity is not substantial at all but shows effort.
Modified True or False: Write the word CORRECT if the statement is true
otherwise change the underline word/s if the statement is false and write the
correct answer.
_______1. The Natural Sciences are empirical.
_______2. The Social Sciences are statistical.
_______3. The Humanities are neither empirical nor statistical.
_______4. Both humanities, as well as natural sciences, concern themselves with human lives
and human nature.
_______5. Humanities are descriptive and make use of analytical methods to explain concepts.
_______6. Traditionally only psychology, anthropology, sociology, and economics were included
in natural sciences.
_______7. Humanities, as well as social sciences, concern themselves with human lives and
human nature.
_______8. Social science is often simply called science, or scientific study.
_______9. Humanities examine what it means to be a social being.
_______10. Natural Science, as well as social sciences, concern themselves with human lives
and human nature.
Modified True or False: Write the word CORRECT if the statement is true
otherwise change the underline word/s if the statement is false and write the
correct answer.

_______11. The social sciences consist of a variety of disciplines, subject areas, and methods, and
there is no reason to expect that these disciplines will eventually add up to a single unified theory of
society.
_______12. The only methods of judgment that we enjoy in the Humanities are intuition, feeling,
opinion, debate, and criticism.
_______13. Physical science is divided into sub-branches, including chemistry, physics, astronomy,
and Earth science.
_______14. History that has traditionally been a subject under natural science is nowadays included
among social sciences.
_______15. Study of politics is called natural science.