Nature and Functions of Social Science Disciplines

Nature and Functions of Social Science Disciplines

Ofelia G. Rovillos
SHS-Teacher II

What is Social Science?

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.   There are two elements that constitute Social Science, one is society and the other is nature. We know nature as the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations. While, the word society is derived from the word “socius” which means association or fellowship. Hence, society is a large grouping of people that shares the same geographical territory, shares a common culture and social structure, and are expected to abide the same laws.

What is Social Science?

• Social science is taught in diverse ways.        

• some courses take a global perspective
  

•  some an anthropological perspective 
  

• some a psychological perspective some a sociological perspective, and
  

•  some a historical perspective

Typical Method in Social Science

• The historical method relies heavily on a study of their (subjects) historical background. It traces the principal past developments that seem to have been directly significant in bringing a social situation about.

• The case method involves making a more detailed examination and analysis of a particular issue or problem situation.

• The comparative and cross-cultural methods was formerly often employed in the hope of discovering evolutionary sequence in the development of human institutions that is patterns of social development or progress that would be universal.