Social Science I
Module 1. Questionnaire: From Chapter 1, Social Science and its Methods;
respond to the following questions:
1. What is the difference between Social Science and Natural Science?
The difference between Social Science and Natural Science is that Social
Science studies human behavior, society, and the relationships among people,
while Natural Science focuses on nature and the physical world.
Social Science tries to understand how people live together, create
cultures, and organize their communities. Natural Science, in contrast, looks for
laws that explain natural phenomena, such as those found in biology, chemistry,
and physics.
In short, Social Science deals with human life, and Natural Science deals
with the natural environment.
2. What are biological sciences?
Biological sciences are the branches of natural science that study living
organisms. They focus on understanding life in all its forms, including how
plants, animals, and humans develop, function, and interact with their
surroundings.
3. List three examples of Social Sciences
Three examples of Social Sciences are:
Sociology: the study of how people live together and form groups or
societies.
Economics: the study of how goods and services are produced,
distributed, and used.
Political Science: the study of governments, power, and how decisions
are made in society.
4. List three examples of Natural Science
Three examples of Natural Sciences are:
Biology: the study of living organisms and life processes.
Chemistry: the study of substances, their properties, and how they
interact or change.
Physics: the study of matter, energy, and the laws that govern the natural
world.
5. What is Cognitive Science?
Cognitive Science is the study of mental processes such as thinking,
learning, memory, and problem-solving. It focuses on how the human mind
works and how people process information.
This science combines knowledge from psychology, linguistics,
philosophy, neuroscience, and computer science to better understand how
humans think and understand the world around them.
6. What is Anthropology?
Anthropology is the science that studies human beings in all their
aspects. It examines both the physical development of humans and their social
and cultural life.
Anthropology seeks to understand how people live, their customs,
traditions, languages, and how human societies have changed and evolved over
time.
7. What is the Scientific Method?
The Scientific Method is a systematic process used to study and
understand phenomena. It involves making observations, forming a hypothesis,
testing it through experiments or research, and then analyzing the results to
reach a conclusion.
This method helps ensure that knowledge is based on evidence, logic,
and verification, rather than opinion or assumption.
8. What is the Experimental Method?
The Experimental Method is a way of conducting research by testing a
hypothesis through controlled conditions. In this method, one variable is
changed to observe how it affects another, while keeping the rest constant.
Its main purpose is to discover cause-and-effect relationships and to
make sure that the results can be verified and repeated..
9. What is History?
History is the study of past events and how they have influenced human
societies. It examines the actions, ideas, and experiences of people over time to
understand how different cultures and civilizations have developed.
History helps explain how the present was shaped by the past and allows
us to learn from earlier events and decisions.
10. What is Economics?
Economics is the social science that studies how people use resources to
satisfy their needs and wants. It focuses on the production, distribution, and
consumption of goods and services.
Economics also explains how individuals, businesses, and governments
make decisions to manage money, work, and trade in order to achieve balance
and growth in society.
11. What is Political Science?
Political Science is the branch of social science that studies governments,
political systems, and how power is organized and exercised in society. It
examines how decisions are made, how authority is used, and how citizens
participate in political life.
Political Science helps us understand the functioning of institutions,
laws, and the relationship between the state and its people.
12. What is Psychology?
Psychology is the science that studies the mind and human behavior. It
focuses on how people think, feel, and act, as well as how they interact with
others and respond to different situations.
Psychology also seeks to understand mental processes such as learning,
memory, emotions, and motivation, helping to explain why people behave the
way they do.
13. What is the Functional Theory Approach?
The Functional Theory Approach explains that every part of society has a
function or role that contributes to maintaining stability and order. It views
society as a system made up of different parts—such as family, education, and
government—that work together to keep it balanced.
14. What is the Exchange Theory Approach?
Economics is the social science that studies how people use resources to
satisfy their needs and wants. It focuses on the production, distribution, and
consumption of goods and services
15. What is the Symbolic Interaction Theory Approach?
The Exchange Theory Approach is based on the idea that human
relationships are formed through the exchange of rewards and costs. People
interact with one another seeking benefits such as approval, affection, or
material gain, while trying to minimize effort or loss.
16. What is the difference between the Historical Method and the Case
Method?
The difference between the Historical Method and the Case Method lies
in their focus and purpose.
The Historical Method studies past events to understand how and why
they occurred and how they influenced later situations. It analyzes documents,
records, and evidence to explain historical processes and developments.
The Case Method, on the other hand, studies a specific situation or
example in detail to understand it deeply. It is often used to analyze particular
problems, behaviors, or events within their real-life context.
In short, the Historical Method looks at the past in general, while the
Case Method focuses on a specific case or situation.
17. What is the difference between the Comparative Method and the Cross-
cultural?
The difference between the Comparative Method and the Cross-cultural
Method is in what they compare and their purpose.
The Comparative Method compares two or more societies, groups, or
situations to find similarities and differences in their structures, behaviors, or
institutions. It helps identify patterns and understand how different social
systems work.
The Cross-cultural Method specifically compares different cultures to
study how cultural factors influence human behavior and social organization.
In conclusion, the Comparative Method looks at social similarities and
differences in general, while the Cross-cultural Method focuses more on cultural
aspects among various societies.
18. Method?
Method is an organized and systematic way of studying or investigating
something to reach reliable conclusions. It provides the steps or procedures that
guide scientific research and help ensure that results are clear, logical, and
verifiable.
19. What is Educated Common Sense? What does it mean?
Educated Common Sense refers to the ability to think logically and make
sound judgments based on both everyday experience and scientific knowledge.
It means using reason and understanding, rather than assumptions or opinions,
when interpreting facts or solving problems.
20. What is Statistic Analysis?
Statistical Analysis is a research method that involves collecting,
organizing, and interpreting numerical data to identify patterns, relationships, or
trends. It helps researchers make sense of large amounts of information and
draw conclusions based on measurable evidence.
21. What is Interdisciplinary Approach?
Based on the text, the interdisciplinary approach is essentially a team-
based way of solving complex problems.
The idea is that because modern problems are so complicated, no single
expert has all the knowledge needed to understand them fully. So, this approach
brings together a group of specialists from different fields to work together on
the same issue. Each person brings their unique expertise to get a more complete
picture of the problem and find better solutions.