1. NATURE AND FUNCTION OF
SOCIAL SCIENCE
DISCIPLINES WITH THE
NATURAL SCIENCE AND
HUMANITIES
ELLEN M. FERNANDEZ

2. At the end of the module, you should be able to:
Define social science as the study of society
Distinguish social sciences from the natural sciences
and from the humanities.

3. Definition of Social Science
 is a science of society
 a science which studies the socio-cultural aspects of the human
affair.
 its interpersonal relationship with individuals (members) and its
functioning.
 social science is all about people living along in groups, families
and communities, i.e. how they live, how they interact, how they
behave, which language they use for communication, what
traditions they follow, what do they wear, what is their religious
affiliation, which ideology they promote,
 The term social science carries with it two important contexts:
1. It involves the scientific process
2. It inquiries about social space

4. WHAT IS SOCIAL SCIENCE?
 Social Science is engaged in the study of phenomena relating
to human group and their socio physical environment. The
term social science carries with it two important contexts:
1. It involves the scientific process
2. It inquiries about social space
 Social Science started as a field of inquiry on populations using
the scientific method.
 The social sciences are the fields of scholarship that study
society.
 Umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the
natural sciences, which include: Anthropology, Archaeology,
Business Administration, Communication, Criminology,
Economics, Education, Government, Linguistics,
International Relations, Political Science, Sociology and, in
some contexts, Geography, History, Law, and Psychology.

5. WHAT IS NATURAL SCIENCE?
 It is a major branch of Science that deals with the description,
prediction and understanding of natural phenomena, based on
observational and empirical evidence.
 Comprises many disciplines that deal with the study of processes
that occur in nature.
TWO MAIN BRANCHES OF NATURAL SCIENCE:
1. LIFE SCIENCE
• or Biological Science
2. PHYSICAL SCIENCE
• Physics
• Astronomy
• Chemistry
• Earth Science
Hard science – stress quantifiable data produced tested and
confirmed through the scientific method.

6. Difference Between Social Science and Natural Science
A. Natural Science deal with objects, whereas social sciences with
subjects that is with human beings.
 Natural science -Nature
 Social science- Human side of people like human behavior and
societies.
They differ in what they aim to investigate:
 Natural science goes into the details of the natural world, its
natural behavior and natural condition.
 Social science centers on society and its development.

7. Difference Between Social Science and Natural Science
B. Natural science is characterized by exactness, controlled
variables, and predictability. Social science is marked by the
opposite- it is spontaneous, unpredictable or uncontrollable as it
deals with human emotions and behavior.
 Natural science- Experimental data
 Social science- Revolve around the behavior of humans as
people, human societies their production and operations.
( Spontaneous, unpredictable and uncontrollable)

8. Difference Between Social Science and Natural Science
C. The basis of natural science is experimental data while social
sciences rely on experiential data
D. With respect to experimental data, the typical method of science
is doing repetitive and conventional laboratory experiments. In
contrast, social science involves alternative methods of
observation and interaction with people within a community.
E. Natural sciences work within a closed system while social
science work within an open system

9. Definition of Humanities
 Study the expressions of human beings as a means of exploring and
revealing what it means to be human.
 is a popular field of study, which is concerned with human society and
culture,
 use of qualitative methods which are mainly analytical, critical or
speculative.
 The subject matter of humanities is thoughts, creations, development and
actions of humankind in the past and present.
 Humanities explain an individual about his/her origin, genesis, neighbours,
forefathers and also about the self.
 Researches in humanities adds to the existing knowledge base about the
world.
 It shows the variance in culture and communities across the globe and
across time.

10. Key Differences Between Humanities and Social Science
Social Science is the systematic study of social, cultural,
psychological, political and economical factors which guides a
person actions and decisions. As against, Humanities implies the
field of research belonging to the human culture, primarily
literature, anthropology, history, arts, music and philosophy.

11. As the study of social science is based on reality, regardless
of the time in which the study is conducted, i.e. whether the
study is of ancient time or current situation. Therefore, social
science is objective in nature. Conversely, Humanities is
subjective in the sense that it relies on assumptions and
philosophies.
Key Differences Between Humanities and Social Science

12. While social science uses the scientific approach to solve the
issues, humanities use an analytical approach. And so the
emphasis of the humanities is more on the feelings and
emotions rather than the system used.
Key Differences Between Humanities and Social Science

13. Social Science is associated with basic elements of human
culture, which ascertains the general pattern of human behaviour.
On the contrary, Humanities focuses on the special elements of
the human culture, especially those that seek to express the
spiritual and aesthetic values and to determine the meaning of
life.
Key Differences Between Humanities and Social Science

14. In social science, the concept of truth is independent of the
context, whereas, in humanities, the concept of truth is dependent
on the context.
Key Differences Between Humanities and Social Science

15. While social science focuses on the study of patterned behaviour,
humanities lay emphasis on an in-depth understanding of the
specific cases or events.
Key Differences Between Humanities and Social Science

16. The study of tradition, culture, and heritage forms part of social
science. However, humanities attempt to find out the factual
differences between humanity and pure science.
Key Differences Between Humanities and Social Science

17. Application:
Using the Venn Diagram below, write down the differences between Natural and
Social Sciences. On the space where both circles meet, place the similarities
between the two concepts. Copy and answer this activity in your paper.