DISS REVIEWER

social sciences

disciplines that study human behavior, relationships, culture, and society. They help us understand how people interact, form groups, create institutions, and solve social problems.

Hard Sciences

study the physical and natural world. Productive, measurable and repeatable results.

Soft Sciences (Social Sciences)

study human behaviour, society, and culture. They focus on human experiences which are subjective and co-dependent

Caring

understanding people’s needs, experiences and social conditions

curing

addresing and responding to social problems

changing

using knowledge to improve society and create positive change

karl marx

an important social thinker who analyzed social inequality and class relations.

historical materialism

history is shaped by material conditions, especially how people produce goods and earn a living. Changes in economic systems (such as from feudalism to capitalism) lead to changes in social structures, politics, and culture.

Bourgeoisie

• the owners of businesses, factories, and capital
  
  

Proletaria

the working class who sell their labor to survive

Class Struggle

conflict between social classes is the driving force of social change. The struggle between the bourgeoisie and proletariat leads to social tension

alienation

workers feel:

• Disconnected from their work
  
  

• Powerless in the production process
  
  

Separated from their true human potential

disciplines

necessary to answer questions, solve problems,and address topics that are considered to be too broad or complex.

Intradisciplinary

• Uses one/single discipline only
  Example: Studying poverty using only Sociology
  
  

Interdisciplinary

Combines two or more disciplines
Example: Studying poverty using Sociology and Economics

Multidisciplinary

Different disciplines study the same topic separately
Example: Economists, sociologists, and psychologists studying poverty independently

Cross-disciplinary

• One discipline is viewed from another discipline’s perspective
  Example: Using Psychology to analyze political behavior
  
  

Transdisciplinary

Integrates disciplines to solve real-world problems (combining to become one) 

anthropologist

Studies human culture, traditions, and societies

geographer

• Studies places, environments, and human-environment interaction
  
  

Economist

Studies production, distribution, and use of resources

Psychologist

• Studies human behavior and mental processes
  
  

Sociologist

• Studies society, social relationships, and institutions
  
  

Political Scientist

•  Studies government, politics, and power
  
  

Historian

• Studies past events to understand the present
  
  

Demographer

• Studies population size, growth, and distribution
  
  

Linguist

•  Studies language and communication
  
  

Others

• Social workers, urban planners, policy analysts