Disciplines of Social Science – Review Notes
Social Science
- Systematic study of human society & behavior
- Employs both qualitative & quantitative research methods
Major Disciplines
- Political Science, Psychology, History, Demography, Sociology, Economics, Geography, Linguistics, Anthropology
Political Science
- Studies state, government, political activity & behavior
- Core branches:
- Political Institutions
- Political Theory
- Political Dynamics (local & international relations)
- Public vs. Private Law
- Specialized laws: Succession, Torts, Property, Trust, Contracts, Family
Psychology
- Examines mind, behavior, mental processes
- Key areas: Cognitive, Educational, Industrial, General, Clinical, Sports, Health, Personality
History
- Records & explains past events ("Historia")
- Types: Political, Diplomatic, Cultural, Economic, Intellectual
Demography
- Statistical study of populations (fertility, mortality, migration)
Sociology
- Investigates social interaction, institutions & structure
- Focus topics: Social control, crime, deviance, divisions (age, class, gender, etc.), family, religion, media
Economics
- Analyzes resource allocation to satisfy needs & wants
- Scales: Macro (national, global) vs. Micro (individual, firm)
- Areas: Labor, International, Agricultural, Environmental, Industrial, Developmental
Geography
- Explores location & interactions of living/non-living elements on Earth
- Types:
- Physical (geomorphology, hydrology, glaciology)
- Human (people–place relationships)
- Environmental (human–biophysical interactions)
Linguistics
- Scientific study of language
- Core areas: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax
- Branches: Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Anthropological, Computational
Anthropology
- Study of humans & societies ("anthropos" + "logos")
- Fields: Archaeology, Cultural, Biological, Linguistic, Applied
Key Takeaways
- Social sciences aim to understand human behavior, structures & decision-making
- Findings inform policy, governance, and societal development