Social Science Definitions

Definition of Terms - History & Social Science

History: The study of past events, particularly in human affairs.

Social Science: A discipline focused on a particular aspect of human society, such as economics or political science, that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society including the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of that society.

Specific Social Sciences:

Anthropology:  The science of human beings, especially the study of human beings and their ancestors through time and space in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture.

Archaeology:  The scientific study of material remains (such as fossil relics, artifacts, and monuments) of past human life and activities.

Religion: An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god, a group of gods, or the supernatural.

Philosophy: The study of the theoretical basis of a particular set of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc.

Sociology:  The science of society, social institutions, and social relationships; specifically:  the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings.

Economics: A social science which studies human behavior as a relationship between the use of scarce resources (such as labor and land) and the production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services.

Geography: The study of the earth, its features, and the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and the effects of human activity.

Physical Geography: The branch of geography that encompasses the study of the natural features and phenomena on the Earth.

Human Geography: The branch of geography that deals with the study of how human society is influenced by the Earth’s surface and environment and how, in turn, human activities impact the planet.

Political Science: A social science that deals with systems of government and the analysis of political activity and behavior.