Key Ideas and Concepts in Social Sciences

Key Ideas and Concepts in Social Sciences

Social Constructionism

  • A theory emphasizing that all knowledge is socially constructed, highlighting biases and subjectivity in categorizing the world.

Major Fields in Social Sciences

Sociology

  • The systematic study of social behavior and human society.

Anthropology

  • Study of humans, their origins, adaptations, and cultural diversity.

Psychology

  • The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Economics

  • Deals with the allocation of scarce resources and satisfying unlimited human wants.

Political Science

  • Study of government, political processes, systems, and political behavior.

Geography

  • Study of the Earth's surface, human societies, and their interactions with the environment.

Research Methodologies

Qualitative Methods

  • Collects subjective data, focusing on the experiences and perspectives of respondents (e.g., interviews).

Quantitative Methods

  • Collects measurable data for statistical analysis (e.g., surveys).

Multidisciplinary vs. Interdisciplinary Approaches

  • Multidisciplinary: Involves perspectives from multiple disciplines without integration.
  • Interdisciplinary: Integrates different disciplines to provide a holistic understanding of social phenomena.
  • Transdisciplinary: Blurs lines between disciplines for comprehensive solutions.

Theories and Approaches

Structural Functionalism

  • Views society as a complex system working together; examines the functions of social structures.

Marxism

  • Economic relations between classes determine social and political structures.

Feminism

  • Highlights gender as a basis for inequality and critically examines societal gender roles.

Phenomenology

  • Focuses on human experiences in social research; studies how individuals perceive and make sense of their experiences.

Post-Structuralism

  • Emphasizes discourse and meaning in shaping social realities.

Indigenization in Social Sciences

  • Frameworks like Pilipinolohiya (study of Filipino society) and Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino psychology) challenge Western biases and highlight indigenous perspectives in social science.

Applications in Real-World Issues

  • Addressing problems such as sustainability, poverty, and social development requires comprehensive social research due to complex societal structures.

Key Figures in Social Science

  1. Jose Rizal: Advocated for using Filipino perspectives in sociology and history.
  2. Zeus Salazar: Developed the concept of Pantayong Pananaw for Filipino historiography.
  3. Virgilio G. Enriquez: Established Sikolohiyang Pilipino, focusing on the psychological perspectives of Filipinos.