Social Science: Nature and Scope - Comprehensive Notes

SOCIAL SCIENCE: NATURE AND SCOPE

INTRODUCTION

• Humans are social animals, interdependent with society.
• Understanding society requires being a member of it.
• Society provides institutions (family, religion, education) for human development.
• Social science integrates history, civics, geography, and deals with human relationships.
• It studies society, for society, and through society.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

• Origin in the 20th century, first used in the USA in 1916.
• Developed as a discipline in Europe from 1916-1955.
• In India, its origin is found in Zakir Hussain's Committee (Basic Education, 1937) initiated by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Failed to develop during British rule.
• The Secondary Education Commission recommended social science at the school level after Independence.
• Kothari Commission (1964-66) made it a compulsory subject in schools.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES

MEANING AND DEFINITIONS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

• Social science studies humans in relation to society from a practical viewpoint.
• It aims to train humans according to changing societal patterns, needs, and problems.
• Definitions:
  • J. Hammings: Study of relations and inter-relations (historical, geographical, and social).
  • Preston: Portions of history, geography, civics selected for teaching.
  • John V. Michallis: Concerned with man and his social and physical environment, human relationships.
  • Secondary Education Commission (USA): Subject matter relates to the organization and development of human society and man as a social group.
  • Encyclopedia of Educational Research: Combination of history, geography, and civics, focusing on relations with present and daily life.
  • National Educational Association's Commission: Studies related to the organization and development of human society and man as a member of a social group.
  • Jarotimek: Study of human relationships.
  • Wesley and Wronski: Materials with content and aim predominantly social; social sciences simplified for pedagogical purposes.
  • MP Moffat: Area which aids youth through sound knowledge, information, values, habits, attitudes, and skills for effective citizenship.
  • J.F Forreter: Study of society with the aim to help pupils understand the world, promoting critical thinking, readiness for change, appreciation of other cultures, and interdependence.
  • Secondary Education Commission (1952-53): Covers History, Civics, Geography, Economics.
• Social science studies people in relation to each other and their world.
• It’s an inter-disciplinary subject drawing from History, Geography, Economics, Law, and Political Science.
• It focuses on relationships with social, physical, spiritual, cultural, economic, political, and technological environments.
• It is a realistic course that studies man in relation to social and geographical environments, in both time and space.

NATURE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

1. Concerned with Society:
   • Study of society, for society, and through society.
   • Helps students understand complex social structures and adjust within society.
2. Compound Rather than a Mixture:
   • Draws from History, Geography, Economics, Civics, but is a separate discipline.
3. Prepares for Practical Life:
   • Familiarizes students with social patterns, problems, and practical situations.
   • Develops social sensitiveness, making students socially efficient citizens.
4. Concerned with Human Welfare:
   • Draws subject matter from other subjects.
   • Acquaints students with agencies of society and their contributions to human welfare.
5. Develops Personality:
   • Intellectual development, creative thinking, social sensitiveness, and truthfulness.
6. Studies Relations and Inter-relations:
   • Describes and analyses relationships between groups, classes, institutions, organizations, and men with their environment.
7. Dynamic Subject:
   • Society and human beings are not static, so the subject is dynamic.
8. Emphasis on Relations:
   • Focus on the study of relationships rather than individuals.
9. Utilitarian Approach:
   • Concerned with the needs of society, nations, family, state, etc.
10. Prepares for Wholesome Social Living:
    • Students learn about the social environment and their role within it.

SCOPE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

• Draws material from social sciences related to human relations, institutions, and behaviors, making its scope vast.

1. Study of Human Society:
   • Humans are social beings, interrelated with society.
   • Includes history to study past human relations and sociology to study present human interactions.
2. Study of Human Relations:
   • Concerned with man and his interaction with his social and physical environment.
3. Study of Inter-Relation of Man with his Physical Environment:
   • How the physical environment influenced human life in the past and the development of different countries.
4. Study of Culture:
   • Tool for preserving and transferring cultural heritage to future generations.
   • Studies the variety of cultures prevalent worldwide.
5. Relation of Man with Institutions:
   • Includes family patterns, caste systems, religious and political structures.
   • Studies the structure of panchayats, municipalities, state and union governments, high courts, and supreme courts via civics.
6. Study of Inter-Relation Between Man and Economy:
   • Provides information about the economy, its influence on the standard of living, etc.
7. Study of History:
   • History provides life lessons and helps understand our heritage.
8. Study of Current Affairs:
   • Develops interest in local, national, and international events.
   • Encourages logical, critical, and independent thinking.
   • Keeps students updated on world happenings.
9. Functional Study of Natural Sciences:
   • Addresses the age of revolution in knowledge, natural sciences, and technology.
10. Functional Study of Fine Arts:
    • Contributions of musicians, sculptors, painters, etc., are studied.
    • Helps in expressing emotions and fosters creativity.
11. Developing National and International Understanding:
    • Promotes understanding among students; emphasizes the need for peace.

NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

• Develops independent, broad, rational, national, international, and secular outlooks.
• Contributes to developing habits, attitudes, and qualities for democratic citizenship.

1. Psychological Reasons:
   • Society influences personality.
   • Prepares children for relationships with their environment, especially in nuclear families.
2. Educational Reasons:
   • Aims for balanced development: social, political, emotional, cultural, physical, intellectual, and professional.
   • Develops democratic citizenship.
3. Sociological Reasons:
   • Provides knowledge of past and present.
   • Develops honesty, truthfulness, fellow-feeling, mutual understanding, and leadership.
4. International Peace:
   • Teaches national integration and international understanding to curb terrorism.
   • Inculcates peace, love, and amicable relations among nations.
5. Global Village:
   • Revolution in communication has made the world a global village.
   • Familiarizes students with cultures and life in different countries.
   • Acquaints students with the interdependence of countries.
6. Good Citizenship:
   • Develops qualities of good citizenship.
7. Leadership Qualities:
   • Develops leadership qualities in students.
8. Acquisition of Knowledge:
   • Students acquire knowledge about civics, geography, history, economics, etc.
9. Understanding the Environment:
   • Provides knowledge about physical and social environments.
10. Problem-solving Abilities:
    • Develops problem-solving skills.
11. Feeling of Co-operation:
    • Develops a feeling of co-operation with fellow human beings.
12. National Integration:
    • Students learn about the diversity of the nation, promoting integration.
13. Understanding the Present:
    • Knowledge of past, geography, and government helps understand the present.
14. Knowledge about Laws of Nature:
    • Geography provides knowledge about natural laws and principles.
15. Development of Thinking Power and Rationality:
    • Apply reasoning power, enhancing thinking and rationality.
16. Moral Development:
    • Develops truthfulness, love, affection, and respect for others.
17. Preserve and Care of Culture:
    • Learn about unique cultural identity and preserve it.
18. Mental Satisfaction:
    • Satisfies the urge to know about various subjects.
19. Development of Democratic Values:
    • Develops values like liberty, equality, fraternity, co-existence, etc.
20. All-round Development of the Students:
    • Helpful in all-round personality development.

Conclusion

• Social science is essential in school education.
• It enables future citizens to adjust in a changing world and make society worth living.