- "Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies."
This subfield encompassed the study of human behavior and the social structures and dynamics of society, including economics and psychology.
History of Social Thought: The intellectual roots of the social sciences, including the works of thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Enlightenment Philosophy: The ideas and values of the Enlightenment, including reason, humanism, individualism, and skepticism.
Social Contract Theory: The idea that society and government are based on an implicit agreement between individuals for mutual benefit and protection.
Industrialization: The economic and social changes that occurred during the Industrial Revolution, including urbanization, the rise of the middle class, and new forms of work and leisure.
Positivism: The belief that knowledge should be based on empirical observation and scientific methods, leading to the development of sociology as an academic discipline.
Colonialism and Imperialism: The historical processes by which European powers established and maintained control over other territories and peoples, shaping the modern world in profound ways.
Nationalism: The emergence of nationalism as a political and cultural force, as well as its effects on social identity, conflict, and resistance.
Social Stratification: The systems of social class, race, and gender that structure social relations and shape opportunities and outcomes for individuals and groups.
Enlightenment Political Theory: The development of democratic ideas and institutions, including the American and French Revolutions and other movements for political and social change.
Social Movements and Revolutions: The role of popular movements in challenging and transforming political and social systems, including the Civil Rights movement, feminist movements, and the Arab Spring.
Sociology: The study of society, including its structure, institutions, and interactions.
Political Science: The study of political systems, including government structures, political behavior, political theory, and international relations.
Anthropology: The study of human cultures, including their beliefs, traditions, and customs.
Psychology: The study of human behavior, including the workings of the mind, the development of personality, and the psychological basis of individual differences.
Economics: The study of how people allocate resources in a world of limited supply and unlimited demand.
History: The study of the past, including how societies have developed over time and how events and trends have shaped societies.
Geography: The study of the earth's physical features, including human geography, which looks at how the world's people live and work in different environments.
Law: The study of the rules and principles that govern human behavior, including how laws are created, interpreted, and enforced.
Education: The study of how people learn and how educational institutions are created and operate.
Communication: The study of how people communicate with each other, including verbal and nonverbal communication, interpersonal communication, and mass communication.
Linguistics: The study of language, including how it is structured, how it is used, and how it evolves over time.
Philosophy: The study of fundamental questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, ethics, and the meaning of life.
- "In addition to sociology, it now encompasses a wide array of academic disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, economics, human geography, linguistics, management science, communication science, and political science."
- "The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original 'science of society', established in the 19th century."
- "Positivist social scientists use methods resembling those of the natural sciences as tools for understanding society."
- "Interpretivist social scientists [...] may use social critique or symbolic interpretation rather than constructing empirically falsifiable theories."
- "In modern academic practice, researchers are often eclectic, using multiple methodologies."
- "The term social research has also acquired a degree of autonomy as practitioners from various disciplines share the same goals and methods."
- "The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original 'science of society'."
- "Established in the 19th century."
- "Devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies."
- "Positivist social scientists [...] define science in its stricter modern sense."
- "Interpretivist social scientists [...] treat science in its broader sense."
- "Including anthropology, archaeology, economics, human geography, linguistics, management science, communication science, and political science."
- "Combining both quantitative and qualitative research."
- "Practitioners from various disciplines share the same goals and methods."
- "Interpretivist social scientists [...] may use social critique or symbolic interpretation."
- "Positivist social scientists use methods resembling those of the natural sciences."
- "Treat science in its broader sense."
- "Anthropology, archaeology, economics, human geography, linguistics, management science, communication science, and political science."
- "Practitioners from various disciplines share the same goals and methods."