Characteristics of Social Sciences

Introduction

Social science is a branch of science that evaluates aspects of human society. It helps to examine how people interact, behave, and change over time. Social science is a set of academic disciplines that includes subjects like economics, political science, history, sociology, anthropology, and psychology. 

The study and the characteristics of social sciences are imprecise. However, they help us understand things like human tendency, economic growth, unemployment, why people behave the way they do, what makes people happy, what people expect from the government, why they vote and so on. All this data is helpful for non-profit organisations, policymakers and other such organisations. 

History of social science

The history of social science traces its origin back to the ancient Greeks. Western civilisation was led and shaped by the Greek studies of human nature, state and mortality. In the eighteenth century in Europe, social science developed as an academic field as a result of the Enlightenment. 

In the nineteenth century, scholars and academics adopted the study of humanity in both past and current states. Middle Age intellectuals, like the Arab Ibn Khaldun, and notable Greeks such as Plato and Aristotle, were also engaged in social science. 

All the disciplines that examine social customs and culture, including anthropology to linguistics, history to economics, gained popularity in the mid-twentieth century.  

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Branches of social science

The branches of social science are also known as the social sciences.

• Anthropology: Anthropology is the study of all aspects of human life and the diversity of cultures.  
• Economics: Economics directly studies the need, consumption, distribution of goods and services. It also analyses the demand and supply cycle. 
• Geography: Geography is the study of characteristics and features of the surface of the Earth, including mountains, rivers, plateaus, deserts, and oceans.
• History: History is the study of the past. It analyses how it affects the presence of humans, including past events, inventions and discoveries. 
• Linguistics: Linguistics is the study of language and its meaning. It involves the study of the structure and origin of languages. 
• Political science: Political science is the study of governments and their policies, functions, administration, and how they affect human behaviour and society overall. 
• Psychology: Psychology is a vast subject that studies the human mind and involves diving deep into the conscious and subconscious mind.
• Sociology: Sociology is the study of social behaviour and society. It is the study of its origins, development, organisations as well.
• Law: Law is related to the judicial and legislative systems of the country. It involves the study of the law of the country, the constitution and the government. 

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Characteristics of social science

There are two main characteristics of social sciences as a field of study.  One is that it helps students develop a knowledge base and the right attitude for their behaviour in society and the real world. Certain subjects contribute to attaining this, such as history, geography, political science, sociology, psychology, and linguistics. 

The other characteristic of the study of social science is the demonstration of how knowledge changes and resolves humanity’s issues with highly integrated approaches. 

Social science also helps create perceptions of the future. This has an immense impact on the outcomes. It bridges the gap between people and society and provides an insight into the essence of a problem so that there are no barriers in communication. 

Sensitivity, flexibility, positivity, and value creation ability are the characteristics of social sciences that add value to an individual’s life. They enable society to form a better culture and world to live in. The ability to push forward and creatively build our minds in such a way to get a sense of responsibility is another characteristic of social science research. 

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Conclusion 

Social science is the subject area that studies interpersonal relationships and society as a whole. It also provides us with an understanding of basic human rights and duties. The subject and characteristics of social science research have expanded and made their place in health institutions, the military, social networks and people’s lives. 

Knowledge of social science increases critical thinking, improves questioning ability, and makes people more observant. Academically, social science is an important subject in a student’s life to make the right decisions.