Why social sciences are important

The distinction between social sciences and other fields of study concerning human beings is often made in the methods used. Social science uses, as the name suggests, a scientific method, whereas other disciplines such as the humanities take a more philosophical approach to the study of human beings. Anthropology studies the past and present of humans, our behavior, and societies. It looks at patterns of behavior, cultural meanings including different norms and values.

It also looks at how language affects social life and our biological development. The topic is vast, ranging from how chimpanzees behave within a group to our spending patterns.

Anthropologists share the belief that human behaviors offer an insight into more encompassing sets of beliefs and values. Whilst anthropology is mainly focussed on how the individual affects the whole. Sociology looks at how human beings behave as part of a larger group. It studies society, concentrating on patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and the culture that encompasses everyday life.

Sociologists may look at sub-cultures such as football hooligans or the street-punk movement in terms of the different social factors that might influence such groups to form. Where sociology looks at group behavior, social psychology focusses on the psychological impact of being a member of that group.

Social Psychology studies give us an insight into human behavior, specifically looking into how our society influences that behavior. The famous Stanford Prison Experiment saw college students take on the role of either prisoner or guard in an artificial prison for 14 days. However, the study was stopped after six days due to the guards becoming increasingly abusive and the prisoners showing extreme signs of stress and anxiety. It is studies like this that help us understand how environments can play a huge part in affecting how we behave.

Economics concerns itself with how human beings use their limited resources. It focusses on how goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed. Political science is concerned with government institutions and political behavior.

It deals with the analysis of political systems and the theoretical and practical applications of politics. It looks into how power is allocated and transferred, and the roles and systems within governments and international organizations.

Understanding political science is important because we all live within a political system. We are therefore, affected by changes in the global political economy.

Political scientists provide us with a lens through which we can understand the global political economy. The academic study and implementation of the social sciences can have a huge benefit on society as a whole, and on an individual level as well. The implications are vast, but let us take a look at just a few of the reasons why social science is as important as it is.

One of the key roles of social science is how it can affect decision making when it comes to moving forward as a society, and eventually as an entire species. We all want to live in a world that we consider safe, and where our human rights are respected along with our basic dignity.

This is where social scientists come in to play. Because social science focusses on the social advancement of humanity, they are responsible for working alongside governments, social services, the media, and UN organizations to influence the work of the big decision-makers. It is also important for the moral progress of society. It helps to form the man social character. Study of Social Science makes us an efficient citizen of a democracy, and it also helps us to solve the practical problems in our daily life.

It is essential for communities and organizations. It also helps the students to know how different societies are managed, structured and governed. As we know, social science includes many subjects each subject give us different knowledge like history provide the knowledge of the ancient period, from this subject we come to know that what happened in the past. Another subject is Geography from this subject we know about our natural environment or natural vegetations like plants, animals, etc.

We also learn about the evolution of animals, water bodies, flora, fauna, the impact of the environment in the present and future life, preservation and conservation importance in our life. Political Science is the subject from which we know about politics, democracy and the fundamental proficiencies poverty rate in the world, citizenships, moral and virtues, rights and duties etc.

Economics is the subject from which we learn how to manages the finances, about effective economic policies etc. They found the new law provided opportunities for some women to become wage earners where none had existed before, reducing the risk of hunger and the chances of avoiding hazardous work.

But they also identified barriers to women benefitting from the changes, including harassment at the worksite. For debates about feminism, peace, ecology, social movements, and much more, social science offers each of us new perspectives and new ways of understanding.

Whether your idea of relaxation is visiting a museum, watching soaps, or chatting online, social science encourages a fresh look at our everyday activities and culture.

Social scientists at the University of Leicester are making an impact on museums across the world, with the goal of making them more inclusive, abler to challenge prejudices, inspire learning and be more relevant in contemporary society.

One example is their work with the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow to involve local communities and international visitors alike in engaging with exhibitions on a range of social justice issues from sectarianism to gay rights, through programmes including arts workshops and residencies. Social science offers multiple perspectives on society, informs social policy and supports us in holding our politicians and our media to account.

The work brings together specialists in media and communications, sociology and politics. This work by social scientists is critical in protecting a modern and transparent democracy. Just think what might happen without it! If you have more reasons social science matters, please do let us know on Twitter using ' SocSciMatters because JavaScript is currently disabled, this site works much better if you enable JavaScript in your browser.

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We need social scientists as public intellectuals.