Social Science Homework
The Impact of Social Science on Society
The essay explains how social science is looked upon as a science. People see the words “social science” and automatically think that it cannot be as “scientific” as a natural science, such as biology or chemistry. That is perhaps a misunderstanding. It all comes down to what is meant by “science”, in the context of the particular field of enquiry. The essay shows that social science can serve to explain why certain human behavior occurs, and how this behavior can be modified. It also explains that research into human behavior has two main concepts – those of “individual” behavior and “group” behavior. Social scientists study human behavior from a variety of perspectives – in particular those of the well-established academic disciplines of psychology, sociology, and political science. The essay mentions again that social science is still treated with derision, and as being somehow not proper science. The essay shows that nearly every modern social problem – poverty, unemployment, crime, and many more – is a complex and dynamic “whole society” problem. Social conditions are not constant over time, and really cannot be viewed that way. Also, the essay points out the fact that – unfortunately, at present at least – for “obvious” reasons experiments that seek to modify undesirable social behavior are understandably not permitted on human beings. This puts a certain limitation on what can be done in terms of social research. It appears and is evident in what many governments do, as well as in the real lives of many individuals and subgroups within the community, social science does make a difference. The essay finally concludes that the success and the practical applications of social science can be most clearly seen within the fields of health and medicine. This is not really very surprising, given the significance of the problems that medicine is trying to deal with. And since there has been a huge increase in the contribution that social science has made in the area of medicine, surely this is a sign that social science does have some significant and valuable insights to offer.
Research investigations may involve numerous and varying activities, such as clinical trials or the evaluation of community interventions. Both individuals and institutions and ethics committees may oversee and regulate such research, and organisations may have developed their own guidance. For social science research – and specifically research that involves human beings (“participants”) and their lives, behaviours, value systems, communities and societies – a different set of ethical principles, approaches, and standards is required. These are formally set out in codes of practice and conduct – such as the British Sociological Association’s Statement of Ethical Practice, which is considered a standard framework – and also in legal regulations. The starting point is a well-founded design for the research which, from the outset, is tailored methodologically and ethically to the goals the project and responsive to the different contexts in which the research will be carried out and the forms of data that will be generated. Social science methods are also the basis – or a part of the basis – for much professional practice in social well-being and health, and for applied policy and programming work. The need for clarity in formalised research strategies based on ethically generated knowledge is considered as particularly important, to distinguish this from informal and ‘ad hoc’ learning by professionals and managers or through constant and unstructured users’ views.
Social science has been a very crucial influence on policy making, as social scientists play a very big role in providing evidence about key societal and behavioral issues, and about the possible impact of policies on these. In the United Kingdom, for example, a lot of money has been invested in public service and policy research, and there was a campaign in 2011 to preserve the independence of social science research from the influence of government. Obama’s presidency provides a good example of using social science evidence in policy making. Before the Health Care Reform was implemented, a lot of public consultations were carried out to identify the key areas to be improved in the current health care system. Social scientists played a very crucial role in this process because quantitative and qualitative evidence was needed to paint a clear picture of public health. As a matter of fact, the existing social science funding has mainly focused on the so-called “Economic and Social Research,” which focuses on individual behaviors and experiences, societal trends, and the global, national, and local economy. In comparison, there is much less research funding for helping many social scientists concentrate on policy research and influence focal policies in each specific area. This is also a common criticism of the current way social science influences policy making, as many funders and institutions would not like to take up the risk of funding long-term research with uncertain outcomes. They would prefer to support short-term and more specific projects, which typically have better predictability in timetable and findings. On the other hand, there is also criticism of the trust a government tends to show in social science, especially in research about health, public opinions, and behaviors, etc., due to the potential impact of policy if the findings are misinterpreted or misused.
Social science is the key to unlocking the mysteries of human behavior. Indeed, it holds the power to truly make sense of society, deciphering why people may act in a certain way or what the different influences on society could be. But can it provide solutions for societal problems as well? Well, the social sciences in general often tend to focus on the types of society and the cultural background. Indeed, the study of societal issues in this way is very much a scientific process. It tends to recognize and, in some cases, highlight various different factors which influence each and every society or indeed community. However, poor research can often lead to an imbalanced problem to be published in the first place. For example, some research may be aimed at proving a pre-conceived notion on a certain problem, and also poor research in terms of methodology – that is errors in how the data has been recorded or interpreted can lead to unfortunate falsities, such as ignoring or otherwise selecting certain parts of statistics to back up edition. Yet, there is a clear line in the relationship between the social sciences and societal issues. In order to begin to start finding realistic solutions for them editions, researchers and scholars in this area need to be prepared to be truly objective and open-minded in their research. Also, closer attention needs to be given to the actual findings starting to be published as it is from these which both policy makers and the general public will take their views on certain issues. It is possible that social science could provide a power to sort out societal problems out if such a careful and refined approach were to be followed. By employing the scientific method, there is no end to what the study of society can aid us in discoveries. Moreover, once any piece of validated knowledge is discovered and put on a pedestal for everyone to see, we can set about refining it once more and using it as a tool for amendment and positive change. So, from the information discussed, not only could social science be seen to pave the way for solutions to societal issues, but it also, in a sense, has the power to be able to consistently stay one step ahead of evolving editions.
All in all, the future of social science looks bright; there is still much to learn and with new ways of collecting data and the development of new theories arising every year, it will remain a constantly evolving and fascinating part of our academic discipline.
Social science continues to contribute to our understanding of the world and is therefore of considerable importance in solving society’s problems. It is more likely that contemporary social science will continue expanding its present levels and branch out into a wider platform to learn about the world and to provide guides to government agencies, private sectors, and people in terms of tackling everyday problems. By using techniques and knowledge derived from different aspects of the disciplines, and by working together with experts from science and math, such as computer science and spatial science, social scientists will no doubt develop better, more efficient solutions to understanding society and make richer contributions to the scholarly realm.
For example, in the European Union all the member states have employed a national research and innovation roadmap in order to realize the potential of every academic discipline. Social science plays a crucial role in forming several key points of the plan, such as the development and innovation of society and of social groups, and the aim to form and promote effective, fair, and inclusive democratic societies in Europe. Such recognition and attempts to further advance social science research clearly show the realization of the importance and the bright future of social science in policymaking and problem-solving to address complicated issues at national and international levels.
As we move further into the 21st century, the future for social science looks bright. It is becoming more and more necessary in a world full of quick technological advances, complex societal issues, and rapid global change. Modern social scientists are in a unique position: not only can they continue to research and develop our understanding of how our societies work, they are also highly sought after by governments and private organizations because of the systematic, critical approach to problem-solving and the knowledge of society that social science provides.
Social science refers to the scientific study of human society and social relationships. It is a relatively young discipline, originating in the early 19th century, and since then has been growing and contributing to our knowledge about the world at a rapid pace. Social science started as a way to make sense of the dramatic societal changes taking place during the Industrial Revolution. But nowadays, thanks to the development of research methods, accumulated knowledge, and the increasing importance of understanding how society works, its role has been exponentially expanded.
