What I Need to KNOW

This module contains one (1) lesson:

LESSON 3: SOCIAL SCIENCES

At the end of this module, the student is expected to:

 recognize the various Social Science Discipline;

 relate the disciplines of social sciences to the current issues in our society; and
 distinguish the features of social discipline that would help solve various social
problems and improve human conditions in the society.

General Instructions: Answer all the activities on this module. Use separate sheets of
paper for your answers.

Activity I WORD HUNT. Find and encircle the words hidden in the grid. The words may
be hidden in any direction.
A N T H R O P O L O G Y L I S
N I D E M O G T I O N I L O I
P I E N G T S A L B N I E D M
S O M E O G R L O G I S N I L
Y U O R O D U P U L E I E T Y
C S G A R D A I L B O H L A H
H U R O D T S U B E K T T O P
O T A N G T H O U R O L O H A
L O P E I D H O U S E L T O R
O D H C A S E D E M O N S I G
G O Y U A P E T L O U M I R O
Y R O M E L O G Y I S T R G E
I E O E I N G U I S T O A O G
S H L M E N T G H T L M E N T
T N E M N E T H G I L N E E I

Anthropology Geography Herodotus

Psychology Thomas Hobbes Linguistic
Emile Durkheim Demography Plato
Aristotle Enlightenment

SOCIAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES

DISCIPLINES OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

1. Anthropology – It is the study of humankind. The term is derived from the Greek
words anthropos meaning “human” and logo meaning “word” or “study of”.

 Anthropologists attempt to find answers on so many questions involving

humans. For example, they are very much interested in knowing the origins of
human kind as they try to answer where, when and why humans appeared on
Earth.

Page 1 of 9
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 2
 Three branches of Anthropology

 Physical or Biological Anthropology is the study of human biology within the milieu
of evolution.
 Cultural or Social Anthropology involves the study and comparative analysis of pre-
literate societies, including all aspects of human behaviour.
 Archaeology involves the study of earlier cultures and ways of life by way of retrieving
and examining the material remains of previous human societies.

Methods: Ethnography, Participant Observation, Interview, Focused group discussion, life

history method, ocular inspection.
 Ethnography as a mean to study and record the different ways of life of human
societies.

2. Economics is a discipline that concentrates on how a particular society solves its problem
of scarcity and resources. The term originated from the Greek words oikos meaning “house”
and nomos meaning “custom” or “law”. The term oikonomia literally translates as
“management of a household.” 

FIELDS OF ECONOMICS

 Macroeconomics analyses how economy functions as a whole or its basic

subdivisions, such as the government or business sectors. Looking the economy
broader lens.
 Microeconomics focuses on the behaviour of individual agents, like households,
industries, and firms. Like looking through the microscope, economists, evaluate
how prices of goods and services are usually pegged and what factors determine
the value of land, labor, and capital.

3. Geography is the study of the features of the earth and the location of living things
on the planet. This term is derived from the Greek word geographia, from geo meaning
“earth” and graphe meaning “to describe”. A literal translation would be “to describe the
earth”. 
Two Main Branches

 Physical geography includes the study of soil, landforms, water, vegetation,

minerals and climate. They also interested in the interplay of humans and the
natural environment.

 Human geography focuses on the human aspect of geography that is marked

by a strong commitment to the concept of culture. This particular branch of
geographic study is interested in determining humankind’s role in changing the
environment as well as the different processes that help shape human society,
including migration and settlement patterns.

4. History is a branch of knowledge that attempts to ascertain, record, and explain facts
and events that happened in the past. It originated from the Greek word historia
meaning “inquiry.” It is one of the oldest social sciences tracing its origin in the myths
and traditions of early people that have passed form generations.

 Historians have applied similar techniques employed in the natural sciences,

like data gathering and validation of hypothesis, while narrating stories in
accurate and clear manner.
 Historiography - the writing of history based on the critical examination of
sources, authentic materials and the synthesis of particulars into a narrative that
will stand the test of critical method

Page 2 of 9
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 2
5. Linguistics is a field of knowledge involving the scientific study of language as a
universal and recognizable aspect of human behaviour and capacity.
Linguists study changes that have taken place on various languages over time as well
as their modern variations.

 Philology—the study of human speech especially as the vehicle of literature and

as a field of study that sheds light on the cultural history.
As a broad field of study of language, it can be divided in three parts:
 Morphology study of language form
 Syntax study on how these words are formed into phrases
 Phonology study of sounds

Branches and Areas of Interest

 General Linguistics - concepts and categories of language or theory of

language
 Micro Linguistics - structure of language system
1. Phonetics 2. Syntax
3. Phonology 5. Semantics
4. Morphology
 Macro Linguistics - external view of language
1. Stylistics 5. Psycholinguistics
2. Developmental Linguistics 6. Sociolinguistics
3. Historical Linguistics 7. Clinical Linguistics
4. Language Geography

6. Political Science includes the study governments, and the need for the institution, its
form and its processes. Key concepts within the discipline consist of the state, politics,
power, and ideology, as well as the effects of these notions on individuals and groups.

Branches of Political Science 

Comparative Politics International
Relations
Policy studies and analysis

POLITICAL Political
SCIENCE Ideology
Political Theory
 
Political
  Philosophy
Political Economy

7. Psychology deals with the nature of human behaviours, and both internal and
external factors that affect these behaviours. From the Latin psychologia combining
psych meaning “spirit” or “soul” and logia for “study” or study of the soul.”
 Psychologists devote their time in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health
concerns.

8. Sociology is a field of study dealing with the systematic study of patterns of human
interaction. The term is derived from the Latin word socius meaning “companion” and
from the Greek word logos meaning “word” or “ study of.” Sociology concentrates on the
social influences and processes occurring within groups of people rather than those
forces affecting an individual.
 Sociologists attempt to unravel patterns in group behaviour and not on specific

Page 3 of 9
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 2
 expressions of individual being.
Branches of Sociology

 General Sociology - deals with the properties and homogeneity common to all
social and cultural phenomena, including those characteristics found among
groups and institutions.
 Special Sociology - focuses on specific sociocultural phenomena usually
selected for further study, including socialization, interaction, conflict, and
domination.
 
9. Demography is the science and statistical study of human populations. The term
came from the French word demographi derived form Greek demos meaning “people”
and French graphie. By investigating the three demographic processes of (1) birth, (2)
migration and (3) aging (including death).
 Demographers attempt to comprehend the mechanisms behind human
population. 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SOCIAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINE

Social Science traces its root from the Age of Enlightenment (17th – 19th
century). The Age of Enlightenment, also known as the “Age of Reason”, is a period in
Western history when philosophers especially in Britain and France, tried to use reason
to understand and improve society, government and humanity (Perry, 1989, p 407).
This period stimulated interest in studying human society and behavior in a scientific
way. The need to examine society, politics, history and economic life paved the way for
the birth of social sciences.

The term “Social Science” only appeared until the 19 th to mid-20th century (New
World Encyclopedia, 2020). It initially appeared in 1842 in the book, An Inquiry into the
Principles of the Distribution of Wealth Most Conducive to Human Happiness by William
Thompson (1775-1833). The term “Social Science” has come to refer generally to all
disciplines that analyze society and culture; from anthropology to political science to
linguistics.

EMERGENCE OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES

1. ANTHROPOLOGY (study of humanity)

 The emergence of anthropology as a discipline can be traced on the Ancient
Greece during the time of Herodotus. When Herodotus recorded important
events in the Greek- Persian Wars, he took to account the cultural background of
Greece ad Persia.

 The study of anthropology was advanced by Franz Boas (1858-1942), Known as

the “Father of Modern Anthropology”. Boas introduced the concept of cultural
relativism which is a point of view that sees all cultures to be equal with each
other. He is also one of the pioneers who fought discrimination against
immigrants, blacks and indigenous peoples of America. Boas believed that
through anthropology, people would have a wider understanding of human
interaction by studying culture.

2. DEMOGRAPHY (study of human populations)

 The study of human population has its roots as early as the ancient period.
 Kautilaya a contemporary of Plato, believed that a large population is a source
of military, political and economics strength of a nation.
 Ibn Khaldin he believed that a large population is important for expansion of
imperial.
 Thomas Robert Malthus an economist and writer of An Essay on the Principle
Page 4 of 9
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 2
 of population (1798) declared that population increases at a faster rate than the
food supply.
 John Graunt is regarded as the founder of Demography. His book Natural and
Political Observations Made Upon the Bills of Mortality.

3. ECONOMICS (study of efficient allocation of scarce resources)

 The period of Enlightenment has inspired the birth of Economics.

 Adam Smith regarded as the Father of Economics is credited for creating the
field of Economics. His book entitled An Inquiry to the Nature and Causes of
the Wealth of Nations. Smith advocated the doctrine of laissez faire (let-alone
policy) which means that government should not interfere with business.
 Industrial Revolution a period in history characterized by rapid industrialization
and urbanization brought about by the advances in technology, saw the
development of new economics theories.
 David Ricardo applied the principles of laissez faire to wages to maximize profit
while Karl Marx advocated socialism to protect the rights of the laborers from the
abuses of the capitalism.

4. GEOGRAPHY (study of the interaction between the natural environment and the
people living in it)
 Hellenistic Age a period when Greek cultural influence and power reached the
peak of its geographical expansion that the science of geography emerged.
 Erathosthenes chief librarian of the Alexandria Library pioneered the study of
geography. He is the first person to use the term “geography”. He is regarded as
the “Father of Geography”. He is also best known for being the first person to
calculate the circumference of the earth. He also wrote the three-book volume
Georaphikal.

5. HISTORY (study of important recorded events)

 Herodotus is considered as the “Father of History”. He credited as the first
historian to employ historical methods in writhing history. His vivid account of the
Greek-Persian Wars set a new standard then for reporting.
 Thucydides improved the writing techniques of Herodotus and emphasized on
factual reporting when he recorded the events during the Peloponnesian War. He
applied strict standards of impartially and evidence gathering to establish facts.

6. LINGUISTICS (the scientific study of language)

 The science of linguistics has been pioneered by the Sophists during ancient
Greece. Sophists are teachers who traveled from city to city teaching speech,
grammar, poetry, gymnastics, mathematics and music to the Athenian youth. It is
believed then that when a person masters the art of public speaking, they have a
higher chance to succeed in politics.
 Greek philosopher Aristotle laid the foundation of western linguistics and
became a dominant model of formal linguistics in recent decades.
 Noam Chomsky regarded as the Father of Linguistics has published books in
linguistics and became a dominant model of formal linguistics in recent decades.

7. POLITICAL SCIENCE (study of politics, power and government)

 It refers to the analysis of politics started as early as the times of Confucius in
ancient China and Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle in ancient Greece.
 Plato was the first thinker to analyze political system. He expressed his political
ideas in his book, the Republic, which is a description of an ideal state. While
Aristotle is regarded as the Father of Political Science, Plato is considered a
pioneer in the field of political inquiry.
 Thomas Hobbes wrote the book Leviathan. He believed that a strong ruler is
needed to impose order in the state.

Page 5 of 9
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 2
  John Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government. He believes that the purpose
of the government is to protect the “natural rights” of its citizens.

8. PSYCHOLOGY (study of behavior and mental processes)

 The development of psychology could be dated back as early as the ancient
Greece when Aristotle claimed that the brain is the seat of the rational human
mind.
 The science of psychology was founded by Wilhelm Wundt, a German
psychologist and considered as the Father of Modern Psychology. He was also
the first person to ever call himself a “psychologist.”
 Ivan Pavlov, a Russian experimental scientist, studied the behavior and nervous
system of animals. He found that an animal’s involuntary actions- its reflexes
could be changed, or conditioned through training.
 Sigmund Freud. He is an Austrian neurologist who pursued to understand the
workings of an unconscious mind, which he deemed to be the source of human
actions.

9. SOCIOLOGY (study of social interactions)

 The science of sociology was born as a result of social changes brought about by
the impact of Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution created massive
changes not only in the field of technology and manufacturing processes, but
also in the work and living pattern of the people.
 The term sociology was invented by a French philosopher, Auguste Comte. He
emphasized that the study of society must be scientific. Comte favoured
positivism which is a way of understanding that is based on science.
 Aside from Comte, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber were also considered as
pioneer thinkers in sociology in the early 1900’s.

Activity II PICTURES OF REALITY.

1. Examine the pictures below and identify the social issues reflected on each picture.
2. Identify the Social Science disciplines that is/are appropriate to each social issue.
3. Provide a short explanation of your answer.

APPROPRIATE SOCIAL
PICTURE SOCIAL ISSUES SCIENCE DISCIPLINES AND
EXPLANATION

https://philippineslifestyle.com/senators-to-file-resolutions-for-teenage-
pregnancy-in-philippines/

https://www.wonderwall.sg/health/mental-lockdown-5-signs-of-

Page 6 of 9
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 2
depression/

https://mb.com.ph/2020/06/12/grand-mananita-freedom-day-protest-
at-up/

https://www.canstockphoto.com/dirty-environment-
1895626.html

https://angtugatog.home.blog/2018/11/07/bagyong-nagdaan-
baha-ang-kasunudan/
The highest possible score for the five items is 50 points. Each written answer for
every item will be graded based on the criteria below:
Appropriateness - 4 points
Content - 3 points
Organization - 2 points
Conventions - 1 points
TOTAL 10 POINTS

Activity III
A. Read and answer the following.

 Give the nine (9) disciplines of Social Science.

 What is the importance of studying Psychology?
 Why are demographics important to the government?

B. Answer the following questions as comprehensive as possible.

1. Choose any Government position you wish to hold someday. As a Government

official, what would be your priority project?

2. How does your environment affect your way of living?

3. How do find your budget for today? Have you already planned on how to manage it

Page 7 of 9
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 2
wisely?
Activity IV MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the letter that corresponds to the correct
answer.

1. He was the first thinker to analyze the political system.

a. Aristotle c. Herodotus
b. Plato d. Karl Marx

2. The study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease,
which illustrate the changing structure of human population.
a. Sociology c. Demography
b. Geography d. Economics

3. He applied strict standards of impartiality and evidence.

a. Thucydides c. Noam Chomsky
b. Thomas Hobbes d. Ivan Pavlov

4. The rise of strong leaders in the global politics such as Pres. Xi JinPing of China,
Pres. Vladimir Putin Of Russia and Pres. Rodrigo Duterte who are known for their brand
of decisive and strong leadership is reflective to the political views of _____________?
a. Thomas Hobbes c. John Locke
b. Wilhelm Wundt d. Jean Jacques Rousseau

5. It refers to the study of the features of the earth and the location of living things on the
planet.
a. Economics c. Political Science
b. Psychology d. Geography

6. It is considered as the main relationship between linguistics and anthropology.

a. Culture affects language c. Culture tared by men
b. Fossils of early human being d. Emerge of community

7. The Pomeranian pet dog of Francis always wags his tail whenever he comes home.
This automatic response of the dog whenever his owner arrives at home is best
explained by which psychologist?
a. Sigmund Freud c. Wilhelm Wundt
b. Ivan Pavlov d. William James

8. It deals with the nature of human behaviors, and both internal and external factors
that affect these behaviors.
a. Geography c. Anthropology
b. History d. Psychology

9. He wrote Two Treatises of Government.

a. John Locke c. Plato
b. Auguste Comte d. Max Weber

10. He is the first person to use the term “geography”.

a. David Ricardo c. Erastosthenes
b. Karl Marx d.Aristotle

Page 8 of 9
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 2
Activity V SOCIAL TWEETS. Think of a current issue that is related to any of the nine
disciplines in the Social Sciences by composing a tweet followed by a hashtag (#).

For example, On Anthropology: “Respect each other regardless of race and color. Say
no to violence. Stop racial discrimination” #BlackLivesMatter

On Anthropology On Economics On History

On Political Science On Sociology On Demography

On Geography On Linguistics On Psychology

The highest possible score for the nine items is 45 points. Each written answer
for every item will be graded based on the following criteria:

Appropriateness - 2 points
Organization - 1 points
Style - 1 points
Convention - 1 points
TOTAL- 5 POINTS

Page 9 of 9
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences – Module 2