 Analyze the practical use of Social Sciences in addressing social

concerns phenomenon.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this self-learning module, the students are expected to:
 explain why we need social science;
 apply and intersect the approaches in addressing social problems; and
 generate an analysis of a social phenomenon using approaches from the Social
Sciences.

**********************

DISCUSSION

Let’s define the following approaches!

Interdisciplinary Approach Multidisciplinary Approach

It is a method that integrates It involves drawing appropriately from

disciplinary elements and perspectives multiple academic disciplines to redefine
to create a holistic view or common problems outside normal boundaries and
understanding of a complex issue or reach solutions based on a new
problem. understanding of complex situations.

The social sciences apply several disciplines to study social issues and provide
alternative solutions to solve social problems. Through social science researches, the various
disciplines of the social sciences produced a vibrant interaction of diverse scholarly
researches. These interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to understand and solve
social problems make the social sciences a relevant field of study.
 INTERDISCIPLINARITY AS AN APPROACH TO STUDY SOCIETY

A discipline refers to a specific branch of learning or body of knowledge that has a

different body of concepts, theories, frameworks, subject matter, perspectives, world views,
assumptions, and research methodologies. Each of these disciplines or branches of knowledge
are different from the other branches of learning.

Cluster of Traditional Disciplines & Its Scope

Cluster of Traditional
Scope
Disciplines
Natural Sciences Include the life sciences and physical sciences

Include sociology, economics, political science, geography,

Social Sciences
anthropology, history and psychology

Business, communication, criminal justice, education,

Applied Profession
engineering, law, social work, nursing and medicine

Include art and art history, literature, music, philosophy,

Humanities
and religious studies.

Interdisciplinary social science approach or interdisciplinary involves the application

of two or more fields of study or disciplines to address and address social problems and
issues. In this approach, a problem can be solved through the analysis, synthesis, and
coordination between and among the different disciplines to form a coherent research. This
new form of study provides a systematic way of providing answers to questions, solving
problems, and addressing very broad or complex topics through the application of the various
social science perspectives and integrating the data, information, techniques, methodology,
concepts, theories, and frameworks coming from two or more of its diverse disciplines
(Replok, 2008, p.11)

MULTIDISCIPLINARITY AS AN APPROACH TO STUDY SOCIETY

Understanding and mitigating the effects of disasters require a multidisciplinary

approach as well. The Multidisciplinary approach in the social sciences can provide as
holistic understanding of disasters. It can also help in the crafting of risk reduction
policies and disaster mitigating measures.

APPROACHES INVOLVED

Economic Approach
 Disasters always result to the loss of properties, crops, products and it also affects
the economy as a whole.
 An economic approach to the study of disasters is important because economists
can assess the impact of the disasters to the various sectors of the Philippine
economy whether in the macro-level or in the micro-level.
Historical Approach
 Disasters have been affecting the Philippines since the early times and so it is
important to employ the historical approach to understand how disasters affected
the country through time.
 Through the study of the history of disasters, social scientist can examine how the
different disasters happened before and through this, government officials would
have sufficient knowledge about the disaster’s effects and magnitude.
 Through this data, officials can implement policies that can reduce and
mitigate the impact of disasters.

Sociological Approach
 Disasters affect societies and by studying the sociology of disasters, social
scientists can understand how disasters affect social organizations, families and
other institutions affected by the disasters.
 Sociologists can also help in the crafting of risk reduction and mitigation
policies against disasters because of their knowledge of the social
organizations and social interactions.
Psychological Approach
 Psychologist play an important role in the post-disaster efforts because many
of the victims suffer from post-traumatic stress.
 As trained psychologists, they can provide emotional support to survivors and
disaster victims.They can also help build the resilience skills of victims.
 Psychologists can also provide inputs in the crafting of policies and programs
on risk reduction and post-disaster rehabilitation because they have direct
communication with disaster victims and survivors.
Anthropological Approach
 Disasters also have an anthropological dimension that many do not take into
consideration.
 Disaster victims have cultural traditions and indigenous knowledge that must
be taken into account when crafting risk reduction and disaster mitigating
policies
 Sometimes, the cultural beliefs of the victims can also help officials in
understanding the nature of disasters.
Geographical Approach
 The geographical approach to the study and mitigation of disasters is
important because most natural hazards are environmental in nature.
 It is important to use geography in understanding disasters because geographers
develop and produce maps, charts, and other geographical aids that help
government officials and even people to understand the impact of the disaster.

Political Approach
 Disaster also need political scientists to examine the different laws and
policies crafted to prevent and mitigate disasters.
 Political scientists can provide suggestions and alternative policies that can
help improve current programs and policies of the government against disasters.
 APPLICATION AND INTERSECTIONS OF THE APPROACHES
IN ADDRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS

 Social problems are defined as social conditions that different sectors of society
consider as damaging to its members and these require a definite solution.
 Social problems are multi-layered and affect not only one sector but the different
sectors of the society.
 Therefore, to fully understand and address the problem, a multidisciplinary
approach must be utilized.
 MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH-involves the application and collaboration of
several separate branches or disciplines of the social science to examine and solve
present day problems that plague society from each discipline’s perspectives.

In the Philippines, different fields of the social sciences play a very important
role to help understand and provide alternative solutions to the country’s present-
day social problems. The use of the different approaches introduced by the social
sciences is important to understand the social problems because all our current
social problems are connected with the other problems.

Examples Social Problems in the Philippines and the Multidisciplinary

Approaches to Address the Problem

Social Problem Multidisciplinary approaches to Address the problems

Economic, Historical, Sociological, Anthropological, and
Poverty
Political Approaches
Unemployment Economic, Historical, Sociological, and Political Approaches
Economic, Historical, Sociological, Psychological,
Disasters
Geographical, Anthropological and Political Approaches

To further understand how

IMPORTANT social science is, please
read the articles below!

Because Social Science Makes Sense of the Institutions

That Shape Our Lives

By Steven Rathgeb Smith, Ph.D., Executive Director, American Political Science Association

Throughout my career as a professor of public policy, public administration, and political

science, I have been convinced of the value of social science, especially political science. For
more than three decades my research has focused on the role
nonprofit organizations play in public policy. This research is grounded in expanding our
understanding of the relationship between government and nonprofits, including developing
effective strategies for collaboration and partnership in support of innovation and social
impact.

Just as significant, beyond building more accurate and functional general understandings of
the world and its institutions and social and political systems, social science helps individuals
better understand how to engage with these systems both for their own and society’s benefit.
In a democracy, this understanding is crucial.
We recognize the importance of the natural sciences in investigating the physical world,
including personal health, space travel, and improved transportation. However, the actual
prevention of disease or the adoption of a new and improved public transit system is a
political problem, requiring an understanding of political institutions, public management,
and policy implementation. Thus, social sciences help people understand how to interact with
the social world—how to influence policy, develop networks, increase government
accountability, and promote democracy. These challenges, for many people around the
world, are immediate, and their resolution can make a vast difference in people’s lives.

While many social science disciplines are important in helping people to understand and
engage with the wide variety of institutions that shape their lives, political science is
particularly valuable in helping people learn to be citizens. Through participating in
government at all levels, holding lawmakers accountable, and upholding democratic norms
and values, individuals must have the resources to understand how government works and
how laws and regulations are made; evaluate policies and outcomes based on effectiveness
and values; make informed decisions about policy preferences; and, especially, understand
the importance of participating in government, from voting to protesting. Political scientists
are essential in providing these resources, in classrooms and in the public sphere.

Why social science? Because it helps people understand and engage with the
key political and social institutions, thus benefiting individuals and society as
a whole.
************
Social Science Helps Solve Problems
(By Ronald Inglehart, Academic Supervisor of HSE Laboratory for Comparative Social Research and
the Founding President of the World Values Survey (WVS))

I think we’ve made noble and admirable progress in technology or ability to produce things,
to fight disease, to compute, to communicate. My own project, the World Values Survey
would be almost impossible without the internet and instant communication around the world
and modern computation techniques that enable us to analyze the gigantic data sets. I endorse
and appreciate what hard sciences and technology have done. However, in my opinion, we
are reaching a point where the biggest and the most pressing problems that need to be solved
are social and political problems. Social research can help solve them. Social science
provides empirical data about what the problems are and encourages people to propose
possible solutions, and you try them, and some of them work.
 WHAT DO SOCIAL SCIENTISTS DO?
(https://www.studyinternational.com/news/the-importance-of-the-social-sciences)

Social scientists are involved with solving many of the world’s biggest issues, such as violent crime,
alternative energy, and cyber security. They have had profound effects on every part of society.

Among the important roles that social science can play is in fighting the spread of infectious
diseases. A perfect example is the recent Ebola crisis in West Africa. In particular, it was necessary
to understand the people who were suffering from the disease as well as the wider society in which
they were living. For example, doctors needed to understand how people’s attitudes were shaped
towards such things as hand washing and other sanitary behaviors. It was also necessary to inquire
into larger societal questions such as why do states fail, and how can they be rebuilt and
strengthened. Additionally, the fight against Ebola needed specialists in administration, markets,
drug pricing, human resources, fund raising, and leadership.

Social scientists are also working with the National Institute of Health to provide a clearer picture of
patients’ experience with community hospitals. Sociologists are working with the Medical Research
Council on the possible causes of poor sleep patterns.

Other examples of the uses of social science abound. The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence
uses social scientists at think tanks and universities in order to better understand the world and be
better able to handle the defence and security challenges it faces every day. In another interesting
example, the UK’s Home Office has brought together engineers, criminologists, and auto
manufacturers in order to figure out how to build cars that are more difficult to steal. The insight that
criminologists can provide into the reasons why people steal, as well as their methods, is of particular
importance to this project.

Social scientists are also in great demand in the business world. For example, easy Jet sponsors the
Consumer Data Research Centre, which uses geo-demographic mapping to provide information to
the airline about its customers’ use of services, travel patterns, access to airports, and much more.
Companies around the world are often desperate to gain the type of deeper understanding of their
customers that social scientists are able to provide. Social scientists have the skills to see the world as
others do, as well as find data that others may have missed.

10 REASONS WHY YOU NEED SOCIAL SCIENCE

(https://www.academia.edu/718624/10_reasons_why_you_need_social_science)

1. Social scientists help us imagine alternative futures.

2. Social science can help us make sense of our finances.
3. Social scientists contribute to our health and well‐being.
4. Social science might save your life.
5. Social science can make your neighbourhood safer.
6. We need social scientists as public intellectuals.
7. Social science can improve our children’s lives and education.
8. Social science can change the world for the better.
9. Social science can broaden your horizons.
10. We need social science to guarantee our democracy.