Disciplines and Ideas in the

Social Science (DISS)

vox.com

Module
Week 1 - 2
1

Alorma L. Macatangay, MAEd, LPT, RGC, RPM

Subject Teacher
 Reminders

▪ Set aside other tasks that will disturb you while enjoying the lessons.

▪ Read all the contents of the lesson, and follow carefully the instructions
indicated in every activity of this module.

▪ Accomplish all the activities provided in the module.

▪ Enjoy studying!

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

a. Course Description
The course introduces students to basic concepts, subjects, and methods of inquiry
in the disciplines that comprise the Social Sciences. It then discusses influential thinkers
and ideas in these disciplines, and relates these ideas to the Philippine setting and current
global trends.

b. Content Standard
The learners demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and approaches in the
Social Sciences and the different disciplines, as well as the role of Social Science in the
real world.

c. Performance Standard
The learners shall be able to connect the disciplines with their historical and social
foundations, interpret personal and social experiences using relevant approaches in the
social sciences, evaluate the strengths and weakness of the different approaches, carry
out an exploration of personal and social experiences using indigenous concepts, illustrate
situations and context in which social science can be applied.

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 MELC 1: Differentiate the nature and functions of Social Science disciplines
from the Natural Sciences and Humanities (HUMSS_DIS11-IIIa-1-3)

Lesson
INTRODUCTION TO THE
1 SOCIAL SCIENCES

introduction
Welcome to the course in the Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences (DISS)!

This subject might be new to you, but with diligence and eagerness, you’ll find

yourself learning about you and the society you live in. What could be more interesting and

exciting than the adventure of exploring about human behaviors and its influence to the

society. We are all products of the community that raise us up. Without discrediting the role

of our biological makeup, the way we think, feel, and act is mostly influenced by our

exposure to the environment and experiences with our family and other people around us.

The society has an essential part in shaping our personhood, which consequently affects

the society. To have a deeper understanding about the world, social science provides a

scientific view of the interplay between human behavior and society.

Upon completion of the lesson, you are expected to be able to:

a. Define Social Science, and describe its nature and function

b. Distinguish Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Humanities

c. Identify and characterize the disciplines within the Social Sciences, Natural

Sciences, and Humanities

d. Appreciate the study of Social Sciences and its essence

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 Activity 1.1 K-W-L Chart (Part 1)

Instructions: Deliberate over the ideas or things that you know about social
sciences, and record this information in the K column. Then generate a list of questions
about what you want to know about the topic and put in the W column of the chart.
Continue working on this during or after going through the learning material.

Know Want to Know Learned

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development
Read and study the following lecturette.

a. OVERVIEW OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

The treasure of knowledge available to us may be classified in several ways in
order to facilitate its study properly. In one of its way, it may be classified as Natural
Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities.1
Social sciences tell us how society works. It provides a deeper understanding
about the world beyond our immediate experience. It tells us that everything is
interconnected, that the labor of yesterday can be the fruits of today and that the
actions of today will have an impact in the future of humanity. Social science is the
study of society and the manner in which people behave and influence the world. It is
differentiated from the rest of the sciences as it gives depth to humanity. 2 This field of
study comprised of two substantial elements, which are the society (social) and the
empirical analysis (science). Its nature is scientific in the sense that it involves the
methods and techniques employed in the natural sciences such as observation, field
study, surveying and experimentation. However, natural science is concerned with the
phenomena and objects of nature and the physical world. This can be divided into two
main branches known as biological science (life science) and physical science.
Biological science is concerned with living organisms whereas physical science is
concerned with the physical world. These branches can be further divided into more
specialized fields. 3 The field of natural sciences investigates physical, chemical and
biological phenomena through scientific inquiry, and application of scientific models,
theories, laws, and principles to explain and predict events in the natural environment 4.
On the other hand, humanities deal with the heritage and the question of what makes
us human. It is regarded as a loosely defined group of cultural subject areas – art,
literature, music, and theater, areas in which human values and individual
expressiveness are celebrated (Dudley & Faricy, 1978). Basically, both humanities and
social sciences deal with human aspects, but the distinction lies with the approach or
method. Humanities involve a more critical and analytical approach whereas social

1 Mangal, S.K. & Mangal, Uma (2018) Pedagogy of Social Sciences, 2 nd Edition. Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited, p.1.
2 Bernardo, R. B. & Mallo, D. B. (2017) Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences K-12 Compliant Textbook for Senior High School. Pasay City: JFS Publishing Services
3 https://pediaa.com/difference-between-natural-science-and-social-science/
4 NASCA Natural Sciences Curriculum, General Information

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sciences deal with more of a scientific approach.5 The humanities include the study of
ancient and modern languages, literature, philosophy, classics, religion, performing
arts, and visual arts.
The study of natural sciences helps the students in their adjustment to their
natural and physical environment by getting engaged in the study of the nature and its
functioning visible to them in its physical and living forms, whereas the study of
humanities helps them in imbibing the abstract ideas and fine human values by getting
them humanized in their behavior and functioning. The study of social sciences helps
them in knowing and understanding their community and society, and getting them
properly socialized to be able to adjust well in the society.6 Social science is not only
helpful in the proper social development of the students but also contribute significantly
towards the progress of the society and promotion of the national solidarity and
international understanding.7 Social science considered to be a branch between natural
science and humanities.
Figure 1: Social Science, Natural Science and Humanities
Natural Sciences Social Sciences Humanities

Deal with the scientific Deal with all the aspects Deal with the heritage
study of the physical, of society and human and the question of what
chemical, biological beings like their culture, makes us human
Key and quantitative lifestyle, thinking, and Regarded as a loosely
Characteristics aspects of all the everything which defined group of cultural
natural phenomena influences the society. subject areas
present around the Social science is
world. Natural science qualitative by nature. 9
is more quantitative.8

biology, chemistry, economics, political ancient and modern

physics, earth science, science, geography, languages, literature,
Sub-Branches astronomy sociology, history, philosophy, classics,
linguistics, religion, performing arts,
anthropology, visual arts
psychology

medical doctor, nurse, lawyer, linguist, artist, film/theater

Professions engineer, biologist, historian, journalist, director, writer/ editor,
chemist, astronomer, teacher, accountant philosopher, clergy
geologist

5 http://www.differencebetween.net/language/words-language/difference-between-humanities-and-social-sciences/
6 Mangal, S.K. & Mangal, Uma (2018) Pedagogy of Social Sciences, 2 nd Edition. Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited, p.1.
7 Ibid.
8 https://www.airtract.com/question/What-is-the-difference-between-natural-science-and-social-science
6 Ibid.

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 b. DISCIPLINES WITHIN NATURAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES, AND SOCIAL
SCIENCES

Overview of Sciences

Natural Science --a major branch of science that tries to explain, and predict, nature’s
phenomena based on empirical evidence

Natural
Sciences
Life Science
Physical Science

Physical Science

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Life Science

✓ Classics or classical studies - the study of classical antiquity, and in the

Western world traditionally refers to the study of Classical Greek and Roman
literature in their original languages of Ancient Greek and Latin, respectively

✓ Arts (Performing and Visual)

✓ Philosophy - the study of general and fundamental questions about existence,
knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language

✓ Literature - refers specifically to writings considered to be an art form, especially

prose fiction, drama, and poetry, in contrast to academic writing and newspapers

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 ✓ Ethics - the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles; involves
systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong
behavior

✓ Theology - the study of religion and religious belief

Social Sciences

Social Sciences?
➢ deal with the activities of the individual as member of the group; embrace all
those subjects which deal with the relationship of man to the society (Seligman)

➢ refer to the application of scientific method to the study of the intricate and
complex network of human relationship and the form of organization designed to
enable people to live together in societies (Mitchell)

➢ a general term for all the sciences which are concerned with the human affairs
(Fairchild)

➢ provide a diverse set of lens that help us understand and explain the different
facets of human society

Focus of Social Sciences

• Change in human relationship and reinterpretation between the present and the
past event

• Basic social systems, institutions and processes

• Relationship between individual and institutions, and among political, economic

and social institutions

• Human activities and interaction of culture, biologic and physical elements

Disciplines of Social Sciences

Economics
• Studies the allocation of scarce resources and the production and exchange of
goods and services in society

• Deals with the ways in which men and societies seek to satisfy their material
needs and desires

• Understand and explain human activities in relation to the production, distribution

and consumption of goods and services

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 History
• Systematic study of human past events in order to understand the meaning,
dynamics and relationship of the causes and effects of events in the development
of the societies

• Focuses on the reconstruction and recreation of past events as they actually

happened through the use of primary sources and secondary sources

Political Science
• A social science concerned with the theory and practice of politics and the
description and analysis of political systems and political behavior

• Primarily studies human behavior in relation to political systems, governments,

laws and international relations

Sociology
• Study of society that uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical
analysis to develop and refine a body of knowledge about human social activity

• Examines social structures, collective human actions, social relationships and

norms and its impact on individual behavior

Anthropology
• Scientific study of humans and their cultures in the past and present time

• Deals with the integration of different aspects of the Social Sciences,

Humanities, and Human Biology

• Application of knowledge to help solve problems through the study of culture

Geography
• Study of the Earth and its lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena

• An all-encompassing discipline that foremost seeks to understand the earth and

all of its human and natural complexities--not merely where objects are, but how
they have changed and come to be

Psychology
• Study of human or animal mental functions and behaviors

• Analyzes how people and groups experience the world through various
emotions, ideas and in different conscious states

Demography
• Scientific study of human populations across time

• Examines the changes in population growth through the analysis of statistics on

birth, human movement, morbidity, agedness and mortality

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 Linguistics
• Discipline that looks at the cognitive and social aspects of human language
• Concerned with the nature of human language, how it is learned and what part it
plays in the life of the individual and the community

Activity 1.2 K-W-L Chart (Part 2)

Instructions: During or after you go through the learning materials, answer the
questions that are in the W column of the K-W-L chart. This new information that you
have learned is to be recorded in the L column. If the answer/s to your question/s in W
column is not evident in the learning materials, you may ask your teacher about it
during consultation period.
Know Want to Know Learned

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Engagement

Activity 1.3 4 Pics 1 Word Game

Instructions: Are you familiar with the free word association game, 4 pics 1
word? In this game, you’ll be shown 4 pictures, all of which share a word in common.
The goal is to figure out the word based on the provided word length, and a selection of
possible letters. Play 4pics 1word.

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 Activity 1.4 Let’s Try Three

Instructions: Compare and contrast social sciences, natural sciences and

humanities through Venn diagram by writing the key terms or descriptions that pertain
to each field of study. Put your illustration on a separate sheet of short bond paper.
Make it substantial, presentable and organized.

Activity 1.5 Show and Tell

Instructions: Look or search for at least 5 things around you that show the
concepts embedded with the various disciplines within natural sciences, social
sciences, and humanities. Draw each object and write a brief discussion on its
relatedness or connection with the particular discipline. Do this in a separate sheet of
short bond paper.

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Assimilation

Activity 1.6 Shout-out

Instructions: Compose a meaningful shout-out expressing your appreciation of

learning about social science. You may add an interesting hashtag.

________________________________________________________________
#_______________________

Guide Questions:
1. From the things that you have learned from the topic, what concept or idea in the
social sciences you appreciate the most? Why?
2. Do you think the study of social sciences is essential to the students of senior high
school? Why?

Activity 1.7 Reflection

Instructions: Create a journal entry on the importance of the study of social

sciences, and its relevance to the current situation, the COVID-19 pandemic and its
impact in our society. It would be beneficial to research and read reliable articles that
could serve as your references.

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 REFERENCES

Mangal, S.K. & Mangal, Uma (2018) Pedagogy of Social Sciences, 2nd Ed. Delhi: PHI Learning
Private Limited, p.1.
Bernardo, R. B. & Mallo, D. B. (2017) Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences K-12
Compliant Textbook for Senior High School. Pasay City: JFS Publishing Services
Dudley, L. & Faricy, A. (1978) The Humanities. 6th Edition. Philippines: JMC Press, Inc.
NASCA Natural Sciences Curriculum, General Information
https://pediaa.com/difference-between-natural-science-and-social-science/
http://www.differencebetween.net/language/words-language/difference-between-humanities-
and-social-sciences/
https://www.airtract.com/question/What-is-the-difference-between-natural-science-and-social-
science
https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/40587/8/10_chapter1.pdf
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/theology

Prepared by:
ALORMA L. MACATANGAY, MAED, LPT, RGC, RPm
Teacher III

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