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3.1 Introduction
Social science and natural science are two subjects that differ from each
other in the terms of their subject matters. Before identifying differences
between Natural Science and Social Science, the term Science has to be
defined. Science is the process of gaining knowledge through
experimentation. Also Science can be described as a methodology used to
understand our world.
Natural science studies about nature, such as earth, mountains and streams,
stars, elements, atoms and molecules, gravitational and magnetic and
electrical force, light. Whereas social science studies human societies and, to
some degree, the artifacts and institutions that these societies produce and
through which they operate. Sciences like biology and psychology have both
natural-scientific and social-scientific components, since they deal with
human beings both as natural beings that is in terms of features that non-
human animals and non-living things have too. features like "having a
digestive system" and "being made of atoms" and social beings. Natural
sciences are sometimes called the hard sciences. These are subjects such as
chemistry, physics, astronomy, biology, earth science, atmospheric science,
materials science, and oceanography. These fields all study about the world
and how it works. Chemistry is the study of matter. When you study
chemistry, you learn about what makes up matter, atoms. You learn about
atomic structure and how molecules form and bond. You learn how matter
reacts and changes state. Earth science is the study of planet Earth. This
field studies soil, geology, minerals, rocks, precious stones, plate tectonics
and volcanoes, among other topics. Physics is the study of what composes
the universe and how the forces interact with matter and each other.
Astronomy is the study of the formation and development of the universe,
planets, comets, stars, galaxies, celestial mechanics, red shift, blue shift, and
everything else that happens in space. Biology is the study of living things.
How to bodies work? What's different between a plant and a animal. The
social sciences methodology starts with an assumption and is gradually
filled by a series of experiments and observations. The data collection
methods are often done by a variety of techniques like field observation,
interviews, and focus group discussions.
The experiments and the data collected done in social sciences denote
spontaneity and deal with emotions of the people involved.
The basis of the natural sciences is the experimental data. Experimental data
relies on repeated experiments, laboratory testing, and constant
reproductions of results. The methodology of natural or physical science is
often characterized as fixed and straightforward with the constant element of
standard measurements. The methodology also employs experiments. Data
from these experiments often represent predictability and rationality.
Physical and natural science works in a closed system where variables can
be controlled, and the work is executed within a particular framework or
paradigm. The basis of social sciences is the experiential data. Experiential
data tries to establish social phenomena and are not easily reproduced in a
laboratory or in any experiment. So, again, the natural sciences deal with the
study of the universe and the earth. Social sciences deal with people. These
debates also rage within contemporary social sciences with regard to
subjectivity, objectivity, and practicality in the conduct of theory and
research. Philosophers of social science examine further epistemologies and
methodologies, including positivism, post-positivism (phenomenology),
critical theory like Feminists, Postmodernists.
3.3 Conclusion
Major difference between the Natural Sciences and Social Sciences is the
subject matter. Natural Science is about the nature and Social Science is
about humans. There are many varieties of subjects in both Natural Sciences
and Social Sciences. Natural Science mostly involves Lab Experiments and
Social Science involves hypothesis and evaluation of the same. As the
studies of Natural Science is done using scientific formulas and theories it
tends to be more accurate than that experiments of Social Sciences as their
experiments are totally based on participation of a group of humans in
interviews, group discussions etc.
References
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-social-science-and-
natural-science
http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-social-science-and-vs-
natural-science/