Human Sciences Dubious IB survey critique Objectives: Activities: You will understand what subjects are categorized as human sciences You will begin to learn the research methods used by human scientists You will unpack to what extent problems encountered by human scientists in gathering data to support theories are limitations. Activities: Debrief Mr. Thiessen and Ms. Jordan/Mr. Merdes’ lectures PPT on which subjects count as Human Sciences/What methods are used Student questions and rotation Hmwk: Dubious IB survey critique

Human Sciences – Alluring or Problematic?

What subjects count as Human Sciences? Human Sciences are concerned with human society and the institutions, relationships and ideas involved in social life…… Economics Geography Political Science Psychology Sociology Anthropology …………..Any others?

What are the main methods used by Human Scientists? a) Introspection (Early psychologists) – examining and recording one’s own thought processes, sensations, and feelings. Problems - Subjectivity - Difficult to control variables - Impossible to check findings

b) Participant observation Observing Recording behavior of people Describing What problems does this pose?

c) Non-Participant observation Investigator making observation without the knowledge of participants One-way mirror Problems?

d) Controlled experiments - An attempt to control all the variables

e) Surveys Reliability? – Size and representative of the sample, Quality of the questionnaires, truthfulness of the answers.

f) Official and unofficial data - Statistics

Problems faced by Social Scientists (Adapted from the Teachers Guide) Definitions (Physicists agree on heat, pressure, and electricity) There is no general agreement among social scientists about: Intelligence Poverty Social class Money Public opinion

How can one adequately measure? Measurement How can one adequately measure? Wealth Anxiety Leadership

Failure to produce falsifiable predictions In the social sciences, human behaviour influences outcomes

Is intelligence inherited or acquired How do we measure intelligence Value judgments Social sciences address issues of such personal importance and interest to individuals and society. Is intelligence inherited or acquired How do we measure intelligence It is difficult to avoid confirmation bias

The Heterogeneity of Human subjects The scientist can be reasonably sure of what he/she is studying, e.g. gas, molecules, stars, etc. The student of human sciences is faced with the fact that all human beings are different and even the same individual may react differently depending on how much sleep she/he had the night before – whether he/she has a headache, worried or has fallen in love. How can a researcher take all the relevant variables into account?

Limitations on the study of humans Human subjects can be hurt, frightened or humiliated during experiments Ethical considerations limit studies on personal matters.

Consider this… If there are so many potential problems with Human Sciences, so much bias / uncertainty / language issues / procedural limitations, why do we still engage in it?