The Social Sciences Divisions

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Quantitative Numbers Measurable Uses statistical inference WHAT, WHERE, WHEN Qualitative Relies on reason Smaller and more focused samples WHY and HOW

Divisions in Anthropology Physical Anthropology Cultural Anthropology Social Anthropology Linguistics

What are the Social Sciences? Anthropology – The scientific study of the human species and of the various cultures that make up humanity including sub-cultures

Physical Anthropology Studies human evolution and hominid cultures Methods: Examine fossil, stone and bone remains Study living primates Study and compare human genetic variation (connections to biology and genetics)

Cultural Anthropology Studies similarities and differences of living cultures Methods: Participant Observation CULTURE Beliefs and Behaviours transmitted from generation to generation. Culture is always changing. 1. Material culture: Physical objects 2. Attitudes: including ethics and values 3. Behaviours Myths - traditional story accepted as truth; serves to explain the world view of a people Kinship – relationships among members of a social group that are based on member’s descent from common ancestors

Social Anthropology studies how contemporary living human beings behave in societal sub-cultures Methods: Long-term intensive field studies and observation Customs, economic and political organizations, law, kinship, gender relations

Schools of Psychology Psychoanalysis Behaviorism Cognitive Psychology

What are the Social Sciences? Psychology – the systematic study of people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours

Psychoanalysis Developed by Freud to probe the unconscious mind and treat patients anxieties and phobias Studies the inner experiences of the mind through dreams, fantasies, feelings Used to treat trauma and anxiety

Behaviorism Focuses on studying observable behavior Law of Effect The mind is an unknowable black box Deduces principles for the “prediction and control of behaviour” (Watson 1913) Principles are consistent across species

Cognitive Psychology biology-focussed Areas of study include: 1. Perception 2. memory and learning 3. language use and acquisition 4. reasoning and decision- making Uses standardized tests Many applications in schools

School of Sociology Functionalism Conflict Theorist Symbolic Interactionism

What are the Social Sciences? Sociology – the scientific study of the development, structure, and functioning of society

Functionalism Analyze large-scale patterns of society Society = human body; every part has a function parts = institutions; when all parts work smoothly together, individuals are protected Examines the relationships among parts of society

Conflict Theory Karl Marx Study the social patterns and structures that develop as classes compete for scarce resources Competition = conflict = formation of social classes Conflict theorist examine the social patterns that develop as classes struggle against each other Neo-Marxist

Symbolic Interactionism Max Weber argued that how we act towards people and things is based on the meaning we assign them. We act differently in different social situations because we have attached different meaning to different situations Focus on the everyday interactions between individuals Humans construct society by attaching meaning to actions = symbolism