Reference no: EM132256528
D1: The Origins, Purpose, and Value of the Social Sciences
This discussion addresses module outcome 1. Be sure to review the readings that describe the origins of the social sciences, particularly the Demers, Smelser and Reed, and few pages from Hunt and Colander that cover this important topic. In some sense the social sciences emerge from the study of changing social, political, and economic conditions facing humanity.
But, there is also an ever-present agenda to both uncover patterns or laws of human behavior, and then perhaps to alter these to the improvement of the human condition (e.g., ending war or poverty). This discussion asks you to evaluate whether the social sciences are up to the task of accurately evaluating the history, current realities, and future trends in humanity's condition, let alone fixing the worst dilemmas of the human experience.
Before beginning this activity, be sure to read the Module Notes and the assigned readings and viewings. Use as much detail from the readings and other learning materials in the module as possible to answer the following two questions:
• In your considered albeit initial review of the social sciences' emergence as important areas of inquiry, do you find them to be valuable to the study of human behavior and organization? If so, how? Do you find value in the purposes of social science research, illuminating human behavioral and organization realities so as to improve humanity's condition? If so, how; if not, why not?
• Do you believe it is possible to improve humanity's condition through the better understanding of unfortunate realities and conditions facing humanity? In other words, should social science research identify problems and injustices in the human experience so that society can solve them (i.e., across the many different types of political and economic systems around the world)?
Your initial post should be at least 250 words and must substantively integrate the assigned readings with proper APA style formatting.
D2: Comparing Social Science Disciplines
This discussion addresses module outcome 2. The Hunt and Colander textbook simplistically outlines each major social science discipline on pages 5-11.
The other readings and viewings in this and subsequent modules evaluate the origins and inter-relationships of some of the leading social science disciplines in greater detail (principally meaning: economics; political science; psychology; and sociology). In this first discussion on this account, you will begin the course-long process of evaluating leading social science disciplines. You will return to your early impressions here in later modules.
Before beginning this activity, be sure to read the Module Notes and the assigned readings. Use as much detail from the readings and other learning materials (as well as your own personal experiences) in the module as possible to answer the following prompts:
• Which of the social science disciplines are you most drawn to and why? In what ways is this discipline more intriguing and/or important than the others, as you see it?
• If research and related social and policy actions from your most preferred discipline's research findings could help improve society and the human condition within it, as you see it, should you push for these and should we all embrace them? In other words, do you see a necessity to apply social science research findings to society, the body politic, etc.? If not, why not?
Your initial post should be at least 250 words and must substantively integrate the assigned readings with proper APAstyle formatting.
Read:
• Required
o Module Notes: The Social Sciences
o Hunt, E. & Colander, D. (2016). Social science: An introduction to the study of society (15th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
Chapter 1: Social Science and Its Methods, 1-25
Chapter 3: Origins of Western Society, 56-64
o Carr, E. H. (1939). The twenty years' crisis: An introduction to the study of international relations (pp. 1-13) [PDF, File Size 968 KB]. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
o Demers, D. (2011). The Ivory Tower of Babel: Why the social sciences are failing to live up to their promises (pp. 26-35). New York, NY: Algora Publishing. Retrieved from EBSCO database.
o Smelser, N. J., & Reed, J. S. (2012). Usable social science (pp. 1-6, 315-324 . Berkeley: University of California Press. Retrieved from EBSCO database.