For science, it is important to know how the natural world will behave, provided the same physical and methodological research conditions are present.

When experiments that test a theory are reproduced and these accumulate positive results that confirm its validity, there is an increase in the reliability of its predictive capacity.

Main branches of natural sciences

Natural sciences are divided into large groups, which are in turn subdivided into other areas of knowledge. Although their objects of study differ from each other, there is a high degree of interaction between their different disciplines.

• Astronomy : studies celestial objects (stars, planets, etc.), which have their origin outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Chemistry : studies the composition and characteristics of substances and their interactions.
• Physics : studies matter, energy, their forces, movements and interactions.
• Biology : considered the “science of life”, it is responsible for studying the origin, function and evolution of living beings.
• Geology : deals with the study of the physical characteristics of the Earth.

Limitations of natural sciences

Technological development itself can be a barrier to analyzing natural phenomena. For example, without observation tools such as telescopes or microscopes, scientists would not be able to make accurate measurements of their object of study in astronomy and microbiology, respectively.

The natural sciences share with the social sciences ethical limitations regarding experimentation. Experimenting on humans and other living beings raises ethical debates within the scientific community and in the public and political spheres, due to its potential implications.

At the bureaucratic and decision-making level, research can often be limited by groups with particular interests.

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• Difference between science and technology .
• Examples of hypotheses

What are social sciences?

Social sciences are a set of disciplines that have as their object of study the human being, their behavior, interactions, creations and society.

Their aim is to explain and understand how the social world works. To do this, social sciences use different methodological, quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect and analyse data. Even if their predictive capacity is limited, they can establish parameters that increase the probability of predicting certain social phenomena.

It is very difficult for social scientists to conduct experiments in an environment that allows them to evaluate, control and measure all possible variables. For this reason, one of their major limitations is the difficulty of discovering and establishing general laws and theories.

Characteristics of social sciences

• Its object and subject of study are the human being, society and its creations.
• It is common for the analysis to focus on particular cases, within specific contexts.
• Neutrality is not always possible.
• Difficulty in experimenting and testing the results of research.
• Low predictive capacity (which leads to reliability problems).
• Difficulty in producing generalizations and in proposing laws and theories.
• Greater debate within the community (it is common for there to be different interpretations of the same phenomena).
• Use of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods.
• Its variables are attributes and are obtained through observation, surveys, questionnaires and analysis of different media, among others.

• Object of study of social sciences

  Social sciences study human beings, their creations and interactions . Their purpose is linked to understanding the human social world.

  Just as in the natural sciences, the social sciences distance themselves from explanations of reality that involve metaphysical or mystical assumptions, preferring to base themselves on observable facts.

  Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge any value judgments, personal opinions and biases in research work. This is because the work of social sciences involves the subjectivity of the researcher and the world being investigated.

  Quantitative and qualitative methods in social sciences

  Social sciences use both the quantitative and qualitative methods, or both together (mixed methods), in research work.

  The qualitative approach focuses on understanding and explaining social reality based on the data collected and its analysis. It is interested in specific contexts, generally events that have their own particularities and whose explanation does not apply to other social contexts.

  This approach may be best for conducting research on topics for which there is no prior research.

  Interviews, observation without interference, analysis of historical and bibliographic documents and other media (photographs, video, sound recordings) are some of the techniques used in this method.

  The quantitative approach focuses on analyzing the results of measurements made with instruments that reduce the possibility of error or invalidity of the data, as well as generalizing discoveries.

  This method follows the action parameter of the natural sciences and aims to make discoveries to expand the field of knowledge.

  It is advisable when there is a previous body of studies, theories and work already carried out in the area to be investigated.

  Cross-sectional studies, closed and opinion surveys, questionnaires, structured interviews and experiments are some examples of the techniques used in this method.

  You may be interested in seeing Research Methods .

  Paradigms of social sciences

  The social sciences have different paradigms from which research work is carried out, such as positivism, interpretivism and critical social science.

  Positivism

  One of the great paradigms of the social sciences is the positivist one . This research perspective follows the methodological line of the natural sciences, so it considers that methodological rigor and the search for validity are key to reaching knowledge.

  It originated with Auguste Comte (1798-1857) in the 19th century. According to positivism, the human world is reducible to reason and its actions are observable, measurable and can be predicted.

  In this, a quantitative, logical and deductive approach is preferred, in addition to the contrasting of hypotheses, whenever possible. Its purpose is to explain social reality, causes and consequences of events, and to discover their laws.

  Interpretivism

  In contrast to positivism is interpretivism , which originated largely at the hands of the sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920) in the late 19th century.

  According to this paradigm, subjectivity, both of the person doing the research and of social acts and individuals, makes it impossible to generalize human reality, contrary to what happens in the natural sciences. What is important is to explain and understand human actions in their different specific contexts.
• The use of observation and in-depth interviews is preferred to learn the details of the specific subjects of study, as well as how they give meaning to their own experience.
  

  Critical social science

  Critical social science opposes positivism for abandoning humanism and ignoring the subjective aspect of social sciences, as well as interpretivism for focusing on a narrow space of reality, without proposing social transformations. This approach was born around the thinking of the Frankfurt School in the 20th century.

  According to this paradigm, it is possible to observe reality, but these observations are always influenced by the subjectivity of the person doing the research. Furthermore, it considers that social sciences should result in social changes that improve society.

  Methodological problems in social sciences

  Social science research involves human subjects, and this can raise ethical issues. The process, the experimentation (if carried out), and the results of a research can have important implications.

  Furthermore, the study in the social field is open to its results being interpreted differently by institutions, researchers and the general public.

  On the other hand, the difficulty of controlling the variables and conditions of research limits its reproducibility.

  It is difficult to establish laws and produce scientific theories that are universally valid. Most of the results in social sciences focus on very specific and contextualized aspects of reality. The probability of something happening can be estimated, but it is very difficult to avoid uncertainty.

  The difficulty of refuting the validity of a theory is something that leads to debates and interpretations. This raises criticism about the level of scientificity and generalization of the knowledge produced in the social sciences.

  Main disciplines of social sciences

  • History
  • Political sciences
  • Linguistics
  • Right
  • Sociology
  • Economy
  • Geography
  • Anthropology
  • Archeology
  • Psychology

• Conclusion: Natural sciences and social sciences

  In conclusion, both natural sciences and social sciences play vital roles in expanding our understanding of the world. Natural sciences focus on the physical and biological aspects of the universe, utilizing empirical methods to explore phenomena and develop theories. In contrast, social sciences delve into human behavior, societies, and cultures, employing qualitative and quantitative approaches to analyze complex social dynamics. By appreciating the strengths and methodologies of each discipline, we can foster a more comprehensive perspective that bridges the gap between the physical and social realms, ultimately enriching our knowledge and informing our actions in an increasingly interconnected world.

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