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Content
1.0 Question 1: What Is Science?

2.0 Question 2: What Is Social Science?

2.1 Sociology, Anthropology, Demography and Geography

2.2 Psychology

2.3 Advantages of Social Science

2.3.1 Help Us Imagine Alternative Futures

2.3.2 Help Us Make Sense of Our Finances

2.4 Conclusion

3.0 Question 3: What is Economics?

3.1 Definition of Economics

3.2 Economy Groups

3.2.1 Household

3.2.2 Firm

3.2.3 Government

3.3 Economics Divided In Two Branches

3.3.1 Microeconomics

3.3.2 Macroeconomics

3.4 Economics Problems

3.4.1 What To Produce?

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3.4.2 How To Produce?

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3.4.3 Whom To be Produce?

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3.5 Economics System

3.5.1 Traditional Economics System

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3.5.2 Command Economics System

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3.5.3 Market Economics System

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3.5.4 Mixed Economics System

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4.0 Question 4: Why Economic Is A Social Science?

4.1)"Economics is the social science which examines how people choose to use
limited or scarce resources in attempting to satisfy their unlimited wants."
Schenk (1997)

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4.2) Economics is the "study of how societies use scarce resources to produce

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valuable commodities and distribute them among different people."

Paul A. Samuelson, Economics (1948)
4.2.1 What To Produce?

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4.2.2 How To Produce?

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4.3.3 Whom To Be Produce?

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4.3) "Economics is a science which studies human behavior as a relationship

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between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses."

Lionell Robbins (1935).
4.4) "Thus it is on one side the study of wealth; and on the other, and more important
side, a part of the study of man." Alfred Marshall (1890).

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Question 1: What Is Science?

Science is the concerted human effort to understand, or to understand better, the
history of the natural phenomena and the cycle of natural. How the natural world works, with
observable physical evidence as the basis of that understanding. It can be done under the
observation of natural phenomena or experimentation that tries to simulate natural processes
under controlled conditions.
For the examples of observational science, an ecologist observing how birds claim
territory and a geologist uses specialized knowledge of the Earth's surface to discover
resources of value. Both of these scientists make observations in order to discover the natural
phenomena. They just do it outdoors and thus entertain the general public with their
behaviour. Consider some examples of experimental science, a chemist observing the
chemical reaction of two kinds of materials and an electronic measure each battery's voltage
by using the voltmeter are both scientists who want to see what consistent patterns come out
through performing experiments. These people usually do their work in labs and wear
impressive white lab coats. The critical commonality is that all these people are making and
recording observations of nature, or of simulations of nature, in order to learn more about
how nature works.
In todays world, science is everywhere. It is already become part of our daily lives,
from cooking and gardening, to recycling and comprehending the daily weather report, to
reading a map and using a computer. Advances in technology and science are transforming
our world at an incredible pace. For example, we can communicate in a fraction of second
with a person who is sitting in the other part of the world. Because of s c i e n t i f i c
k n o w l e d g e , w e c a n p r o d u c e m a c h i n e s a n d appliances such as light bulbs, cars and
computers. The application of scientific knowledge is also known as technology. Technology helps us to
progress in every aspect of our lives such as transportation, communication, agriculture, medicine, and
construction. Example of careers in science includes doctor, engineer, architect, and chemist. The study of
science is divided into various fields which is astronomy, biology, physics, physiology, geology, metrology,
chemistry, and biotechnology.

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Most of the scientist work at science laboratory, there are a lot of chemical substances
inside the laboratory that may cause life-threatening. For example, base on the following
Table 1, the symbols which inside the laboratory might harm our safety so please beware of
it.

Table 1
Base on the Table 2, it is a scientific investigation. It is a systematic method of
studying a problem or an event. Through scientific investigation, we get scientific knowledge.
The following diagram shows the steps in a scientific investigation.

Table 2

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Question 2: What is Social Science

The social sciences encompass a broad range of topics. This site focuses specifically
on coastal economic and demographic data and the benefits of using these data to help
address coastal issues. The site also provides mapping and visualization techniques to help
stakeholders and community leaders better understand the power of this information.
The social sciences encompass a broad range of disciplines that aim to describe,
explain, and predict human behavior and institutional structures as they interact with their
environments. The following prominent social science disciplines are included: Economics,
sociology, anthropology, demography, geography, psychology, and policy.
2.1 Sociology, Anthropology, Demography and Geography
Sociology, anthropology, demography, and geography can provide information on a
populations vulnerabilities and behavioral responses to weather risk and climate change.
These disciplines can look at the number of elderly people at risk during the likelihood of
whether or not they remove.
2.2 Psychology
Psychology can interpret how people perceive the risks of an impending storm or
whether or not they worry about rising sea levels.
2.3 Advantages of Social Science
2.3.1 Help Us Imagine Alternative Futures
Social scientists help us imagine alternative futures. Social science can open up
debate and give us a say in shaping our collective future. The social sciences developed as a
field of study during the nineteenth century. Social science helped people understand the
consequences and application of the new technologies of the age, such as steam power. The
growth of railways and factories not only transformed the economy and the world of work,
but also changed forever the way people organized their family lives and leisure. That way
we will make informed choices that shape the future.

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2.3.2 Help Us Make Sense of Our Finances
In addition, social science can help us make sense of our finances. Social science is
not only important for the future but for whats happening now. A range of social scientists
not only economists but also psychologists, sociologists and political scientists, for example,
can help us understand the economic crisis and weigh up decisions we make for ourselves
and those which governments make on our behalf. Without this kind of analysis we may feel
like pawns in a global game of chess. With the knowledge and understanding that social
science offers us, we will feel empowered to act for ourselves, and to influence decisions
being made on our behalf.
2.4 Conclusion
In the conclusion, social scientists contribute to our health and wellbeing. From
sports sociologists to public health experts, from those interpreting medical statistics to those
evaluating policies for our care in old age, social scientists are working hard to make sure that
our health, leisure and social care services work to best effect.

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Question 3: What is Economics?

The meaning of economy comes from a Greek word Oikonomos, which means one
who manages a household. A household faces many decisions; he or she must decide which
member of the household do which kind of tasks and what will the member gets as return;
who in charge on cooks dinner? Who wash the dishes? Who prepare the dessert? The
household must allocate its scarce resources among its various members, based on their
abilities, efforts, and desires.
3.1 Definition of Economics
Economics is the study of social behavior guiding in the allocation of scarce
resources to meet the unlimited needs and desires of the individual members of a given
society. There are two concepts that we need to keep in mind which is resources available
are limited and humans desires and needs are unlimited. Resources include the time and
the talent of people, buildings, equipment, and other tools on hand, and the knowledge of
how to combine them to create a useful products and services.
However, the management of societys resources is important because resources are
scarce. Scarcity means the society has limited resources and due to this reason, the society
cannot produce all the goods and services for people who wish to have it. As an example,
each individual cannot achieve highest standard of living which he or she wish to have it.
Because of this, as individuals, communities and countries we have to make decisions and
choices which are opportunity cost
3.2 Economy Groups
There are three main groups in the economy which is households, firms and the
government. Households are one decision-making unit. In economics, households play the
role of two situations.
3.2.1 Household
Households consume goods and services Second, households are the owners of the
factors of production. Households supply labour, capital, land, and entrepreneurial ability to
resource markets; they use their limited resources to maximize their own utility. They can use

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these resources at home, or they can sell these resources in the resource market to earn money
to spend in the product market.
3.2.2 Firm
A firm is also a decision-making unit. Firm formed by profit-seeking entrepreneurs
who employ resources to produce goods and services for sale. Firms have evolved as
providers of goods and service. They produce goods and service by the factor of production
from households. As the return, firm pay back households by rent, wages, interest and profit.
3.2.3 Government
The government acts as the role of establishing and enforcing the rules of the
economic. Government provides the regulation and laws for households and firms to operate
within. The below Diagram 1 shows Circular flow in 3 sectors economy.

Diagram 1

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3.3 Economics Divided In Two Branches
3.3.1 Microeconomics

The economic divided into two fields which is microeconomics and macroeconomics. The
Microeconomics is the study of small economic units. The field of microeconomics is
concerned with individual parts of the economy like consumer decision making and utility
maximization, firm production and profit maximization. It only deals with the choices of a
single entity; one product, one price, one consumer, one household, one business even only
one industry. Microeconomics focuses on supply and demand and other forces that determine
the price levels of goods and services of the economy. For example, microeconomics would
observe how a company could minimize its cost of production but remain the same price
level of the product so that can compete with others industry.

3.3.2 Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics can be thought as larger version of economics compare with

microeconomics. Macroeconomics focuses on aggregate production and consumption of of
people, companies or products in an economy. Hence, macroeconomics studies the behaviour
of the economy as a whole and not just on specific companies, but entire industries and
economies. Furthermore, it looks at economy-wide phenomena, such as Gross National
Product (GDP) and how it is affected by changes in unemployment, national income, rate of
growth, and price levels. For example, macroeconomics would look at how an increase or
decrease in net exports would affect a nation's capital account or how GDP would be affected
by unemployment rate.

3.4 Economics Problems

Limited resources and unlimited wants which lead to scarcity had brings out three
economics problem to every single country which is what to produce, how to produce it, and
whom to produce it for?

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3.4.1 What To Produce ?
The first problem is what the economy should produce in order to satisfy consumer
wants as best as possible using the limited resources available.
3.4.2 How To Produce?
The second problem is how to combine production inputs to produce the goods which
decided in the first problem as most efficiently as possible. An economy achieves productive
efficiency when the least resources been use to produces goods.
3.4.3 Whom To be Produce?
The third problem is which sort of demographic group should the goods in the
economy that are produced be targeted towards. All these problems are focused around the
problem of unlimited wants and limited resources.

3.5 Economic System

There are four main types of economic system which is traditional economic system,
command economic system, market economic system, and mixed economic system.
3.5.1 Traditional Economic System
Traditional economic system is not very dynamic, the standards of living are static
and individuals dont enjoy much financial or occupational mobility. All of thel productive
resources are owned by families. Yet, the economic behaviours and relationships are
expected. You know what you are supposed to do and who you trade with. Nowadays, we can
find some country which still apply with traditional economic systems among Australian
aborigines and some isolated tribes in the Amazon.
3.5.2 Command Economic System
Command economic system means the government controls the economy. The state
decides how to use and distribute resources. The government regulates prices and wages; it
may even determine what sorts of work individuals do. So, all of the productive resources are

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owned and operated by the government. Cuba is one of the countries which still apply with
command economic system.
3.5.3 Market Economics System
Market economies also known as Free Market. The decisions are made by
individuals. Individuals free to choose how to invest their personal resources, what jobs to
take, what goods or services to produce, and also decide what to consume. Almost everything
is free of government control in deciding goods and services produced. However, government
only tries to make sure there is some competition and provides some public goods.
3.5.4 Mixed Economics System
Mixed economic system combines elements of the market and command economy.
Many economic decisions are made in the market by individuals. But the government also
plays a role in the allocation and distribution of resources.

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Question 4: Why Economic Is A Social Science?

Economic is a social science that studies how individuals, governments, firms and
nations make choices on allocating scarce resources to satisfy their unlimited wants.
Social Science is a study of society and the behaviour of people and influence the
world around us. Besides, as a social science, it also explains economic behaviour
production, consumption, and distribution.
Economic Consider as Social Science because Economics involves the generation,
collection, study and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data about the social
environment to arrive at trends, make predictions, and arrive at conclusions that affect
society. It also study of these decisions and behaviours that leads to findings and
recommendation on how to better or more efficiently allocate resources at various levels
(individual, community, national and international).
There are four definitions that define economics as a social science:
4.1)"Economics is the social science which examines how people choose to use limited
or scarce resources in attempting to satisfy their unlimited wants."Schenk (1997)
Economics is the study of social behaviour in the allocation of scarce resources to
meet the unlimited needs and desires of the individual members of a given society.
Due to the resources are limited and man's desires and needs are unlimited,
individuals, communities and countries have to make decisions and choices. Economics is the
study of these decisions and behaviour that leads to findings and recommendation on how to
better or more efficiently allocate resources at various levels - individual, community,
national and international.
In addition, people often appear to use their resources to improve their well-being.
Well-being is including the satisfaction people gain from the products and services which

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they choose to consume, from their time spent in leisure and with family and community as
well as in jobs, and the security and services provided by effective governments.
4.2) Economics is the "study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable
commodities and distribute them among different people." Paul A. Samuelson, Economics
(1948)
4.2.1) What to Produce
The What function is very important. This is because; this problem reflects what
should the economy produce in order to satisfy consumer wants as best as possible using the
limited resources available. Do we produce capital goods or consumer goods? Do we produce
goods for home consumption or for trade? All these reflect the question of allocative. If a
country produces goods in a way that maximises consumer satisfaction then the economy is
allocatively efficient.
4.2.2) How to Produce
The How function is referring to the type of production techniques to be used. If we
want technical efficiency and maximum output, we will always use the lowest cost method of
production.
4.2.3) Whom to Be Produce
The Who function is referring to the produced goods targeted towards which kind
of people. For example, who will get the computers and cars that have been produced? This is
often called the problem of distribution.

In a short, if all three problems are addressed at any one time then the economy has
achieved static efficiency.

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4.3) "Economics is a science which studies human behavior as a relationship between

ends and scarce means which have alternative uses." Lionell Robbins (1935).
Human wants are unlimited and means( goods and services) to satisfy them are
limited. Scarce mean occurs when demand exceeds its supply. Means been abundant like free
goods but they are scarce. So mans demand are unlimited but means to satisfy them are
scarce that are the basis for all economic problem.
Example, Milk is a means which can be used in several form like butter, cheese etc.
But owing to the scarcity of milk if it is used for making cheese and butter will produce less.
So, one will have to ake a choice regarding the use of a scarce means.
4.4) "Thus it is on one side the study of wealth; and on the other, and more important side,
a part of the study of man." Alfred Marshall (1890).
Economics is a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life. It examines that part
of individual and social action that connected with the attainment and with the use of the
material requisites of wellbeing.
For man's character has been moulded by his every-day work, and the material
resources which he thereby procures, more than by any other influence unless it be that of his
religious ideals. However, religious and economic influences have nowhere been displaced
from the front rank even for a time and they have nearly always been more important than all
others put together. Furthermore, religious direct action seldom extends over so large a part of
life. For the business by which a person earns his livelihood generally fills his thoughts
during by far the greater part of those hours in which his mind is at its best; during them his
character is being formed by the way in which he uses his faculties in his work, by the
thoughts and the feelings which it suggests, and by his relations to his associates in work, his
employers or his employees.

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In the conclusion, economics is considered as social science because it is the study of
the distribution of wealth, consumptive patterns, and means of production. Social
stratification determined all of these attributes of economics, and thus economics is a social
science.
References
Question 1
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25193653/Introduction-to-Science
http://worldallthing.blogspot.com/p/science.html
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/science-definition.html
http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/whatisscience_01
Question 2
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/social_science.aspx#1
http://books.google.com.my/books?
id=7lgqWfTRjncC&printsec=frontcover&dq=what+is+Social+Science&hl=en&s
a=X&ei=j_0gUZWrN4uNrgeniIHwAQ&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAw
Question 3
http://www.shmoop.com/economic-systems/types.html
http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/110.asp#axzz2L9dqBk00
http://economics.about.com/od/economics-basics/a/Microeconomics-VersusMacroeconomics.htm
http://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?
qid=20100607061920AANRDgA

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http://www.aeaweb.org/students/WhatIsEconomics.php
Question 4

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080621202909AADBMTm
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090221122947AABLMhR
http://www.econlib.org/library/Topics/College/whatiseconomics.html
http://www.economicsonline.co.uk/Competitive_markets/The_economic_problem.ht

ml
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_five_definition_of_economics

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