Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences

HUMSS GRADE 11
LESSON 1: DEFINING SOCIAL SCIENCES AS THE STUDY OF SOCIETY
Topic:
 Definition of Social Science
 Social Science vs Natural Science vs Humanities

Definition of Social Science

 Social Sciences are all academic disciplines which deal with the man in their social context.
 Social Sciences is a science that deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects.
 Social Sciences tells us about the world beyond our immediate experience, and can help explain how our own society works- from
causes of unemployment or what helps economic growth, to how and why people vote, or what makes people happy.

Importance of Studying Social Sciences

1. Knowledge of Social Sciences can help us improve our societies.
2. Social Sciences are all about an objective study (science) of people and their interactions.
3. Studying the social sciences can provide us with so many important answers and observations that may help improve the understanding
of our lives, and thus help us to improve our interactions with each others.
4. Studying social sciences means to acquire more knowledge and help us know the mystery of the society and improve our interactions
with each other.
5. It is important to study social sciences because they are about what it means to be human.

Natural Science Vs. Social Science Vs. Humanities

Natural Sciences Social Sciences Humanities
Definition - Refer to the sciences that concern - study the human being and their - are a branch of science that deal with
itself with the workings of the world. interaction with different forces in society. the heritage and the question of what
- The disciplines of social sciences are makes us human.
- Ledoux (2002, p. 34) defines viewed as those that deal with “human
natural sciences as disciplines that society, societal groups, individuals in
deal only with natural events using their relationships with others or
scientific methods”. institutions of societies and material
goods as expression of human
cohabitation (Bayer, 1992).

Origin - According to Buchel (1992), the
birth of natural science is marked by
changing world views introduced by
Renaissance thinkers who
questioned earlier explanations
about the world and turned to more
systematic methods of investigation.
- The social sciences are much younger
than natural sciences. Even though the
social interactions in a society have
probably been interest for many
centuries, scientific studies of social
interactions began as late as during 19th
century with sociological publications.
- The study of humanities can be
tracked back to ancient Greece. It was
during the Roman times that the
concept of seven liberal arts
developed like; rhetoric and logic,
grammar, music, astronomy,
arithmetics and geometry. There was
a great shift, however, to the study of
humanities in the 15th century.

Subject of - The aim of the natural sciences is
Study to discover the laws that rule the
world. The focus lies hereby on the
natural and not on the social world.
Branches Physical Sciences (Physics and
Chemistry)
Biological Sciences (Biology and
Botany)
- Subject of study are the phenomena of - Humanities are considered to be
social interaction and coexistence. This more philosophical than social
perspective consists of the understanding sciences.
and studying of a social aspect of society,
a group of people or a single individual.
Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Philosophy, Religion, Arts and Music,
Political Science, History, Geography, Literature, languages and History
Psychology, Law, Criminology and the
like.
Lesson 2: INTRODUCING THE DISCIPLINES WITHIN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

Topic/s:
 Anthropology, Definition, Fields and Methods of Inquiry
 Economics, Definition, Fields and Methods of Inquiry
 Geography, Definition, Fields and Methods of Inquiry
 History, Definition, Fields and Methods of Inquiry
 Linguistic, Definition, Fields and Methods of Inquiry
 Political Science, Definition, Fields and Methods of Inquiry
 Psychology, Definition, Fields and Methods of Inquiry
 Sociology, Definition, Fields and Methods of Inquiry
 Demography, Definition, Fields and Methods of Inquiry

ANTHROPOLOGY (ANTROPOLOHIYA)

Etymological Definition
- “Anthropos” (human) + “Logos” (study of). This etymology relates to the scope of anthropology as a discipline, which includes
everything about humans- from their biological and evolutionary past, to ways of life and traditions that they uphold.
Definition
- It is a branch of knowledge which deals with the scientific study of man, his work, his body, his behavior and values, in time and
space.
- It is the exploration and study of human diversity around the world. It gathers and analyzes data on cross-cultural and inter- societal
differences in social institutions, cultural beliefs and practices, and communication styles.
Who are the Anthropologists?
- Anthropologist seeks answers to an enormous variety of questions about humans. They are interested in discovering when, where,
and why humans appeared on the earth, how and why they have changed since then, and how and why modern human
populations vary in certain physical features.
- Anthropologist also compare humans with other animals (most often, other primates like monkeys and chimpanzees) to see what
we have in common with them and what makes us unique.
Four Fields or Subdisciplines of Anthropology
1. Physical/ Biological Anthropology
- Is the field that is engaged in understanding humans and their nature as an animal aspects. It examines humans variation,
evolution and physical characteristics.
- This field also studies the human’s closest relative like the bonobo chimpanzees in one of its subfield called primatology.
- Biological Anthropologist seek to understand how humans adapt to different environments, what causes disease and early death,
and how humans evolved from animals. They are also interested in explaining the similarities and differences that are found among
humans across the world. (the evolution of our species, fossil and skeletal evidence).

2. Archaeology
- is the study of the ancient and recent human past through material remains.
- It attempts to reconstruct the cultures of past civilizations and human groups by dealing with fossils and artifacts. Fossils are the
biological remains of plants, animals and human species, while artifacts are the man-made material remains that human groups left
such as clothing and tools.
- Archaeology helps us understand not only where and when people lived on the earth, but also why and how they have lived,
examining the changes and causes of changes that have occurred in human cultures overtime.

3. Cultural Anthropology
- Studies the lifeways and traditions of human groups which may include their belief system, economic activities, material culture,
and even political system.
- Studies cultures and societies of human beings and their very recent past.
 - Sociocultural anthropologist explores how people in different places live and understand the world around them. They want to know
what people think is important and the rules they make about how they should interact with one another. They try to understand the
perspective, practices, and social organization of other groups whose values and lifeways may be very different from their own.

Methods of Anthropological Research

1. Ethnography
- Anthropologists describes a culture, or one of its segment, based on interviews, and through participation and observation of the
local’s lifeways and beliefs. In doing ethnography, some anthropologists review the existing material culture of a society, while
others engage with the informants through interview and by living in the field.
- The two most used methods in ethnography are key informant interviews and participant observation.
(a) Key informant interview- the researcher collects data from individuals (belonging to a particular culture or society) who are
knowledgeable in the topic. The research will use judgement sampling method in identifying the subject informant.
(b) Participant observation- entails the process of actual daily encounters with the locals of an anthropologist’s area of study. This
method requires a lengthy amount of time in the field, which ranges from a minimum of six months to a full year.

ECONOMICS

Etymological Definition
- Its origin could be traced back to two ancient Greek word: “oikos” (house) and “nomos” (custom or law), referring to the rules implemented
in the household to ensure its efficient management.
Definition
- Economics is the study of scarcity, the study of how people use resources and respond to incentives or the study of decision-making. It
often involves topics like wealth and finance, but it’s not all about money.
Market - as an economic concept takes on three meaning: (1) literally, a place where exchange between consumers and sellers
transpire; (2) a system where such exchanges of good take place; and (3) a theoretical arena where sellers compete for the
patronage of customers.
Supply and Demand - Supply refers to the entirely of available goods that the market can offer, while demand represents the actual
quantity of goods and services that the public requires from the market. The quantity of demand from the market is determined by
the willingness of the buyer to purchase a particular price.
Fields of Economics
The field of economics is typically divided into two broad realms:
1. Microeconomics- is the branch of economics that focuses on the choices made by individual decision-making units in the economy-
typically consumers and firms- and the impacts those choices have an individual markets.

2. Macroeconomics- is the branch of economics that focuses on the impact of choices on the total, or aggregate, level of economic
activity.

NOTE: Both microeconomics and macroeconomics give attention to individual markets. But in microeconomics the attention is an end in
itself; in macroeconomics it is aimed at explaining the movement of major economic aggregates- the level of total output, the level of
employment, and the price level.

Methods of Inquiry
1. Positive Economics – is viewed as the descriptive form of economics wherein its chief aim is described and explain economic
phenomena or behavior. It explains what happens in the economy and why, without making any recommendations to
 economic policy, or in simple idea, it deals with how the economy works. (Example: “The unemployment rate in the Philippines
has increased by 8% compared to last year.”)
2. Normative Economics- often associated with welfare economics, as it is focused on providing explanations and arguments on
how economic policies should be. This method is well known for presenting value- judgments. (Example: “A diversification of
economic programs could increase job opportunities and decrease unemployment.”)

GEOGRAPHY (HEOGRAPIYA)

Etymological Definition
- “geo” (earth, land or ground) and “graphein” (to write or to describe). The combination of two words provides an elementary definition of
geography, which is study of describing Earth.
Definition
- As an academic discipline, geography seeks to answer old questions such as “Where am I in this world?” or “Where am I in the context of
the world?”. As a natural science, geography inquires on the environment or physical aspects of these questions. As a social science,
geography examines the human or social aspects of these inquiries. Thus, we can say that geography is an interdisciplinary study that explores
the relation between Earth, its human inhabitants, and the changes and interplay that occurred overtime.
Who are the Geographers?
- Geographers explore both the physical properties of Earth’s surface and the human societies spread across it. They also examine how
human culture interacts with the natural environments and the way that locations and places can have an impact on people.
Fields of Geography
1. Physical Geography
- is the study of Earth’s season, climate, atmosphere, soil, streams, landforms, and oceans.
- Physical Geographers primary concern is the natural environment.
Geomorphology is the study of landforms and the process that shape them. (e.g impact of wind, ice, rivers, erosion,
earthquakes, volcanoes, living things)
Glaciology focus on the Earth’s ice fields and their impact on the planet’s climate.
Pedology is teh study soil and how it is created, changes, and classified.
Hydrology is the study of Earth’s water, its properties, distribution, and effects.
Climatology is the study of Earth’s climate system and its impact on Earth’s surface. (e.g. prediction about El Nino, a
cyclical weather phenomenon of warm surface temperatures).
Oceanography- focuses on the creatures and environments of the world’s oceans.

2. Human Geography
- is concerned with the distribution and networks of people and cultures on Earth’s surface.
- Human Geographers study how people use and alter their environments. (e.g people allow animals or overgaze a region, the soil
erodes and grassland is transformed into desert).
- Human Geographers study how political, social, and economic systems are organized across geographical space.
3. Regional Geography
- Is a discipline which focuses on a particular region on the surface of Earth. A regional geographer might focus on Southeast Asia
as his or her region of specialty, a country like the Philippines, or a particular city like Quezon City.
Methods of Inquiry
1. Observation
- Observation of phenomena and events is central to geography’s concern for accurately representing the complexity of the real world.
2. Field Observation/ Exploration
- The principal laboratory for geographic investigation is the field. Fieldwork allows geographers to make direct observations in places
where local data are missing or unreliable and to check the validity of existing secondary sources such as census statistics.

HISTORY (KASAYSAYAN)

Etymological Definition
- The word history came from the Greek word historia which means “finding out,” “inquiry,” and “narrative”.
Definition
- is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events.
- History is about the life in the past and tells us about the people who lived in a different time.
 - It records and explains what people have thought, said and done.
Who are the Historians?
- Historians examine the past by searching for clues in the writings and pictures that they find, and in other things like clothing, tools
and ornaments that still remain today. They ask questions and try to find evidence about life in the past.
Fields of History
1. Social History
- concerned with the study of particular kinds of phenomena such as family and marriage, adolescence and mass media, human
rights and inequality, industrialization and development, and work and leisure through the use of sociological theories and
approaches.
- focuses on the social trends and movements, and how they are guided by the masses, rather that just a few leading figures.
(e.g. During the American Revolution. Traditional History would focus on men like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington,
whereas social history would emphasizes the ordinary men and women who lived during that time were involved in the Revolution).

(An examination of child labor in the early 20th century would be considered social history).

2. Cultural History
- focuses on the broader history of culture. For example, the lifestyle people had during the 1920s would be considered cultural
history. Another example is, a Historian is researching rock and roll music during the 1950s.
- Art, music, fashion, and architecture are popular components of cultural history.
3. Military History
- concerned with why and how wars are fought, the central figures in war, and the weaponry and equipment used in war.
4. Economics History
- emphasizes the role of economics as a decisive force in historical cause and effect.
5. Women’s History
- focuses on the contributions of women and focusing on themes specific to women.
6. Intellectual History
- It seeks to track the movement of ideas- of intellectual schools of thought over time.
7. Environmental History
- emphasizes the history of how humans have interacted with their natural surroundings.
8. Political History
- deals with the history of politics.
Methods of Inquiry
1. Textual Analysis or Content Analysis
- is a methodology in the social sciences for studying the content of communication. Earl Babbie defines it as “the study of recorded human
communications, such as books, websites, paintings, and laws.
2. Archival work
- An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place where the historical records are located. It contains historical records
and documents.
3. Field work
- is the collection of raw data in natural settings. The term is mainly used in the natural and social science studies. (e.g. interview,
observation, survey)

LINGUISTIC (LINGGUWISTIKA)

Etymological Definition
- “lingua” (tongue, language)
Definition
- it is the study of human speech including the units, structure, and modification of language.
- Linguistics is interdisciplinary in nature, intersecting the humanities with the social sciences as it requires in the basic element that allows
societies to communicate ideas across time and space.
- Linguistic as a discipline deals with three principal components: sound, structure, and meaning.
 Sound is divided into phonetics and phonology: Phonetics studies human speech sound, while phonology studies the principles
governing sound systems of languages.
 Structure is divided into morphology and syntax: Morphology studies language structure from its morphic units or root words, while
syntax studies sentence structure such as grammar.
  Meaning is divided into semantics and pragmatic: Semantics studies the logic and meanings of words and phrases, while
pragmatics studies the use of language and its effects on society.
Who are the Linguists?
- Linguists have an interest in understanding the way that language works, either a particular language or language in general. Linguists
notice small details and discrepancies in the patterns of a language.
Fields of Linguistic
Evolutionary Linguistics- traces the development of a language from its original form and pattern.
Anthropological Linguistic - the study of human communication within a sociocultural context and the origin and evolution of language (often
in less well-documented language).
Historical Linguistic- The study of linguistic change over time in a particular language (family). The reconstruction of unattested forms of
earlier stages of a language by use of the comparative method to study similarities such as vocabulary, word formation and syntax.
Socio Linguistic- The study of the effect of the society, including cultural norms, expectations, and context, on the way language is used.
Psycho Linguitics- The psychological and neurological factors that enable humans to acquire, use and comprehend language. Experimental
psychology is applied to study and understand the mental processes involved in language use.
Computational Linguistic - The use of computer science in the study of computational systems that process or analyze written or spoken
natural language dealing with aspects such as grammar, interpretation and production of language by technology.
Neurolinguistic- The study concerned with the comprehension, production and abstract knowledge of language (spoken, signed or written)
and human brain mechanisms.
Typology- The study of the similarities and differences between languages, regardless of any genetic relation, and the resulting
categorization of language into 'types' by classification of its grammatical features
Methods of Inquiry
1. Descriptive Linguistics- describes and explains features f language without making subjective judgments on whether a particular feature
or usage is good or bad.
2. Prescriptive Linguistics- attempts to promote particular linguistics usages over others, often favouring a particular dialect
POLITICAL SCIENCE (AGHAM PAMPOLITIKA)

Etymological Definition
- The term politics is derived from the Greek word politicos which means “of, for, or relating to citizens,”.
Definition
- is the study of political power relations, behaviour, and activities as well as systems of government from a domestic, international, and
comparative perspective.
- focuses on the theory and practice of government and politics at the local, state, national, and international levels.
- As a social sciences, political science focuses on group power, the “how” and “why” of collective decision- making.
- Political science is above all the study of power: how it is created, exercised, justified and challenged.
What does a Political Scientist Do?
- A Political Scientist is someone who studies government, political processes and political issues in a scientific way, often within the context
of an academic institution.
- The Political Scientist asks intelligent and answerable questions, and then the process of gathering data or doing research begins.
Fields of Political Science
1. Political Theory
- is concerned mainly with the foundations of political community and institutions. It focuses on human nature and the moral purposes of
political association.
2. Comparative Politics
- is a broad field with a variety of approaches and goals. The purpose of comparative politics is to provide an understanding of how and why
different societies develop kinds of political institutions.
- Comparative Politics courses are of two basic types: One offers comparisons of a particular set of problems or institutions in a number of
different countries. The second type offers in-depth analysis of the basic political institutions and processes of a single country or group of
countries in a world region.
3. International Relation
- is concerned with developing an understanding of why states and non- state international actors, like the united nations and multinational
corporations, interact as they do.
- International Relations is a diverse field both in terms of what kinds of behavior are studied and how they are studied.
4. Public Administration
- is the discipline which tackles the management and implementation of government policies. Public Administration also studies the
organizational structure of government, the programs it formulated for its people, and the public officials who are tasked to deploy such
programs.
Methods of Inquiry
 a) Comparative Method- established correlations of institutional factors working hand-in-hand with the state that affect a political
phenomenon in understanding the science of politics.
b) Scientific Method- refers to the formulation of general theory based on tested hypothesis which are derived from organized
patterns of systematically arranged and collected relevant facts to a political problem.
c) Observational Method- employs the working of one’s critical observation of a political situation and interprets it based on
philosophical reflection.

PSYCHOLOGY (SIKOLOHIYA)

Etymological Definition
- The root word of psychology comes from the Greek word psyche which means “soul”; hence, psychology is, in essence, the study of the
soul.
Definition
- is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.
- is defined as the science that deals with emotional and mental processes.
- Psychology is the summary of a person’s characteristic including how they think, feel, and behave.
Who are the Psychologists?
- Psychologists work in law enforcement, science labs, in hospitals, with healthy children, and children with abnormal development, in
schools, in all aspects of society and social interactions, and even in design and technology fields.
Fields of Psychology
1. Social Psychology
- Social Psychology is about understanding individual behavior in a social context.
- The social psychology encompasses all types of counseling including individual, group, and marriage counseling.
- You can find these psychologists in drug treatment centers, conducting group therapy, or in crisis prevention centers, working with victims
of abuse. You can also find social psychologists in schools assisting with academic and career development.
2. Abnormal and Clinical Psychology
- These fields cover the other aspects of psychology that are well known in society. Conducting tests to assess mental health and need for
treatment is an important role of clinical psychologists, and essentially what clinical and abnormal psychology focus on.
- Clinical psychologists often offer counseling to people with abnormal psychological disorders that may need medication to supplement
treatment options. As with many other fields of psychology, clinical and abnormal psychology both build from other fields of psychology like
experimental psychology, biopsychology, developmental psychology, and counseling psychology. Taking aspects of each of these other fields,
they are applied directly to the concerns of clinical and abnormal psychology.
3. Educational Psychology
- a branch/ field of psychology that studies children in an educational setting and is concerned with teaching and learning methods, cognitive
development, and aptitude assessment.
- Educational Psychology involves the study of how people learn, including topics such as student outcomes, the instructional process,
individual differences in learning, gifted learners, and learning disabilities.
- It involves not just the learning process of early childhood and adolescence but includes the social, emotional, and cognitive processes that
are involved in learning throughout the entire lifespan.
4. Forensic Psychology
- Forensic Psychology is the application of clinical specialties to the legal arena.
- Forensic Psychology is the intersection between psychology and the justice system. It involves understanding fundamental legal principles,
particularly with regard to expert witness testimony and the specific content area of concern.
- The important aspect of Forensic Psychology is the ability to testify in court as an expert witness, reformulating psychological findings into
the legal language of the courtroom, providing information to legal personnel in a way that can be understood.
5. Behavioral Psychology
- is a field of psychology that studies motivation and how to manipulate motivation. (ex. Behavioral Modification is a method of changing
someone’s, or an animal’s, behavior from an undesirable action, like scratching on furniture, to a more desirable action, like scratching on a
cat post.
- Behaviorist can work with people with addictions, children with behavioral issues and even animals needing behavior modification.
6. Developmental Psychology
- is a scientific approach which aims to explain growth, change, and consistency through life span. Developmental Psychology looks at how
thinking, feeling, and behavior change throughout a person’s life.
- Developmental Psychology examines the influences of nature and nurture on the process of human development, and processes of
change in context and across time.

Methods of Inquiry
1. Controlled Experiments
- Controlled experiments in psychological research have the same principles as those done in market research, social research, and even
scientific research. All controlled experiments involve two groups being researched upon- the experimental group and the control group.
2.Field Experiment
- These are conducted in the everyday (i.e. natural) environment of the participants but the situations are still artificially set up.
3.Case Study
- Case studies are in-depth investigations of a single person, group, event or community.
-Case studies are widely used in psychology and amongst the best-known ones carried out were by Sigmund Freud. He conducted very
detailed investigations into the private lives of his patients in an attempt to both understand and help them overcome their illnesses.
4. Correlation
5. Interviews
6. Questionnaire
7. Observations
8. Pilot Study
- A pilot study can help the researcher spot any ambiguities (i.e. unusual things) or confusion in the information given to participants or
problems with the task devised.
9. Content Analysis
- Content analysis is a research tool used to indirectly observe the presence of certain words, images or concepts within the media (e.g.
advertisements, books films etc.). For example, content analysis could be used to study sex-role stereotyping.

SOCIOLOGY

Etymological Definition
- The term was derived from the French word sociologie which is a combination of the Greek words socius, which means “companionship”
or “friendship”, and the suffix –ology, which means “the study of.” Thus, sociology is simply defined as “the study of society”.
Definition
- is the scientific study of society, including patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture.
- Sociology is an exciting and illuminating field of study that analyzes and explains important matters in our personal lives, our communities,
and the world.
- Sociology is the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships; specifically: the systematic study of the development,
structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings.
Other terms used in Sociology
Society- defined as a “group of people who share in one form or another distinct commonality.” Society is instrumental in studying this
discipline as it defines the nature of man (in other words, man is a social animal, according to Aristotle).
Institutions- An institution is a complex and organized entity which aims to protect and enable the continuing function of values adopted by
society. The five basic social institutions includes family, government, economy, education, and religion.
Norms- refer to the values and behaviours which are considered acceptable in society. Social norms affect or impose themselves on every
type of human interaction and institution.
Deviance- is the straying away from or going out of what is the norm. Deviance is neither punished nor rewarded if the actions do not
disregard societal values, but still deviate from what is considered a norm.
Who are the Sociologists?
- Sociologists emphasize that careful gathering and analysis of evidence about social life to develop and enrich our understanding of key
social process.
- Sociologists study all things human, from the interactions between two people to the complex relationships between nations or
multinational corporations.
Field of Sociology
1. Historical Sociology
- It is the study of social facts and social groups. It studies the background of any social events. (How and when different social
groups or organizations originated?
2. Sociology of Religion
- This branch studies the structure of the religion in social system as no society is free from the influence of it. It analyses the social
behavior of human beings. It also studies the religious constitutions and their role in the society.
3. Rural Sociology
- This branch of sociology studies the way of life of rural people as the rural population is higher than the urban. The patterns of life
such as behavior, belief, culture, tradition norms, values, etc. are totally different than of urban people. So, it studies the rural
society in scientific way. It also studies rural life, social institutions, social structure, social processes, etc. of the rural society.
4. Urban Sociology
 - This branch of sociology studies the way of life of urban people. It gives information about the social organizations and instution of
urban society as well as social structure and social interaction. It also studies the social pathology of urban society such as
discrimination) crime, corruption, robbery, beggary, loot, theft, unemployment, prostitution, environmental pollution, etc.
Methods of Inquiry
1. Case Study- is a research method which focuses on a particular social phenomenon and its effects on a specific group of people or an
individual. A case study is an in-depth analysis of an individual or a group of people by way of interviews, observations, and examination of
artifacts and records.
2. Survey – is the collection of data using questionnaires and statistical analysis in order to arrive at the collective response of a group or a
sample given a particular phenomenon.

DEMOGRAPHY

Etymological Definition
- The term demography comes from the Greek word demos (people) and graphia (a description of). From this etymology, we may derive
that demography is a study of describing people.
Definition
- As an academic field under the social science, demography is the study of human populations through the use of statistical analysis and
mathematical modelling.
- Demography describes the composition of a population according to its basic and socioeconomic features. A population’s basic features
include age, sex, family, and household.
Other Term used in Demography
Fertility- can either mean the live birth of a population or the number of women in childbearing.
Mortality- is the death rate or frequency of death in a population.
Migration- is the movement of people across a particular boundary to establish a permanent or semi- permanent residence.
Population- refers to the number of inhabitants in a given area such as countries and regions.
Fields in Demography
1. Historical Demography – is the quantitative study of populations in the past. Historical demographers use, among others, censuses
conducted by governments, historical records, church registries, genealogies, and family trees to establish an approximation of
demographic data.
2. Social Demography- uses demographic data to describe and explain social phenomenan. It investigates social phenomena that
affect the distribution, growth, migration, and settlement of populations. Social demography also studies the social status
distribution within a population.
Methods of Inquiry
1. Direct
-There are two types of direct demographic research methods. The first method is gathering data through registries – using vital statistics
provided by registries, demographers can estimate birth and death rates. The second method is acquiring data though censuses- conducted
by national governments.
2. Indirect
- interviewing people and questioning them about their families.