IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES: 7 REASONS - SCIENCE - 2025

The importance of the social sciences is based on the need to study and examine societies and human behaviors through academic disciplines that allow the analysis of interactions and cultural development in the world.

The social sciences provide deep knowledge that goes beyond immediate experience and helps to explain the functioning of societies, the causes and possible solutions to problems.

In this way, they offer vital data for governments, institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations and local authorities so that they can solve and understand the functioning of human society, the interpersonal relationships of individuals, their behaviors or social phenomena.

As a field of study, the social sciences are separated from the natural sciences and include areas such as political science, economics, linguistics, semiology, demology, geography, history, human ecology, sociology, archeology, psychology and anthropology.

Social science experts use research and data collection methods to understand behavior in multiple areas such as people's happiness level, unemployment, suicides, crime, avenues for economic growth, education, and more.

Although the disciplines of thought recognized as the social sciences do not precede the 19th century, their basic ideas and objectives have their origin in the ancient Greeks' study of the nature of humans and morality.

The legacy of Greece and Rome in these studies has been fundamental in the history of social thought.

Important reasons for the social sciences

Social science is of extreme importance for world society, social scientists are provided with analytical and communication skills that are of great relevance in many sectors.

There are two types of research foundations, the methodological and the conceptual. The methodological ones are based on the mechanisms for data collection and the conceptual ones are the references that have already been studied around social behavior.

The involvement of social experts reaches so many areas of global importance in search of solutions that it is not possible to contemplate or define its horizon due to its infinity of application.

Social scientists propose measures regarding violence, poverty, alternative energy, threats to the environment, the economy, technological development, equality of classes and races, virtual security, epidemics, etc.

Some notable functions of the social sciences is its work in the fight against the spread of infectious diseases such as the Ebola virus.

It has also covered studies to improve the defense and security of some cities in the world. Social scientists are very useful in the business world to analyze behavior and target effective actions.

1. Safer residential areas

According to some history, taking steps to restrict crime in one area causes offenders to move out to carry out their crimes, increasing crime in another area.

That is why sociologists work on security measures together with the police forces to reduce crime by studying criminal patterns to follow up on traces of operations and criminal groups.

Using these methods, social scientists were able to capture data and patterns that the police had not collected.

This technique is called Situational Crime Prevention, which through its application has been able to limit and identify perpetrators of theft and other crimes.

2. Projection of alternative futures

Since its development as a field of study in the nineteenth century, the social sciences opened the debate for the understanding and application of measures that aimed at the development and well-being of the collective future.

In this way, the needs, processes and consequences of the application of the technology of the time could be analyzed to predict results.

An example of this was steam power in railways and factories, which took the world economy to the next level, the sources of work and the order of daily life.

While it depends on scientists to develop the technological future of the world, social scientists are also required to propose questions of ethics, legality and society and thus analyze and debate what happens and will happen to shape a better future.

For example, advances in research in medicine and nanotechnology will impact the way we live in the years to come.

3. Contribution to human health and well-being

Social scientists are in charge of working tirelessly to analyze and study health, leisure, sports, food, old-age care policies and social assistance so that they work in the best way possible.

Through the interpretation of medical statistics they can define, conclude and propose systems for a series of related circumstances.

For example with healthy eating at all stages of growth and providing effective counseling adapted to contexts and cultures.

4. Financial sense

Social science has also focused on economics so that it is not discriminatory or limited to specific areas.

Some social scientists such as psychologists, sociologists, political scientists as well as economists, contribute to understanding the economic crisis and what governments control, undermining the finances of each individual.

Without the analysis of social specialists, the personal economy would have more losses due to global economic movements.

With the understanding that social science offers us, each individual will be able to influence the decisions that states make on their behalf.

5. Work safety

Some organizations analyze the labor rights of government institutions to ensure the safety of employees in factories and business services.

Social scientists are responsible for meeting the needs for the creation of safer work environments.

Even in the most reputable companies with staff training and safety precautions, accidents happen. It has been shown through countless actions that the work of multitudes of workers can be controlled.

A strict safety regulation with clauses from beginning to end is not the most appropriate, the understanding in workers of unsafe work practices as something unacceptable improves decision-making and leadership in project development.

6. Education and adaptation

Social sciences help improve the life and education of the new generations. Societies and governments focus on wanting to demonstrate what is best for children in their education, but in most cases educational reforms do not focus on the interests of students.

Some research shows that parents are more interested in their children's development, adjustment, and enjoyment in school than in their academic achievement.

By trying to understand the needs and perspectives of students of all ages, new insights have been discovered to make education and teachers more effective.

This is intended to break with fragmented content, lack of motivation, improve relationships between students and exercise a critical pedagogy.

7. Study of social networks

Social networks are relational systems that build bridges between people, institutions, companies, the media and society; exposing their mutual interests and activities. They are transversal to the global social structure and directly influence the ways of socializing.

The relationships that people have with others in their personal network, help to understand the ties that individuals have generated in various stages of their lives, places, influences and cultures.

With each new relationship that they establish, be it work, academic or cultural, users are introduced to new contexts, social circles and are exposed to new information for their growth.

In interactions with others, individuals learn to position themselves in social differences and to negotiate their place in society. This contributes to the inclusion of the person in the social environment, allowing her to create her network of contacts and interests.

Understanding and studying the use of social networks, their distribution and diversity of interconnection facilitates a clearer vision of social worlds.

References

1. Robert A. Nisbet. Social science. Source: britannica.com
2. John Sides. Why Study Social Science. (2013). Source: themonkeycage.org
3. Simantini Dhuru. Why Social Sciences are important. Source: teacherplus.org
4. Campaign for Social Science. (2015). Taken from: campaignforsocialscience.org.uk
5. The Importance of the Social Sciences. (2015). Source: studyinternational.com
6. Claire Bidart. Study social networks. (2009). Source: halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr