1. Challenge and Change in Society An Introduction to Psychology, Sociology, & Anthropology

2. An Introduction to the Social Sciences Every person is an observer and predictor of human behaviour Before coming to school today, can you think of any human behaviour you have observed? – E.g. People on the bus do not talk to each other unless they know each other – In pairs, make an educated guess as to why people behaved this way this morning, and discuss whether this behaviour was “expected” or was instead “atypical.”

3. The answers you have provided constitute a “common sense” approach. This differs greatly from the approach of a social scientist, who instead uses disciplined, scientific research. But what separates an ordinary observer from a trained social scientist is the use of directed methods of research

4. The Social Sciences The social sciences are subjects that use research and analysis to explain human behaviour, which includes what people think and how they act All social sciences study human behaviour (e.g. Economics, political science, history, family studies, human geography, anthropology, psychology, sociology) The natural sciences involve a study of the physical world (e.g. Chemistry, biology) The humanities involve the study of the products of human culture (e.g. Art, literature)

5. Disclaimer This course will see us diving into many topics, issues, and subjects that are both sensitive and controversial (e.g. Prejudice, problems of youth, hate crimes, euthanasia, etc.) It is imperative that we create a respectful and inquiring classroom climate, one where we may safely debate these sensitive issues without judgement, and with honesty, integrity and compassion.

6. What is the Purpose of the Social Sciences? Many social scientists apply their research to help solve social problems such as crime, poverty, & homelessness The effectiveness of social scientists is demonstrated in the quality of their research – They study anything humans do that is both observable and measurable

7. Continued... Pick an example of human behaviour: – Why do some women wear make-up? – Why do people gossip? – Why do some people excel in math? – Why do some men take steroids to build muscles? – Why do some people get drunk at parties? Explore “common sense” answers. Remember that these are based on generalizations, observations, experiences, sayings, etc.

8. Thinking Like A Social Scientist How would a social scientist approach such a question? – Brainstorm some ways that a social scientist might answer the same question Remember that social scientists use research tools such as surveys (questionnaires and interviews), experiments, data analysis, participant observation, etc.

9. Key Methodological Approaches of the Social Sciences In pairs, review “Appendix 1.1.1: Key Methodological Approaches of the Social Sciences” Approaches include positivist, interpretive, and critical Answer the questions at the bottom of the page