Is Social Science a Science?
Given my background, when I hear the term “science,” I often think of subjects like math or physics, where a flow of logical reasoning is explained in a strict order. However, social “science” is also considered a science. The main difference I see as of now between social “sciences” and subjects like math is in their research methods. For example, in math, the formula for the area of a circle will give you an exact answer and change with different inputs. On the other hand, social sciences deal with behaviors and societies that are less predictable and less easily measurable. I witnessed this reality as I read five studies implementing the same method and reporting different results (Grossmann et al., 2023).
To me, the goal of any “science” is to increase our knowledge and understanding of the world. “Knowing” in science means having evidence and reasons to explain why something works rather than just having opinions. While math provides theorems from conjectured patterns, social sciences focus on understanding such patterns and motivations behind human actions, which can be more open to interpretation and are just as crucial for solving real-world problems (Thanheiser, 2023, p. 3).
Learning Theories and Understanding Social Science
When I examine learning theories like multimodal learning and constructivism, I’ve learned how these different teaching methods (like visuals, texts, and hands-on activities) can help people better understand complex ideas. For example, let us say a student is learning to solve quadratic equations in a college algebra class. By using various tools and approaches, the student can grasp the concepts more deeply and solve problems more effectively (Nasir, 2022, p. 486).
Famous thinker Noam Chomsky suggested that our brains are pretty ready to learn languages, hinting that we might also be naturally equipped to understand social patterns and behaviors. However, understanding and knowing the minds of others are complex. For example, referring back to my math background, as students use formulas and different learning methods to master algebra concepts, researchers in learning technologies use learning theories and tools to assess and understand human thoughts and social interactions and see if such tools are making huge impacts in learning (Guignion, 2021; Thanheiser, 2023).
Artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly influences education, particularly in learning technologies. AI can analyze data and recognize patterns much faster than humans, which can help in both STEM and the social sciences. It might help us better understand human behavior or personalize learning experiences based on how different people think and learn. However, concerns about unethical AI practices are rising and community colleges and universities are finding ways to mitigate these outcomes so that students and teachers can achieve optimal results in their educational journey (Grossmann et al., 2023).
Effectiveness of Instructional Design and Learning Assessment
Using multimodal and constructivist learning theories, they acknowledge that everyone learns differently, and they can make our educational systems more effective. Some might understand better through visuals, others through reading or doing. By designing education that uses various methods (multimodal) and builds on what each student already knows (constructivist), we can cater to these differences (Nasir et al., 2021).
However, these differences make it challenging to design perfect educational methods. Each person’s brain works uniquely, meaning what works well for one might not work for another. Yet, by understanding and applying these learning theories, educators can improve how they teach and how they measure what students learn, making education more effective overall (Anthony et al., 2022, p. 533).
In summary, while looking into subjects like math and social “sciences” seem worlds apart, they both strive to expand our knowledge and understanding. Thus, as the program unfolds in front of me as I take more courses, each course will shape my views and help me be more prepared as I frame and organize my ideas for my dissertation when the time comes. Thus, these learning theories highlight the importance of tailoring education to fit diverse needs, showing that thoughtful approaches can significantly enhance how we teach and learn, even with challenges (Anthony et al., 2022; Grossmann, 2023; Thanheiser, 2023).
References
Anthony, B., Kamaludin, A., Romli, A., Raffei, A. F. M., Phon, D. N. A. E., Abdullah, A., & Ming, G. L. (2022). Blended learning adoption and implementation in higher education: A theoretical and systematic review. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 1-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-020-09477-z
Guignion, D. [Theory & Philosophy]. (2021, March 11). What is bias? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@TheoryPhilosophy
Grossmann, I., Feinberg, M., Parker, D. C., Christakis, N. A., Tetlock, P. E., & Cunningham, W. A. (2023). AI and the transformation of social science research. Science, 380(6650), 1108-1109. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi1778
Nasir, J., Kothiyal, A., Bruno, B., & Dillenbourg, P. (2021). Many are ways to learn identifying multi-modal behavioral profiles of collaborative learning in constructivist activities. International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, 16(4), 485-523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11412-021-09358-2
Thanheiser, E. (2023). What is the mathematics in mathematics education?. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 70, 101033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2023.101033
University of North Texas 