Dr. Jon Camp examines how the social sciences — broadly: communication, psychology, sociology, and economics — use information that might be considered more subjective in nature than that of the “hard” sciences. He defined the social sciences as a set of analytical tools to help us explore the complexity of human experiences.
What counts as evidence in the social sciences? Must the evidence always be quantifiable? How might the social sciences be prophetic in terms of challenging the status quo?
Some specific questions that Dr. Camp asked in his Spotlight were:
- What are the Social Sciences?
- What counts as evidence in the Social Sciences?
- How do the Social Sciences help us think critically?
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Reading
In preparation for this Spotlight session, please read the following excerpt and view the short video from Heart Broken in Half:
- Daniel Little – Objectivity, Truth and Method: A Philosopher’s Perspective on the Social Sciences.
(Note: myACU login required to access reading)
Daniel Little, “Objectivity, Truth and Method: A Philosopher’s Perspective on the Social Sciences,” Anthropology Newsletter (November 1995), 1-5.
This reading contains several terms specific to the discipline of Anthropology, one of the Social Sciences. This summary and glossary might be a helpful reference before you read it.
More about Daniel Little on his website.
Join the Conversation
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Spotlight Resources
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jonathan W. Camp is an Assistant Professor of Communication and Director of the MS in Organizational and Human Resource Development. Much of Camp’s research has focused on protecting human rights in medical research, having published articles in The Lancet, Developing World Bioethics, and Qualitative Health Research.