DOMINANT

APPROACHES AND
IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL
SCIENCES
DOMINANT APPROACHES AND
IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
POSITIVIST INTERPRET CRITICAL
SOCIAL IVE SOCIAL SOCIAL
SCIENCE SCIENCE SCIENCE
●
Structural- ●
Hermeneutic ●
Feminist Theory
Functionalism ●
Marxism
Phenomenology
●
Rational Choice ●
Psychoanalysis
●
Symbolic Human-environment
Theory
●

●
Institutionalism Interactionism systems
POSITIVISM
Derived from the French word “positivisme” which means
“imposed on the mind by experience”.
It refers to the philosophy of science that asserts that the only
source of trustworthy knowledge is the information obtained
from rational conducts and reports of sensory experience.
The concept of empirical evidence, or the established data
receive from the senses, is important in positivism.
The French sociologist August Comte is considered as the
“Father of Positivism”.
 STRUCTURAL-
1 FUNCTIONALISM
Introduced by Herbert Spencer and Emile
. Durkheim
Recognized as a system of highly interrelated
parts that operate together harmoniously. Each part
contributes to achieve smooth functioning and
survival as a whole.
Focuses on the way in which different parts of
the society are planned and constructed in order
Functionalism as a perspective is
classified into two:
Manifest function Latent function

Predicted, Unintended
intended, outcome of social
expected, and structure.
knowable effect of
a social structure.
DYSFUNCTIONS known as an element that may disrupt
the society, delay the social system or can even reduce its stability.

Manifest dysfunction Latent dysfunction

Predicted, expected, Unpredicted and

and knowable unexpected disruptions
disruptions of a social of social structures.
structure.
 RATIONAL CHOICE
2 THEORY
. Explains the behaviour of
an individual when making
a choice based on their
own preferences. This
means that an individual
looks into the cost and
benefits of the different
choices presented to
him/her arriving at an
option that is self-
Individual’s choice is usually affected by an
external factor especially when this external
factor becomes a consideration for an individual’s
decision.
3 INSTITUTIONALISM
An approach that highlights the role of
. institutions in affecting social behaviour.
Considers the existence of structures in the
society such as rules, norms, guidelines made to
define the social behaviour in a society. It is when
an institution is given the rights and powers that
individual people do not posses.
Interpretive social science
This approach claims that people create and
associate their own subjective meanings as they
interact with the world around them.
It also claims that our knowledge of reality is only
socially constructed, thus there is no objective
reality, as opposed to the claims of positivist social
science that there exists objective reality.
 PHENOMENOLOG
1Y
Phenomenology is the study of lived experience or lived
. world. It focuses on the person living into his world and not
separating the person from his world.
Hermeneutics is the study of human cultural activities
with a view towards interpretation or to disclose or express
meanings.
Phenomenology becomes hermeneutical if a certain data
is being interpreted rather than taken at face value. This is
because meanings are not directly given to us and we have
to interpret these meanings using thorough observation of
 SYMBOLIC
2 INTERACTIONISM
. It refers to a key framework of sociological
theory which depends on the symbolic meaning
developed by people in the process of
interaction.
Takes a small scale view of society. It focuses
on a small scale perspective of the interactions
between individuals instead of looking at large
scale structures like education or law.
People change based on their interactions with
objects, events, ideas, and other people, and they
assign meaning to things in order to decide how
to act.
Herbert Bloomer proposed three tenets to
explain symbolic interactionism theory.
First tenet was that we act based on the
meaning we have given on something.
Second tenet was that we give meaning to
things based on our social interactions.
Bloomer’s third tenet was that the meaning we
give something is not permanent.
critical social science
An analytical method of investigation that attempts
to expose surface illusions to uncover the real
structures in the material world in order to help
people understand their situation and then transform
the world for the better.
It aims to uncover surface reality in order to expose
underlying structures so that people may improve
the society to which they belong.
 FEMINIST
1 THEORY
A social science theoretical approach encourages
. women to be aware of their subordination in
society and do something to promote gender
equality.
Feminism promotes the belief that women and
men should be treated equally and that steps have
to be taken to realize the goal of gender equality.
 SEX GENDER
refers to the refers to the
biological differences sociocultural
between males and attributes associated
females. with being a man and
a woman and the
different roles that
society assigns to men
and women.
 GENDER GENDER
IDEOLOGY OPPRESSION
refers to attitudes or the manner in
regarding suitable roles, which certain groups
rights, and are privileged or
responsibilities of men disadvantaged
and women in society.
because of gender.
Traditional gender
ideologies emphasize
the value of unique roles
for men and women.
2 MARXISM
One of the theoretical approaches in social
. science that is associated with conflict theory,
or the view that society is divided into social
classes which are always in conflict with one
another.
It analyses how society functions to serve
the powerful class and disadvantage the
others, thereby causing conflict.
ACTIVITY
Listen to the song “Tatsulok” by
Bamboo.
Analyze the lyrics and see if you can
apply Marxism to the symbolisms and
meanings found in the song.
Report your output in class.
 RUBRIC FOR CLASS REPORT

CRITERIA DESCRIPTION POINTS POINTS OBTAINED

The student was able to give examples of

Content 10
symbolisms and meanings from the song.

Analysis was clear and concise and student was

Analysis 10
able to apply Marxist ideas to the song.

The report was well-organized with ideas easily

Organization 5
conveyed to the audience.

TOTAL 25
3 PSYCHOANALYSIS
Developed by a psychologist, Sigmund
. Freud.
As a social science approach liberates
people by acquiring consciousness of the
unconscious. By making conscious of the
unconscious, people will understand why they
behave in a certain way or why they hold
certain values and beliefs.
STRUCTURE OF THE
PERSONALITY
The conscious-unconscious continuum is the key
to understanding behaviour and problem within
the personality which lies in the unconscious
dimension of the human mind.
 ENVIRONMENT
3 SYSTEM
Defined as a framework which studies the
. interaction nor the link between Human
through its social, economic, and political
aspects to Environment through its biological,
atmospheric, and geological aspects.
Focus on how humans and environment are
related and how people can transform the
environment for sustainability.
SUSTAINABILITY
refers to the ability for something to be
maintained.
concepts related to sustainability are:
Carrying capacity – the largest size that the
resources permit
Resilience – ability of the system to return to its
initial state after disturbance
Landscape refers not only to the beautiful spot but the
mixture of environmental and human phenomena that
coexist together in a specific place on Earth.
1 Quarter Project
st

Research Proposal
By group (maximum of 5 members)
Submission:
Research Proposal
Topic
Introduction (Background of the study, Related
literature, Statement of the problem, Hypothesis,
Objectives)
Methodology (Research design, Data gathering
method, Target participants)
References