AOK 3 HUMAN SCIENCES

Essential Learning Summary

(2 lessons with optional extension)

Lesson 1 - Key Questions

• What are ‘Human Sciences’?

• Why are they important?

• Why are they ‘Sciences’?

• How do they differ from ‘Natural Sciences’?

• How do Human Scientists investigate the world?

What are ‘Human Sciences’ and why are they important?

Research this then watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcEfzHB08QE

What insights did your research give you in relation to this clip?

Why are they ‘Sciences’ and how do they differ from ‘Natural Sciences’?

What similarities and differences can you find out about;

•Systems of enquiry?

•Research methodologies?

•Subject matter?

How do Human Scientists investigate the world?

3 main approaches to research;

1) Positivist– Scientific method (can be studied in the same

way as the Natural Sciences)– Quantitative (counting and measuring)– Objective– Reproduceable experiments– Seeking ‘truth’, ‘laws’, ‘models’ & ‘prediction’

2) Interpretivist

• The process of interpretation• Human Sciences are more complex than Natural

Sciences• Qualitative (interviews, photographs…)• Subjective• The importance of ‘context’

• Seeking ‘insight’ and ‘understanding’

3) Critical Theory

• Looking for underlying patterns / themes• Human Sciences can only be understood if we

look for underlying meaning• Structuralism• The importance of politics• Seeking ‘explanation’ through studying events

as part of a wider process and pattern

Task

1. Match each of the following 3 paragraphs with the correct Human Science approach.

2. Briefly explain your decision.

Hong Kong (1)

Since the colonial power left Hong Kong in 1997 it has been able to overcome the post colonial challenges it faced and develop a more equal and productive economy and society. Its success is due to the enterprise and attitudes of the local people. Further development is threatened by its lack of democracy and Chinese interference but the liberal society allows the community to flourish. Hong Kong is a great place to live.

Hong Kong (2)

In recent years the GDP of Hong Kong has grown rapidly (on average by x % per annum ) and been based on growth in the financial sector (Hang Seng rose from y to z between 1997 and 2008) and trade. As a result, average incomes have risen by p% and the standard of living is now q% higher. Homeless numbers have dropped by r% in the last 10 years. Hong Kong is a great place to live.

Hong Kong (3)

The Chief Executive’s report shows us how much progress has been made in recent years in both the economy and society. He argues that the careful, light touch approach of his Government is working very well. We interviewed 10 Hong Kongers who told us that they were happy and that their lives had improved in recent years. Hong Kong is a great place to live.

Follow-up task

For one of the following issues, attempt to write a paragraph from each philosophical standpoint;

•The growth of cities

•The recent financial crash

•The situation in Palestine

Homework

Investigate the Stanford Prison Experiment

http://www.prisonexp.org/slide-2.htm

Consider the reasons that these ordinary people behaved in this way. How could the findings be used to benefit society?

• Why/when are the theories ‘convincing’?

• Why/when are the theories ‘less convincing’?

• Why might a Natural Scientist be deeply critical of Human Science/Scientists?

• What dilemmas are presented through pursuing qualitative and quantitative approaches in research?

Lesson 2 – Key Questions

Why / when are the theories convincing / less convincing?

• Focus on 1 or 2 specific theories in this context.

• What about the nature of ‘being convinced’ itself?

• Does this serve to undermine the value of Human Sciences for some people?

• What do you think about this and why?

Why might a Natural Scientist be deeply critical of Human Science/Scientists?

There is often a perceived battle for acceptance between the Natural and Human Sciences!

Caltech Professor of Theoretical Physics, Richard Feynman was an internationally renowned Nobel Prize winner who ‘championed’ Natural Science and was deeply critical of Human Sciences / Scientists.

His opinions about Social Sciences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaO69CF5mbY

Summarise some reasons for his opinions.

Why might Feynman be biased?

Quantitative vs Qualitative

Quantitative = of or pertaining to the describing or measuring of quantity.

Qualitative = pertaining to or concerned with quality or qualities.

Why does this tend to put Social Sciences ‘in conflict’ with Natural Sciences?

Problems with Qualitative research methods

Questioner IntervieweeQuestion design

For each of the ‘characters’ involved in qualitative research, list as many possible sources of error or bias as you can - you can do the first few as a group

Are you a racist?

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/Study?tid=-1

What do the findings suggest about you? How might this affect society?Does it matter?

Task

In groups of 3 or 4 design an experiment to test;

People’s responses to being instructed to inflict pain on others

(You will need to present your ideas to the class)

Questions to consider.....

• How can you be sure that your research is fair’?

• What data could your experiment produce?

• In what ways is this type of experiment different to a Natural Science experiment?

The Milgram Experiment• Subjects were “employed” to help

out at a psychology experiment. • As “Teacher” (T) they were

instructed to administer electric shocks to a Learner (L) on the command of the Experimenter (E)

• Shocks increased up to 450 volts (more than enough to kill a person) and the shocks were labelled – T knew what they were doing was dangerous and painful – a recording of shouting and distress, eventually leading to silence was heard from the other side of the wall.

How would you react? How do you know?

Results

• Is this what you would expect?

• 26 out of the 40 subjects were willing to deliver a fatal shock

• REMEMBER that each shock was met with different feedback from the Learner

How would you react to these sounds?

Learner responses:

200V - blood-curdling screams

300 - refuses to answer, mumbles something about a heart condition

+330 - silence

Where would you stop?

So what?• How would the findings of your experiment be

useful?

• In many States in the U.S. the death penalty is used as the ultimate punishment. How might these findings inform your opinions of the death sentence?

Extension MaterialIf different methods of study produce contrasting results, how can we decide which is correct?

In what ways is the Stanford Experiment

an example of positivist method?

Justify whether the complexity of studying Human Sciences make them a ‘richer’ area for research or just a ‘harder’ one ?

Use evidence from discussions and your wider understanding to explain why it is important to study the Human Sciences.

What are the Human Sciences able to contribute to knowledge?

What are the main difficulties with this AOK?

“Believing, with Max Weber, that man is an animal

suspended in webs of significance he himself has

spun, I take culture to be those webs, and the

analysis of it to be, therefore, not an experimental

science in search of laws but an interpretive one in

search of meaning” Clifford Geertz

1.Put Geertz’s quotation into your own words.

2.Do you agree? Explain.