What is social science? | An animated overview #SocialScience

Summary

The script highlights the pivotal role of social scientists in shaping modern Britain, from the establishment of the National Health Service to the welfare state's development. It underscores their multidisciplinary research, which spans economics to social work, and its impact on understanding societal changes. The Economic and Social Research Council's peer-reviewed funding ensures research quality, with long-term studies revealing crucial insights into societal issues like the effects of smoking during pregnancy and the implications of single-parent families on children's futures.

Takeaways

• 🏥 The concept of the National Health Service and the welfare state's growth were significantly influenced by social scientists.
• 🤝 Social scientists played a crucial role in assisting the Bank of England during financial crises.
• 🧐 Their research encompasses a wide range of disciplines including economics, education, sociology, and more.
• 🔍 They study societal functions, human behavior, and reactions to societal changes.
• 📊 Social scientists use various research methods, from hypothesis testing to uncovering unexpected findings.
• 🏛️ The Economic and Social Research Council is the primary funder of social science research in the UK.
• 🔬 Research funded by the council undergoes peer review to maintain high standards and quality.
• 📚 Large-scale, long-term research projects provide insights into societal changes and their effects on individuals.
• 👶 Studies have revealed the impact of smoking during pregnancy on child development.
• 🏙️ Research has identified the long-term effects of unemployment, poverty, and living in a single-parent family on individuals.
• 🌟 The ultimate goal of social sciences is to enhance our understanding of human behavior and improve societal living conditions.

Q & A

What significant idea did the social scientists help develop as mentioned in the script?

The social scientists helped develop the idea that became the National Health Service.

How did the social scientists contribute to the welfare state according to the script?

They shaped the growth of the welfare state by providing a safety net for those needing a helping hand.

What role did social scientists play during the financial crisis mentioned in the script?

Social scientists helped the Bank of England deal with the financial crisis.

What is the scope of research covered by social scientists as described in the script?

Social scientists' research covers a full span of human behavior, including economics, education, sociology, geography, linguistics, social anthropology, psychology, social work, business, and management studies.

How do social scientists approach their research as per the script?

Social scientists conduct their research in different ways, sometimes aiming to prove or disprove something specific, and at other times discovering new and unexpected findings during basic research.

What is the Economic and Social Research Council, and what does it do according to the script?

The Economic and Social Research Council is the UK’s largest funder of social science research, ensuring that all research applications undergo peer review to maintain high-quality standards.

Why is peer review important for the research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council?

Peer review is important to ensure that the research questions, design, and findings meet the highest standards and quality, making the findings reliable and usable.

What type of research projects does the script mention as being used by social scientists?

The script mentions large-scale research projects that follow groups of people through their lives over many years.

How can the results of long-term social science research impact society and government policies?

The results can help government, ministers, businesses, and charities understand how society changes and the impact this can have on individual lives.

What are some examples of long-term research findings mentioned in the script?

Examples include the effects of smoking during pregnancy on child development, the 'scarring' effects of repeated unemployment and poverty, and the impact of living in a lone-parent family on a child's future.

What is the ultimate goal of social sciences as portrayed in the script?

The ultimate goal of social sciences is to understand human behavior and interaction, aiming to make society a better place to live.