Natural and Social Sciences: Similarities and …...Prejudices of a Natural Scientist DezsőBoda DepartmentofPhysicalChemistry UniversityofPannonia [email protected] Kőszeg,2015.10.13

Natural and Social Sciences:Similarities and Differences

Prejudices of a Natural Scientist

Dezső Boda

Department of Physical ChemistryUniversity of Pannonia

[email protected]

Kőszeg, 2015.10.13.

Dezső Boda (U. Pannonia) Natural and Social Sciences Kőszeg, 2015.10.13. 1 / 13

Similarities

What is the goal of research?Similarities.

Natural SciencesUnderstanding phenomenaMaking predictionCausality: what causes whatPillars: Logic and observationStudying what and whyLooking for generalitiesLooking for patternsEstablish relations betweenvariables

Social SciencesUnderstanding phenomenaMaking predictionCausality: what causes whatPillars: Logic and observationStudying what and whyLooking for generalitiesLooking for patternsEstablish relations betweenvariables


Similarities

Similarities in methodology – the Wheel of Science

Earl Babbie: The Practice of Social Research, 13th Editionsuggested by László Kákai. Thanks!


Differences

We study different thingsStudy of János Abonyi on the basis of Scopus database

Environmental Science Sociology


Differences

Different approaches to numbers:Qualitative vs. Quantitative

Natural SciencesDiscussion usually involvesmath (notable exceptions:descriptive sciences, biology, etc)Variables denote well-definedthings that are produced byeither reproducible experimentsor first-principle laws throughmathematicsHunt for basic laws that explainthe relations between variablesChallenge: find basic laws thatcan explain phenomena in realmshard to observe (micro, galactic)

Social SciencesDiscussion is often verbalVariables are taken fromdatabases (Big Data),questionarres, or polls.Observation is less of a problem.Hunt for patterns that indicatecorrelations between thevariablesChallenge: find basic laws thatcan explain these correlations


Differences

Qualitative vs. Quantitative: Camps inside a Camp?

Thompson, Paul. 2004. Researching Family and SocialMobility with Two Eyes: Some Experiences of theInteraction between Qualitative and Quantitative Data.International Journal of Social Research Methodology 7 (3):237–57.„Only a few sociologists would openly deny the logic ofcombining the strengths of both quantitative and qualitativemethods in social research. . . . In practice, however, despite suchwider methodological aspirations in principle, social researchershave regrettably become increasingly divided into two camps,many of whose members know little of each other even if they arenot explicitly hostile.”

Earl Babbie: The Practice of Social Research, 13th Edition


Differences

The problem of reproducibility

Estimating the reproducibility of psychological scienceby Open Science Collaboration, Science, 2015, 349(6251):4716

suggested by János Abonyi. Thanks!


Differences

Different approaches to modeling:What are the variables?

Natural SciencesModels are simplifications – wecannot take everything intoaccount.We neglect unimportant things.Example: when we describe theorbit of a falling apple, we donot include the worm in theapple in the model.The main question: What isimportant? It is usually not soobvious.Studying the model: using basiclaws and theories developed onthe basis of them

Social SciencesVariables are sets of attributes,categories, values (yes or no,male or female, numbers, etc.)Model: logical generalizations onthe basis of observed patternsfrom which principles can bedeveloped and predictions can bemadeUnderstanding comes throughthe model.If the model is successful andvery general, it is called aparadigm


Differences

Different approaches to presenting results

Natural SciencesMore data, less discussion – thedata speak for themselvesRigorous structure of scientificpapers: introduction, methodology,results, discussion, conclusionExtensive references to others (it isa requirement): it is rare thatnobody else did something similarGraphs rather than tablesSlideshows with carefully chosensets of results that make the pointEstablish the „point” at thebeginningEfforts to be concise

Social SciencesMore discussion – data are notalways availablePapers are often essays andanalysesPresentation: reading of the text(a cultural shock for me)Lack of conciseness: things arecomplex so they need to beexpounded


Differences

Different approaches to „Agency” and the„Politically Correct”

The Human Side of ResearchAgency: the capacity of individuals to act independently and to maketheir own free choicesSocial Sciences are about Humans – feelings can be hurt by theresults (not really a problem in Natural Sciences)Results can change the studied object – a Strange LoopMore space for Opinion Terrorists (PC)Events that you are blacklisted by scientific authorities (even if youare right) is quite rare in Natural Sciences.Is there a fear from Opinion Terrorists? Is that the reason of carefulwording, blurred discussions, lack of to-the-point statements?


Similarities

Similar hierarchy: Microworld vs. Macroworld

Natural SciencesMicroscopic (molecular) level:molecules buzzing aroundTheir motion can be describedwith classical (Newton) orquantum (Schrödinger)mechanicsThe zillions of microscopicevents average out into amacroscopic answer that can bemeasured (thermodynamics)The link between the two level isdescribed by statisticalmechanics (first-principle)

Social Sciences„Microtheory deals with issues ofsocial life at the level ofindividuals and small groups.”(psychology, social psychology,microsociology, etc.)„Macrotheory deals with large,aggregate entities of society oreven whole societies.”(macrosociology, history, etc.)What is the link between them?Can a law (similarly to stat.mech.) be developed?


Similarities

Applicability of a mechanism that decreasesEntropy: Evolution – Genes vs. Memes

Natural SciencesReplicator: the geneGenes code organs, bodies,instinctive behaviorOrganisms carry the replicatorFit genes make the organismsurvive and multiple thus passingthe gene to future generationsCreates more and more complex(ordered) organisms that arebetter and better in adapting tothe environmentFight against the 2nd Law ofThermodynamics

Social SciencesReplicator: the memeMemes code everything beyondgenetic codingHuman brains carry thereplicatorFit memes make the Humansremember the meme and pass toother Humans thus multiply thememeCreates more and more complexideas, cultures that makeHumans better in surviving (forexample: Science)


Similarities and Differences

Summary

SimilaritiesGoal of research: understandingand making predictionsThe World is ordered. What isthe nature of this order? Howdoes this order emerge fromChaos? Religions have adifferent answer.World is structured andhiarerchical. See: micro andmacro leves.Search for patterns andregularities (quantitatively ifpossible)Both use deterministic andprobabilistic approaches

DifferencesRelation to math vs. relation toverbal discussionMeaning of variables: numbersvs. attributesExistence of a few first-principlelaws vs. existence of manypatternsDifferent meaning of models(simplification is common)Different degree ofreproducibility of resultsDifferent ways of discussion,publication, and presentationDifferent approach to „Agency”


Documents

Natural and Social Sciences: Similarities and …...Prejudices of a Natural Scientist DezsőBoda DepartmentofPhysicalChemistry UniversityofPannonia [email protected] Kőszeg,2015.10.13