Scientific observation in the social sciences differs from that in the natural sciences because:
A) the social sciences deal with the behavior of people
B) the social sciences deal with the extraterrestrial
C) the social sciences have developed concrete laws of behavior, while the natural sciences have only theories
D) people's behavior is predictable, while the behavior of inanimate objects is not

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Scientific observation in the social sciences differs from that in the natural sciences because the social sciences deal with the behavior of people, whereas the natural sciences deal with the behavior of inanimate objects. This makes the methods of observation and analysis different as human behavior is more complex and unpredictable than the behavior of inanimate objects. The social sciences also deal with subjective experiences and perceptions, whereas the natural sciences often deal with objective, empirical data. While there may be some concrete laws of behavior in the social sciences, they are not as robust as the laws in the natural sciences. The social sciences do not deal with the extraterrestrial, so choice B is incorrect. Choice D is also incorrect as human behavior is not always predictable.

Scientific Observation in the Social Sciences Differs from That in the Natural