Scientific Explanation of Natural and Social Sciences and Their Contributions in the Development of Knowledge: Are They Similar or Different?

Abstract

It is a general believe that science is based on facts and figures. The observations of individuals about the construction of world and its particles are put into experiments and when proved, are treated as science. On the other hand, there is a field of social science which has the credit to observe the society and its practices. From individual life to society as a whole, public to government, crime to law, politics to economics, sociology to psychology and so on. This paper presents the Scientific Explanation of Natural and Social Sciences and their Contributions in the Development of Knowledge. The article takes a critical look at the similarities and differences based on methods of research in natural and social sciences, their branches, criticisms on approaches used and their contributions towards the creation and development of knowledge. It was found that the two fields, natural and social sciences are different from each other in terms of definitions, origin, branches, methods of investigation, contributions in the creation of knowledge as well as criticisms made on both fields. Thus it was concluded that while natural sciences uses more of quantitative techniques of investigation and the interpretations anchored on objectivity, the social sciences uses more of qualitative techniques and the interpretation is highly subjective. Hence results produced in natural sciences could be considered more reliable than the social sciences.