Work in Progress(Unit 1)

"Time for the Social Sciences." Nature International Weekly Journal Of Science. 30 Dec. 2014. Web. 01 Jan. 2015.

• The author argues that the mutual framing of social and natural sciences is necessary in order for socio economic and other problems to be solved. He claims that in order for this to happen there must be government recognition for the need and importance for social sciences just as there is a clear need for the natural sciences. He speaks on the REF and how “A remarkable and contentious aspect of UK science policy is the extent to which the REF rankings will determine funding.” If REF rankings completely determined funding overall then the funding for social sciences would be virtually non existent. This would only give way to an increase in socio economic problems since the natural sciences alone cannot do all the problem solving.

"Why Is It Important to Study Social Sciences?" Enotes. N.p., 9 Mar. 2011. Web. 10 Jan. 2015. <http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/why-important-study-social-sciences-398271>.

• The author argues that social sciences exist to help us improve our societies. He points out that social science is simply the study of society, how people create societies, and what influences them in their decision making about said societies. This goes along with my topic because it describes the importance of the social sciences in a simple manner. He provides the example of a sociologist studying a welfare program. If that program is not beneficial to its clients then that is a problem that needs to be fixed and it is the sociologists job to point this out.

"The Importance of Social Sciences to Government." Business/Higher Education Round Table 10(2002): 3-4. Web. 8 Jan. 2015.

• The author claims that government policy in the area of social sciences flows into almost all avenues of human life. “Expenditure on social security and welfare, health and education equates to some 65% or $98 billion of the 2000/01 budget expenditure of $151 billion.” If 65% of the budget is spent on fields relating to and involving social sciences then how can social sciences even be seen as less important? The authors argue that the importance of social sciences stem from their involvement in health and well being, treatment of diseases, provision of education, and many other things.

"The Importance of Studying the Obvious." Social Science Space. The Harvard Business Review, 6 July 2012. Web. 8 Jan. 2015.

• The author argues that the reason the social sciences are criticized and targeted for funding cuts so often is because the social sciences are about “us.” As the author puts it “everyone has experience being human, and so the vast majority of findings in social science coincide with something that we have either experienced or can imagine experiencing. The result is that social science all too often seems like common sense.” The author goes on to say that typically when results from social sciences do not conform to our intuitions we are quick to dismiss them as false or irrelevant. This is the viewpoint held by many and a large reason for the underappreciation and often times underfunding of the social sciences by the people and the government.

Coleman, Mary S., and John L. Hennessy. "Lessons from the Humanities and Social Sciences." The Washington Post. Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2014. Web. 8 Jan. 2015.

• The author’s argue that the country risks marginalizing the humanities and social sciences through their push on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. The authors consist of a biochemist and a computer scientist so their pro social science point of view provides them with a sense of credibility. They argue that the humanities focus on lasting challenges relevant to all of us and in order for these challenges to be addressed and solved, the social sciences must remain if not increase in relevance and funding across the nation and globe. The authors agree that even in STEM fields, aspects of humanities and social sciences are required for success and progress in said fields.