1. AOK Human Sciences
(Lesson 3)
How do Human Sciences
investigate the world?
How do Human Sciences differ
from other “disciplines”

2. How do Human Sciences investigate
the world?
This is a Labour Party Political Broadcast by
Eddie Izzard, a comedian.
It is biased and presents one side of the
argument !
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZDreHPzU94
What evidence does Eddie Izzard provide that
Britain is brilliant ? Would this approach convince
a natural scientist ?
What is his view about quantitative data as shown
by the first section of the broadcast ?
What is his message ? How do you know ?!

3. 3 Philosophical Approaches to
research in the Human Sciences
 Positivism
 Interpretivism
 Critical Theory

4. Positivism
 Scientific method
 The Human Sciences can be studied in the same
way as the Natural Sciences
 Quantitative (counting and measuring)
 Objective
 Replicable experiments
 Seeking “Truth”, “Laws”, “Models”, “Prediction”
In what ways is the Stanford Experiment an
example of positivist method ?

5. Interpretivism
 The process of interpretation
 The Human Sciences are more complex than the
Natural Sciences
 Qualitative (interviews, photographs…)
 Subjective
 The importance of “context”
 Seeking “Insight”, “Understanding”
In what ways would the Eddie Izzard clip be an
example of an interpretivist method ?

6. Critical Theory
 Looking for underlying patterns / themes
 The Human Sciences can only be understood if
we look for underlying meaning
 Structuralism
 The importance of politics
 Seeking “Explanation” through studying events as
part of a wider process and pattern

7. Hong Kong (1)
Since the colonial power left Hong Kong in 1997 it
has been able to overcome the post colonial
challenges it faced and develop a more equal and
productive economy and society. Its success is
due to the enterprise and attitudes of the local
people. Further development is threatened by its
lack of democracy and Chinese interference but
the liberal society allows the community to
flourish. Hong Kong is a great place to live.

8. Hong Kong (2)
In recent years the GDP of Hong Kong has grown
rapidly (on average by x % per annum ) and been
based on growth in the financial sector (Hang
Seng rose from y to z between 1997 and 2008)
and trade. As a result, average incomes have
risen by p% and the standard of living is now q%
higher. Homeless numbers have dropped by r%
in the last 10 years. Hong Kong is a great place
to live.

9. Hong Kong (3)
The Chief Executive’s report shows us how much
progress has been made in recent years in both
the economy and society. He argues that the
careful, light touch approach of his Government is
working very well. We interviewed 10 Hong
Kongers who told us that they were happy and
that their lives had improved in recent years.
Hong Kong is a great place to live.

10. Task 1
1. Match each of the paragraph descriptions
with the philosophical approach and briefly
explain your decision
2. For one of the following issues, attempt to
write a paragraph from each philosophical
standpoint
The growth of cities
The recent financial crash
The situation in Palestine

11. Discussion Questions
 In what ways are the Natural and Human
Sciences different ?
 If different methods of study produce
contrasting results, how can we decide which
is correct ?
 Does the complexity of studying Human
Sciences make them a “richer” area for
research or just a “harder” one ?

12. Clifford Geertz
“Believing, with Max Weber, that man is an animal
suspended in webs of significance he himself has
spun, I take culture to be those webs, and the
analysis of it to be, therefore, not an experimental
science in search of laws but an interpretive one
in search of meaning”

13. Howework Task
1. Put Geertz’s quotation into your own words.
2. Do you agree ? Explain.

14. AOK Human Sciences
Why do we research the Human
Sciences ? (Lesson 4)
Racism Case Study
Political choices

15. Obama ends
racism ?!
What point is the
cartoon making about
Obama’s election ?
What do you think
would end racism ? Is
it possible ?

16. Racism through the Ages (Australia)
What point is this
cartoon making
about racism ?
How has racism
changed over the
ages ?

17. Asian Racism ?
Is this
“racism”, “discriminatio
n” or “prejudice” ?
Who else suffers from
racism in Hong Kong
Why ?
Is racism a natural part
of the human

18. Racism in politics
Most immigrants to the UK are from Eastern
Europe (white) !
Why does the BNP represent immigrants in

19. BNP views
Think about Will Britain Be British in 30
this excerpt
from the Years Time? Not if the Tories
British and Labour Have Their Way
National Mass immigration policies
Party
Website. pursued by both Labour and
Conservative parties has
What caused English-speaking
evidence is children to become a minority
there that
they are in 1,500 schools in Britain and
“racist” if left unchecked, will see
values ? British people reduced to an
Contrast
these values
absolute minority within 30

20. Who should I vote for ?
 Weigh up the  Weigh up the values
statistical claims and beliefs of different
made by different parties .
parties.  Which set of values
 Do the and beliefs do you
“positivist”, statistical think will be best for
arguments that have the country ?
been presented
convince you ?

21. Plenary Tasks
 Use evidence from discussions and your wider
understanding to explain why it is important to
study the Human Sciences ?
 What are the Human Sciences able to contribute
to knowledge ?
 What are the main difficulties with this AOK ?