Sources of Knowledge in Social Sciences

SCHOLARLY LEARNING JOURNAL 3
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What sources of knowledge are (not) valued in your discipline? Why?
Social sciences have a significant impact on research in terms of methodology and health content
(Nonaka and Von Krogh, 2009, p 640). The contributions of social sciences to qualitative
research are particularly important. In other words, the basic concept of social sciences is the
synthesis of reality and knowledge and the logic of the theory. It can be a useful starting point for
evaluating the nature and strength of qualitative methods.
Knowledge refers to an understanding of the world around us. It helps us to live as a member of
society. Epistemology deals with the understanding of knowledge. It enables an understanding
regarding the world as a place for analysis and research. It allows categorization of phenomenon
that makes up the world. It allows understanding connection amongst various phenomenons. It
helps to predict events that alleviate suffering or improve the well-being of individuals and
groups (Kincheloe and McLaren, 2011, p 290). We generally understand that science is
understood in two fundamental ways: experience (empirical) and reasoning (logical). The first
includes knowledge acquired through sensory perception, and the latter includes logical and
mathematical information. In practice, however, we get knowledge through a combination of
processes and experiences (Podsakoff, MacKenzie and Podsakoff, 2012, p 540).
Science is a domain that wants to learn regarding human aspects, such as conscience and
subjectivity. On the other hand, social sciences deal with human awareness and subjectivity at
the observed and observer level. This includes studying the beliefs, values, intentions, and
reports given to culture in human activity. The study of "reality" of social sciences must not be
given from the outside, but from within, so the possibility of interpretation and the social
structure of reality.
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