social science
1. any of a number of disciplines concerned with the common elements and collective dimensions of human experience, studied from a scientific and research perspective. These disciplines traditionally have included anthropology, economics, geography, history, linguistics, political science, psychiatry, psychology, and sociology, as well as associated areas of mathematics and biology. Additional fields include related psychological studies in business administration, journalism, law, medicine, public health, and social work. The focus of analysis ranges from the individual to institutions and entire social systems. The general goal is to understand social interactions and to propose solutions to social problems. 2. these disciplines collectively.