Social Science Resources List

This Social Sciences Fields Resources List will help you to navigate through the core social science fields that we draw from in our SSC courses. You will be able to use these materials across all of your SSC courses. As you will discover, the materials are presented in a variety of ways, including readings, interactive explorations, and videos. The materials are organized in the following way:

  • Comparison of Social Science Fields
  • Sociology Theories
  • Anthropology Theories
  • Economics Theories
  • Political Science Theories
  • Psychology Theories
  • Sociology Theories
  • Social Science Research Methods

It is suggested that you begin your exploration with the Comparison of Social Science Fields materials, as these will give you an overview and help you in differentiating the fields in a structured way. Next, the sections on theory will aid you in more deeply understanding the perspectives from which different types of social scientists work. Finally, the section on research methods includes materials that compare the approaches used by different social scientists as well as materials that detail methods as used in specific fields.


Sociology Theories

Dunn, R. (n.d.). The three sociological paradigms/perspectives. Retrieved from http://cnx.org/content/m33962/1.2/

Soomo Publishing. (2011, February 11). An animated introduction to social science [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/DSIdaTSG2Gg

Web Center for Social Research Methods. (2006, October 20). Types of questions. Retrieved from https://socialresearchmethods.net/kb/resques.php

Anthropology Theories

Harrison, B. C. (2017). Power and society: An introduction to the social sciences (14th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com/

  • Chapter 4: Power and Culture: An Anthropologist's View

Monaghan, J., & Just, P. (2000). Social and cultural anthropology: A very short introduction. https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780192853462.001.0001

The University of Alabama College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Anthropology. (n.d.). Anthropological theories. Retrieved from https://anthropology.ua.edu/anthropological-theories/

Economics Theories

CrashCourse. (2015, November 6). Economic schools of thought: Crash course economics #14 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/tZvjh1dxz08

Harrison, B. C. (2017). Power and society: An introduction to the social sciences (14th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com/

  • Chapter 8: Power and the Economy

Systems Innovation. (2015, October 29). Economic theory overview [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/tsZvXDLdpag

Political Science Theories

Callaway, R. [Rhonda Callaway]. (2013, December 4). Major theories of IR [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/UU0Iks1arFQ

Glover, R. [Robert Glover]. (2015, May 27). POS 201: Lecture 1 - Political theory and political science [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/5f1GMmJm32E

Harrison, B. C. (2017). Power and society: An introduction to the social sciences (14th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com/

  • Chapter 7: Power and Politics

Hines, E. [Professor Eric Hines]. (2014, February 6). Idealism and the identity perspective [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Y-kDCOPzZe8

Hines, E. [Professor Eric Hines]. (2014, February 6). Liberalism [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/MC-a09cNuAs

Hines, E. [Professor Eric Hines]. (2014, February 6). Realism [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/eoqvax-b6JM

Psychology Theories

CrashCourse. (2014, February 3). Intro to psychology: Crash course psychology #1 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/vo4pMVb0R6M

Desai, S. (n.d.). Humanistic theory [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/behavior/theories-personality/v/humanistic-theory

Desai, S. (n.d.). Maslow's hierarchy of needs [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/behavior/theories-personality/v/maslow-hierarchy-of-needs

Desai, S. (n.d.). Psychoanalytic theory [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/behavior/theories-personality/v/psychoanalytic-theory

Desai, S. (n.d.). Situational approach [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/behavior/theories-personality/v/situational-approach

Harrison, B. C. (2017). Power and society: An introduction to the social sciences (14th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com/

  • Chapter 9: Power and Psychology

Sociology Theories

Brown, S. [Sydney Brown]. (2013, August 12). Social theories overview [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/XfKQ-ozKktM

CrashCourse. (2017, March 20). Major sociological paradigms: Crash course sociology #2 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/DbTt_ySTjaY

Dunn, R. (n.d.). The three sociological paradigms/perspectives. Retrieved from http://cnx.org/content/m33962/1.2/

Harrison, B. C. (2017). Power and society: An introduction to the social sciences (14th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com/

  • Chapter 5: Power and Sociology

Social Science Research Methods

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Ashford University Library. (2018, October 25). Qualitative and quantitative research methods. Retrieved from http://ashfordonline.libguides.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/researchmethods

CrashCourse. (2014, February 10). Psychological research: Crash course psychology #2 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/hFV71QPvX2I

CrashCourse. (2017, March 27). Sociology & the scientific method: Crash course sociology #3 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ZIwyNIdgJBE

CrashCourse. (2017, April 3). Sociology research methods: Crash course sociology #4 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/QwhK-iEyXYA

Harrison, B. C. (2017). Power and society: An introduction to the social sciences (14th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com/

  • Chapter 2: Social Sciences and the Scientific Method

Web Center for Social Research Methods. (2006, October 20). Types of questions. Retrieved from https://socialresearchmethods.net/kb/resques.php