Discipline is a body of knowledge, field of study, or area of research or learning. It is taught and researched in the higher education. Whereas, school subject is an area of learning within the school curriculum. Hereon, let’s learn types of disciplines, humanities and social science.
Understanding discipline, humanities, and social science
Actually, it is affiliated with the academic department of university to empower learning and research. So, simple meaning of academic discipline is that it is a field of study learned and taught in higher education.
While according to Deng Z a school subject is an area of learning within the school curriculum that constitutes an institutionally defined field of knowledge and practice for teaching and learning.
Zongyi Deng is a well known professor of Curriculum and Pedagogy. Pedagogy deals with the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject. (Oxford English dictionary)
Difference between social science and humanities disciplines
As I defined before that discipline is a field or branch of academic study affiliated with the department of university. It is part of higher education. It includes domain, method and tradition.
There are two types of disciplines-humanities disciplines and social science disciplines.
Humanities is all about to deal with the philosophical questions, especially, what are the essential elements that make us human. For example, languages, law, philosophy, religion, mythology etc.
On the other hand, social science use the scientific research method as like the methodology used in natural science.
There are two types of scientific research methods-conceptual research method and empirical research method. For example, sociology, economics, political science, anthropology, etc.
By using such research methods, social scientists study human behaviour in society.
Understanding types of disciplines
There are certain characteristics that are used to judge whether it is discipline or not. They are like, History, domain of knowledge, theories, and followers. Basically, there are four types of disciplines like Basic, Applied, Multidisciplinary, and, Interdisciplinary.
Basic and applied disciplines
If the given discipline has its own conceptual and logical base, it is unique, it is called basic discipline like mathematics. But, if we put knowledge of basic discipline in use, it is termed as applied discipline like biotechnology.
Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary
When the knowledge of different disciplines are incorporated to make single discipline, it is called Interdisciplinary. Here, one discipline acts as centre point like sun, and other add required subject matter to it.
But, when we come up with the completely new discipline out of concepts taken from various disciplines, it is known as multidisciplinary. This is all about the meaning of academic discipline.
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Understanding teaching method by Deng and Luke
Zongyi Deng and Luke came up with three concepts of knowledge based teaching like disciplinary, practical and experimental. Take a overview of theirs concept of knowledge.
- Disciplinary Concept of knowledge
- The practical concept of knowledge
- The experiential concept of knowledge
Disciplinary concept of knowledge
In this concept of knowledge, the teaching procedure must follow a discipline to impart the knowledge in the classroom. In short, the teaching of should be based on discipline.
The practical concept of knowledge
Practical knowledge must be based on procedural knowledge that derives from the wisdom of practice. It should not based on theoretical knowledge.
Experimental concept of knowledge
Unlike both, experimental concept of knowledge is about to gain knowledge by experimental methods to keep in mind for longer duration.
Solved questions on discipline, humanities and social science
Now, let’s take a look at the following solved questions based on discipline, humanities and social science. After reading, you will get clear-cut understanding of topic.
Q. 1. What does discipline mean?
Ans: Actually, discipline is a branch of knowledge or field of study aimed to learn, teach and researched. There are two classes of disciplines humanities and social science. For example, mathematics, sociology, political science, law, etc.
Q. 2. Define academic discipline.
Ans: Academic discipline means the field of study affiliated with the department of university to empower learning and research in higher education.
Q. 3. What is mean by subject?
Ans: According to Deng Z school subject is an area of learning within the school curriculum that constitutes an institutionally defined field of knowledge and practice for teaching and learning.
Q. 4. What are the examples of humanities and social science disciplines?
Ans: Mathematics, law, philosophy, religion, mythology, languages are classified as humanities disciplines. Sociology, economics, political science, anthropology, etc. are termed as social science disciplines.
Q. 5. Describe the four types of academic disciplines.
Ans: Basic, Applied, Multidisciplinary, Interdisciplinary are the four types of disciplines. Basic discipline have its own conceptual and logical base. If the knowledge of basic discipline is used, it is called applied.
For, multidisciplinary, when we come up with complete new discipline out of concepts from different disciplines, it is known as multidisciplinary. And, interdisciplinary is all about taking knowledge base for principal discipline.
I hope this subject matter on discipline, humanities and social science will help you to bring more clarity on discipline, subject, and academic discipline.
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