Prepare: Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum:

Read:

• In Laubacher et al.’s (2023) An Introduction to Social Science: Individuals, Society, and Culture
• Chapter 1: Introduction and History of the Social Sciences 
• Chapter 2: How Social Scientists Work: Research and Methodology
• The Week 1 Lesson
• Review the Week 5 Final Paper instructions 
• Download the Final Preparatory Assignment Download Final Preparatory Assignmentthat is due in week 3.

Reflect:
In chapter 1 of your text, you were introduced to the social sciences as a group of related disciplines of academic inquiry that collectively examine society, and the role of individuals in each, using a scientific mindset. Throughout this class, you will be developing this social scientific mindset and applying it to different scenarios, with the end goal that you are able to draw upon this experience in future coursework, your career, and in day-to-day life. 

For your final paper in this class, you will be examining a social problem and how two different social science disciplines examine this problem. Prior to posting in this discussion forum, think of the different social science disciplines that were introduced in Chapter 1 of An Introduction to Social Science: Individuals, Society, and Culture (Laubacher, et al., 2023). Which of these subjects do you find interesting? How might they study social problems? Next, reflect upon the potential final paper topics. Which of these do you find interesting? Why? Select the final topic that you are the most interested to explore.

Write:
In an initial post of at least 250 words, discuss the following:

• How are the social sciences an effective way to study social problems?
• Select a social problem from week 5 assignment that you would like to examine on your final, discuss how it rises to the level of a social problem as defined in chapter 1 in the text, and why you chose it.
• Identify two social science disciplines that you think would be most useful in researching the social topic you chose, based upon your introduction to these disciplines in chapter 1 of the text.
  
  • How might the approach of these disciplines, as summarized in Chapter 1, help you investigate this social problem?
  • Based on your understanding of chapter 2, what methodologies do you anticipate encountering in your research within these two disciplines on this social problem? Why?
  • Why, in your opinion, are these the two best choices to investigate in this social problem? If you were asked to include a third social science discipline, which would you add and why?
• Upon completing this assignment, update the week 1 portion of the Week 3 Final Preparatory Assignment Download Week 3 Final Preparatory Assignmentand save it for use in the next two weeks of class.

Your post should make reference to the required materials with in-text citations. Your references and citations must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center’sLinks to an external site. APA StyleLinks to an external site. resource. For help with this, see the Writing Center’s Citing Within Your PaperLinks to an external site. resource. You may use additional scholarly sources to support your points if you choose.

Consult the Writing a Discussion Board PostLinks to an external site. and the Summary vs. AnalysisLinks to an external site. resources as you formulate your response.