Writing in the Social Sciences

There’s more than one kind of science! There are the natural sciences and the social sciences.

The natural sciences tend to share certain similarities in terms of conventions, or patterns, of citation, use of first person (almost never except “we” the researchers), use of passive voice (very common), organization of sections, and so on.

The social sciences tend to vary a bit depending on the discipline, especially when it comes to the use of first person “I.” They also vary in terms of style guides and citation formatting, from Chicago Manual of Style to American Psychological Association. So the best idea is to ask your instructor for their guidance.

Texas A&M University has a nice, brief look at writing in the social sciences, and is a good place to start.

But the bottom line for all the social sciences is clarity and use of evidence.