Sociales

Sociales, in Spanish, generally refers to the field known in English as the social sciences or social studies. It covers disciplines that study human society, social relationships, and collective behavior, using evidence from data, archives, and fieldwork. The term is used in educational contexts to denote curricula on society and its processes.

Core disciplines include sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, geography, history, and psychology, among others. While each field has its own methods, common approaches include qualitative research (interviews, ethnography) and quantitative methods (surveys, statistics), as well as historical analysis and comparative studies.

In education, Ciencias Sociales or Sociales often refers to a school subject that introduces students to geography, history, civics, and basic economics to promote civic literacy and critical thinking. Programs vary by country but typically aim to help students understand social structures, cultural diversity, institutions, and current events.

Historically, the social sciences emerged in the 19th century with the aim to explain social change and organize knowledge about society. The field has since become increasingly interdisciplinary, incorporating data science, demography, and policy analysis. Contemporary debates in the sociales include social inequality, globalization, democracy, and the impact of technology on social life.

Regional usage varies: some Spanish-speaking countries label the subject as Ciencias Sociales in schools; in others, the subject may be divided as Historia, Geografía, Civismo, or Ciencias Sociales with different curricular emphases. The term broadly remains a reference to the study of human societies and their members.