The document discusses the scientific method and how social scientists use it to develop and test hypotheses. It defines science as employing the scientific method to build an organized body of knowledge through explanation and testing of relationships between observable facts and events using hypotheses. Social scientists develop theories to explain social phenomena and test them using research designs that compare experimental and control groups to determine the effects of treatments while accounting for sampling error and other limitations. They gather data through survey research, field research, and analysis of secondary source data collected by other organizations.

1. Chapter 2 Social Sciences and the Scientific Method