soft science
English edit
Noun edit
soft science (plural soft sciences)
- A field of scientific inquiry that is limited by the nature of its subject matter in its ability to establish strictly measurable criteria.
Usage notes edit
Most people consider fields such as psychology, sociology, political science, and economics to be soft sciences. Some consider anthropology to be a soft science, while others consider it to be a quasiscience.
Coordinate terms edit
Translations edit
field of inquiry
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See also edit
- natural science versus social science
- pure science versus applied science
- formal science versus quasiscience
- sociology of science