On The Application Of The Natural Science Methods In Social Science Research

It has been the focus of argument among many philosophers about whether natural science methods can be used in social science research and about the limitations of natural science methods. Among them, those for scientism advocate that natural science methods should be applied in the any field of the human social life, however, those for humanism believe that social science research has its particular research objects and methods that they keep natural science methods away. This article advocates that we should properly refer and introduce them to replenish, enrich and consummate our social science research.Science goes forward with the achievement of research methods. Natural science was first independent of from natural philosophy and gained large development, at the same time, it also produced many effective methods. Because the objects of the social science research are highly complicated, social science research is more difficult than natural science research. Natural science methods are helpful to the research of social phenomenon.At first, this article inspects the feature and function of science and science methods, then comprehensively probes into the relation between science and science methods. Secondly it analyses the influence of the natural science methods on social science research from the angle of history and present of the natural science methods applied in social science research. Then this article inquires into the necessity and probability of natural science methods used the social science research, and analyses the methodological origin that social science research lagged. Lastly it discusses the limitation and condition of natural science methods applied in social science research.