Social science can help us address many of our most pressing problems, from economic sustainability and mental health support, to relationship strengthening. No wonder its application is so widespread; and colleges and universities now offer specialization degrees so students can become experts in this area.

Studies of social issues typically begin by trying to understand why certain behaviors emerge among human populations. This type of problem, known as an empirical issue, can be observed, measured and understood using scientific tools.

One approach for better comprehending these phenomena is developing a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess predicting outcomes which can then be compared with actual results, allowing scientists to test if their explanations are valid, providing stronger evidence base that future researchers can utilize.

Modern social sciences emerged during Europe's Age of Enlightenment during much of the 18th century. Philosophers like Adam Smith, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Denis Diderot and Immanuel Kant began taking more systematic approaches to studying their surroundings by trying to find social laws which met scientific standards similar to nature - this new perspective gave rise to various fields such as anthropology, biology, history and political science.