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S16b. How different are physical sciences and social sciences
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From the subject matter treated, a lot. From the modeling side far less.
There is no difference in principle. All science is based on observation
and experiment. All experimental data must be observed according to 
well-defined protocols, to be objective (and hence science). 

The main difference between physical sciences and social sciences is 
that in the former one generally studies systems which are strongly 
constrained by the experimental setting, so that they give much more 
predictable results.

In both cases, however, the correct mathematical model is that of a 
stochastic process, and physiccal sciences and social sciences only 
differ in the size of the noise relative to the signal. 
Sometimes to the extent that one can ignore the noise and treat a 
physical system as deterministic, while a social system can never 
be controlled well enough to make the remaining fluctuations 
negligible.