What does the term "social science approach" refer to?

The term "social science approach" primarily refers to methodologies that seek to understand human behavior and social patterns through empirical investigation and analysis. In this context, identifying it with the behaviorist approach is fitting, as behaviorism is grounded in the idea that behavior can be measured and analyzed scientifically. This approach often relies on observable actions rather than internal mental states, aligning with the broader social science focus on gathering data to derive conclusions about societal phenomena.

While historical methods, quantitative measures, and philosophical perspectives are relevant to the study of human communication, they do not specifically encapsulate the essence of a social science approach. Historical methods emphasize past events and interpretations rather than the empirical data-driven aspects central to the social sciences. Quantitative measures pertain to numerical analysis but are just one aspect of the broader social science methodology, which can also incorporate qualitative research. Philosophical perspectives focus on theoretical and foundational questions rather than the empirical data collection and analysis that characterize social sciences. Therefore, the identification of the social science approach with the contemporary behaviorist approach is the most accurate representation within the context of human communication studies.