Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

Underlying Principles of Scientific Inquiry

Key Considerations:

• Truths lacking universal validity should be subject to trial and error, enriching the information available for the object of study. The predictive capacity and error margins in social sciences may differ from other disciplines, but this doesn't negate their scientific nature.
• Science, as a human and social product, must be analyzed within its historical context. Scientific objectivity arises from mutual criticism and rigorous scrutiny within the scientific community, characterized by public and intersubjective discourse.
• Scientific theories are human constructs that facilitate understanding relationships between phenomena, enabling intervention and utilization.

Therefore, research... Continue reading "Research Methods and Techniques in Social Sciences" »

The Evolution of Spanish Journalism (20th Century)

Journalism in Spain runs parallel to the nation's literary and political history. The 20th century can be divided into three distinct stages:

Stage 1: Birth of Mass Journalism (1900–1936)

This period saw the birth of mass journalism coexisting with older forms of political journalism. Initially, newspapers were highly partisan:

• Newspapers depended organically on the political parties that funded and staffed the newsrooms.
• Circulation was initially low.

The rise of mass journalism significantly increased the circulation of newspapers. The goal was to provide popular classes access to culture, political, and economic life through widespread journalistic dissemination.

Stage 2: Civil War and Francoist

LOGSE vs. LOE: Primary Education Curricula

This document compares the curricula for Primary Education under the LOGSE (Organic Law of the General Organization of the Educational System) and the LOE (Organic Law of Education) in Spain.

Curriculum Comparison

Languages in Contact: Bilingualism and Diglossia

The Sociolinguistic Situation of Asturias

Currently, there are approximately five thousand languages in the world, grouped into language families based on historical relationships. Most European languages are derived from a now-extinct language, Indo-European.

Political and linguistic boundaries do not always align. Sometimes, a single state has several languages, as in Spain. Conversely, different states may use the same language, such as Great Britain and America, or Spain and South American countries. Language contact situations are very common, where people develop the ability to communicate in two or more languages (bilingualism) for various reasons.

The nature of language coexistence, the communicative... Continue reading "Bilingualism, Diglossia, and Sociolinguistics in Asturias" »

Language and Languages

Language and languages can be synonymous in certain contexts but can also be distinguished by examining the words very precisely:

• Language: The ability to communicate through words.
• Language: Specific words used to communicate.

There are languages where there are signs or symbols. Their meaning must signify something: The words of a language are what is common to all languages. Human language is the ability to communicate. We all have the capacity for language, and all have the same capacity, but everything to do with a language we know is our own. Language is materialized by language.

• Language: Communication system; human power.
• Languages: Lesser, concrete materializations.

Human beings are fundamentally linguistic, endowed... Continue reading "Understanding Language: Characteristics, Linguistics, and Human Communication" »

The Commonwealth of Catalonia: Formation and Challenges

In Madrid, there were differing opinions regarding the Commonwealth of Catalonia. The Conservative party was opposed, and even within the ruling Liberal party, opinions were divided. Some saw it favorably, while others did not. President José Canalejas agreed to the Commonwealth and committed to the Catalan cause. Unfortunately, Canalejas was assassinated before he could pursue this agreement, and the project was stalled. It was not until the following year, 1913, that the Conservative government of Eduardo Dato finally allowed the Catalan Commonwealth. The Commonwealth was established in April 1914.

The Constitution of the Commonwealth

The first president of the Commonwealth was Enric Prat

EU Regional Policy and Its Objectives

The European Regional Policy has two main objectives: addressing regional imbalances and promoting development. A previous regional policy implemented in 1986 was deemed ineffective. Its purpose is to increase territorial cohesion (solidarity). This is based on three principles:

• Solidarity among regions.
• Development of autonomy status.
• Further integration into the European Community.

The consequences of integration include the receipt of funds, which are integrated into the EU's regional policy. A new EU regional and cohesion policy was introduced for 2007-2013 (focused on competitiveness) with three objectives for sustainable development:

• Strengthening competitiveness.
• Boosting the economy (R&D).
• Improving

Legislative Elections of February 1936

This document, extracted from a history book, reflects the results of the legislative elections held on February 16, 1936. It details the outcomes in the four Catalan provinces and Barcelona city. The two main contesting forces were the Left Front and the Catalan Front (Dorda).

The elections of February 16, 1936, were the last legislative elections to occur during the Spanish Second Republic before the outbreak of the Civil War. The political scene was sharply divided into two major, strongly opposed groups. These elections were highly significant as they followed the events of October 1934. Victory was proclaimed by the Popular Front, an alliance formed by all left-wing parties.

In these elections, the Popular... Continue reading "Key Moments of the Spanish Second Republic: Elections and Proclamation" »

The Political System of the Spanish Restoration

Cánovas del Castillo was the main leader of the party during the Sexenio Democrático (Six Democratic Years) who had defended the monarchical restoration. After the return of Alfonso XII, the Conservative Party became the primary political force, with the exception of the Carlists and Integrists. Cánovas's bipartisan draft required another party of a more progressive, left-leaning dynastic nature, which was proposed under Sagasta.

The Formation of the Dynastic Parties

From an agreement between progressives, unionists, and some moderate Republicans, the Liberal Party was born. Both parties performed the corresponding task of uniting various groups and factions, with the unique requirement of accepting... Continue reading "The Spanish Restoration: Cánovas, Sagasta, and Dynastic Power" »

The End of the Convention and the Directory

The coup of Thermidor (July 1794) caused the fall of Robespierre. The Jacobin leader was executed, and moderates were in power again. The period during which they presided over the assembly is known as the Thermidorian Convention.

A new Constitution (1795) divided legislative power between two chambers, and the executive branch fell to the Directory, a body of five members. During this period, a harsh repression of radicals known as the White Terror took place.

To maintain public order, the Directory relied increasingly on the army. In addition, defensive war had given way to an offensive phase, in which French troops obtained great victories over the coalitions organized by European monarchs.

Faced with... Continue reading "The Rise of Napoleon and the French Directory" »