"Hard Sciences" refer to the Physical or Natural sciences which include theories which can be confirmed as correct or false, through the use and evaluation of quantitative data which dominates over qualitative data in these types of sciences. For example, in Physics which is a appropriate example of a 'Hard Science', theories such as the acceleration of a falling object have had to be proven before being accepted as a 'fact' using experiments and quantitative measurements and results.
"Soft Sciences" refer to sciences which study theories and concepts without needing to be proved by pure quantitative data, and only in some areas is quantitative used in a 'soft science', and example of this would be Economics, due to its use of core mathematics and application to attempt to prove value judgements and theories.
Soft Sciences include many non-physical concepts such as the human mind, and the relationship between different animals, which use mainly qualitative data and is the researchers own interpretation of what he/she is studying, therefore many 'Soft Sciences' are based on opinions and value judgements of those who have researched what is being studied. Psychology is a good example for a Soft Science as it is the study of the Human (and animal) minds and emotions as well as several other factors. Those who practice Psychology such as Psychiatrists and Psychologists explain there findings in words to describe and diagnose different emotions, and mental conditions.
These of course can be contradicted by other Soft Scientist's research but it is the general acceptability of the diagnosed condition by many researchers which separate Hard Sciences and Soft Sciences as Hard Sciences require calculations, and data which should have the same result after each calculation, involving little of the researchers own opinions in the final result, meaning if one Hard Scientist has a theory which other Hard Scientists disagree with, if he/she has a (quantitative) formula to support his/her claim, he/she will be able to 'prove' the others wrong, causing the others to also support the new theory. In a Soft Science, it may be very difficult to prove to other Soft Scientists on a new theory, as it would be one scientists word over another, as mostly qualitative data will be shared, with little or no quantitative used.
Therefore, Hard meaning 'fact', 'can be proven' and Soft meaning, 'acceptable (could be accepted)' and is 'ones opinion'.
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