Regardless of their field of specialization, social scientists are concerned with some aspect of society, culture, or personality. Anthropologists study the origin and the physical, social, and cultural development and behavior of humans. Anthropologists generally concentrate in sociocultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, or biological-physical anthropology. Sociocultural anthropologists study the customs, cultures, and social lives of groups in a wide range of settings from nonindustrialized societies to modern urban cultures. Archaeologists engage in the systematic recovery and examination of material evidence, such as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery, remaining from past human life and culture, to determine the history, customs, and living habits of earlier civilizations.
Linguistic anthropologists study the role of language in various cultures.
Biological-physical anthropologists study the evolution of the human body and look for the earliest evidences of human life. Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of commodities and services. They may conduct surveys and analyze data to determine public preferences for these goods and services. Most economists are concerned with the practical applications of economic policy in a particular area, such as finance, labor, agriculture, transportation, energy, or health. Others develop theories to explain economic phenomena such as unemployment or inflation.