Subject: Relationship between natural and social 'sciences'

As a recent grad school drop out from one of the nations best 
political science programs, I have become keenly aware of the attempts 
of social scientists to co-opt the legitimacy of the scientific 
method.  This, of course, is not an entirely new phenomenon, but 
even following the upheveals of the 60s, the theory of "Revolutionary 
Science" and the complete botching of the cold war (as in the 
political scientists really didn't have a clue after all), it seems 
that the social "sciences" have been GAINING legitamcy, that pollsters 
and statisticians are becoming THE experts and opion leaders.

On a more philosophical level, I am curious as to how those in the 
natural sciences regad these developments.  Do scientists legitimized 
by society scorn those weak-kneed practioners comine at it from a 
statisitcal point of view?  Do scientists even think the scientific 
method can be used to predict mass human behavior?  

Thanks.  

Re: Relationship between natural and social 'sciences'