Final answer:
The founding of major social science groups and associations during the late 1800s and early 1900s reflects the emergence of sociology and psychology as formal disciplines, responding to societal changes from the Industrial Revolution and urbanization through empirical study.
Step-by-step explanation:
The foundation of several major social science groups and associations in the late 1800s and early 1900s indicates a recognition of the need to systematically study societal changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution and globalization. With increased urbanization, new employment types, and shifts in traditional social structures such as family and religion, social conditions warranted a new discipline to analyze and explain these phenomena systematically. This period also experienced a significant embrace of empirical evidence, similar to that which had established the natural sciences, laying the groundwork for social sciences like sociology and psychology.
In the United States, the institutionalization of sociology in academia, with figures like William Sumner and Franklin Giddings leading the way, and the creation of textbooks by Albion Small, were milestones that underscored the growing importance of empirical social research methods. This included the usage of the scientific method and data analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of social policies and gain respectability for sociology within the higher education sector. Additionally, the development of networking organizations, such as chambers of commerce, and the eclectic intellectual discourse on social divisions and structures contributed to fostering a scientific community around these emergent social sciences.