What is the real difference between social work and social science?

Answer 1

"Social science" is an umbrella term that refers to a number of fields concerning people; this would include psychology, sociology, anthropology, and social work among others.

"Social work" refers to a specific field of social science pioneered by Jane Addams in the U.S. - it was born out of a form of charity work for the poor to get them out of poverty but has evolved into many other fields over time. Social workers today might be individual counselors in an outpatient setting, child welfare workers, addiction counselors, clinicians in an in-patient psychiatric hospital or medical hospital, hospice workers, researchers, advocates/politicians/lobbyists, counselors in a school or college setting, prison counselors, human resources, community development, and more.