Hello, Carol! This is a great question. I could probably benefit from a bit more context as to what setting these lenses are to be applied. But I'll answer based on all you've included so far.
A lens most generally, as I'm sure you are already aware, is often a color we might apply to eyeglasses that impacts the overall interpretation of what and how we see. The adage "looking at the world through rose-colored glasses" is used to describe those who see (and possibly seek) a softer, more idealistic tint in (and to) our experiences. Such an expression is often applied to critique an overly optimistic, not enough realistic interpretation of the world. The lens, in short, affects the view. Different lenses can offer multiple viewpoints which can help provide a more thorough understanding of a topic and is extremely helpful in myriad professions.
So, if we take on this idea of a social science lens, we take on the concerns of the social scientist. These involve asking questions regarding how people relate to one another and human interactions and relationships. Such fields like anthropology, political science, psychology, and sociology all are social sciences. An example of a using a social science lens could be to consider how features of African American culture relate to mental health awareness, or how facets of the culture connect to understanding mental wellness more generally.
A natural science lens would require us to ask somewhat different questions that pertain to scientific experiments, testing hypotheses, and modes of scientific inquiry. Fields dedicated to this lens would be what some call the "hard sciences," such as environmental science, physics, chemistry, or biology. This lens focuses on powers of observation, and data-driven interpretations. For instance, what behaviors are observed in a population of children diagnosed with ADHD following administration of a particular medication in controlled doses? In fact, this kind of question may even fall under medical science, which is a blend of the natural and human sciences.
The historical lens incorporates artifacts provided by available historical records, such as newspapers, photographs, art, unpublished diaries, and other artifacts, to interpret the causes of certain consequences. Why one effect resulted from a certain circumstance is a question considered with this historical viewpoint. An example of looking at an event through a historical lens would be to consider the roots of the modern Jihadist movement in a particular region, such as Afghanistan or Syria.
Finally, the humanities lens asks one to think most generally about what humans do and why. This field of study looks at literature, language, art, and music (among others) that might be understood as a sort of blend of social science and history. What in Artemisia Gentileschi’s life compelled her to paint? How was her opus appreciated when she lived during the early to mid-seventeenth century? How has Italy or the world’s appreciation of her work changed since her lifetime, and why does this seem so?
Hopefully this answer helps you to better understand how these various lenses can be useful. Further, these lenses could be overlapped with one another to further illustrate features at work in understanding any particular topic. For instance, what historical events help one to understand the standard cultural stance of the African American community toward mental wellness? What scientific data has been compiled to help support this finding (natural science)? How has the literature of Toni Morrison impacted the concept of modern mental wellness in the African American community? And so on.
I have adapted my response somewhat, thanks to the following website, to help inform my answer to your question: “The Lenses Identified” at the Southern New Hampshire University Shapiro Library (https://libguides.snhu.edu/c.php?g=949726&p=6848916#:~:text=The%20social%20science%20lens%20looks,our%20relationships%20and%20our%20societies.)
