Soft vs Hard Science

I was trying to explain the difference between 'hard' and 'soft' science to my brother the other day, and then this article comes along:

In praise of soft science

'Hard' scientists should stop looking down their noses at social scientists, and instead share methods that could help them address pressing societal problems.

... It is the conventional wisdom in the biological and physical sciences, and within research agencies, that the social sciences are, well, 'soft', and lacking in methodological rigour.

.... Research on [global environmental issues] tend to focus on the physical nature of the phenomena in question. Study of whatever underlies the behaviour itself is too often regarded as 'soft' science and dismissed as second-rate.

I actually almost didn't do psychology because of something someone said about the 'soft' sciences not being taken seriously.