“Socially developed” vs “socially constructed”

They overlap, but there is a difference in emphasis.

Socially developed

Means:

A standard emerged historically through the practices and judgments of a scholarly community.

For example:

Historians gradually developed a strong expectation that historical claims should be supported by primary sources.

“Developed” emphasizes historical formation.

Socially constructed

Usually makes a stronger analytical point:

The category or standard is produced through human social practices rather than existing as a natural fact independently of society.

For example:

What counts as an acceptable citation style is socially constructed.

Different disciplines could use:

• Chicago;
• APA;
• MLA.

There is nothing in nature that dictates one format.

But social construction does not mean “imaginary.”

Money is a classic example.

Money is socially constructed, but:

money has very real consequences.

Likewise, academic institutions are socially constructed but can have real effects on people's careers and knowledge production.