Thank you for you input, however I am still unsure If I can use a breadboard as the pins are much too small to be inserted directly into a breadboard.
Attached is a photo for your reference. The component on the left is a transistor that may be directly used on a breadboard, the one on the right is the sensor in question. Could I still use the protosheild with the smaller component on the right? It would appear I must solder the sensor onto a computer board with a smaller spacing, which would then have the 100-mil spacing suitable for use on a breadboard.
One more thing, this is a temperature/ humidity sensor and being so, it will be in a very humid environment (RH >80%). It would seem like the use of the shield/Arduino would not be suitable in that particular environment.