Scribd
Upload
195 views4 pages

Functions and Effects of Applied Social Sciences

The document discusses several effects of applied social sciences, including increased awareness and knowledge, changes in attitudes and values, behavioral changes, and changes to social structures. It provides examples of how applied social sciences can raise awareness of issues through counseling, education, and information dissemination. Applied social sciences also facilitate attitude and value changes around topics like disaster risk reduction and promoting social issues. Behavioral changes are achieved through conditions that make new behaviors functionally valuable and socially supported. Structural changes occur as applied social sciences provide understanding of problems and propose alternative solutions to address issues.

Uploaded by

Melissa Prudente
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
195 views4 pages

Functions and Effects of Applied Social Sciences

The document discusses several effects of applied social sciences, including increased awareness and knowledge, changes in attitudes and values, behavioral changes, and changes to social structures. It provides examples of how applied social sciences can raise awareness of issues through counseling, education, and information dissemination. Applied social sciences also facilitate attitude and value changes around topics like disaster risk reduction and promoting social issues. Behavioral changes are achieved through conditions that make new behaviors functionally valuable and socially supported. Structural changes occur as applied social sciences provide understanding of problems and propose alternative solutions to address issues.

Uploaded by

Melissa Prudente
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

1

2
3

EFFECTS OF APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES


The advantages derived from the applied social sciences produce abundant effects to
individual members, communities, and groups and to the whole society in general. Some of
the effects of applied social science may increase awareness and knowledge of oneself and
others, attitude and value change, behavioral changes, changes in structure of the
society.
Awareness and Knowledge
Most of what we know, from the most ordinary idea to complex abstract concepts,
are polished through education. Through applied social sciences, people have developed
ways to understand and explain oneself and that of the other people. Counseling, in an
instance, allows us to understand one’s personality, characteristic, and behavior including
problems and issues that may affect an individual.
In an area of social work, it provides awareness and understanding of community
issues because social workers provide also the knowledge especially on community
organizing and mobilizations. They also notify the public about the important political,
social, and economic issues and concerns that is affecting them. Thus, to be able to attain
the best of social functioning and to capacitate individuals and groups, trainings and
seminars on personal and community development are conducted by the social worker.
In the context of today’s society where access to information has become an
essential rights and could lead to an individual, a group or a community’s progress and
empowerment, the significance of communications as an instrument and as an area of
discipline cannot be overemphasized. It is important to note that, despite how it made
our lives connected, there is also a need to exercise responsibility in using the different
communicative tools. Social media malpractices like identity theft, cyber bullying and
online bashing and harassment have been rampant among the youth. This further shows
that media and information literacy should become an important component of our
education.
Attitude and Value Change
Applied social sciences allow us to comprehend various social phenomena. People
can make significant changes and impact in their attitude and values to stop the existence
of several natural and social problems. For example, disaster risks can be prevented and
mitigated through the use of applied social science. It provides useful information on
things to do before, during and after the disaster.
Community social workers may serve as agents of information by offering
feasible corrective measures to reduce the impact of disasters. In order to solicit the active
participation of the people in the community, they have to understand the basic concepts
4

of hazard, risk, and vulnerability in relation to the various phases of disaster risk reduction
and management. This process is a part of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response,
and recovery.
Government and non government institutions use various ways of communication
campaigns to promote changes in values, attitude and behavior.
For instance, educating community against maltreatments, violations and abuses
against society’s vulnerable sectors through video clips, posters, advertisement, and public
service announcement.
Applied social scientist can communicate the impact of social and environmental
phenomena through their interaction to the society, culture, and environment which can
create a new perspective, a change of attitude and values resiliencies towards man-made
and environmental disasters.
Behavioral Change
Applied social sciences processes can also bring about change in human behavior.
It also introduces us to the different political concerns and issues confronting our
country today. Furthermore, it offers us solutions on how to solve and address these
political problems and issues.
In social work and counseling particularly behavioral change focuses on
promoting the well-being of the person. Among which are children’s problematic
behavior such as non-compliance, temper tantrums, over-eating, and sleep
disturbances.
Behavioral change can also focus on self-development, such as improving the
grooming skills and personal hygiene. Engler (2014) states that behavior change is
maintained when the following conditions are present:
a. the new behavior has functional value for the individual;
b. strong social and environmental support for the behavior; and
c. an individual’s own self-evaluation becomes an important reinforcement.
Structural Change
The applied social sciences allowed us to understand the details of the
different structural problems and how it changes through time. It helps us comprehend the
different social problems and its dynamics and in the process which proposes alternative
solutions. Social and family-related problems like gender issues, overseas migration,
domestic violence, single parenting, criminality, and substance abuse can be
addressed through the initiative efforts of social workers, community organizers, and
counselors by providing alternative solutions, advises, guidance, and action.

You might also like