Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

Lesson 1.3
Community Dynamics and Actions
Contents
Introduction 1

Learning Objectives 2

Let’s Connect 2

Discover 3
Community Dynamics 4
Community Power Relations 4
Community Leadership 4
Social Change 5
Community Actions 5
The Interplay of Community Dynamics and Community Actions 6
Career Options in Applied Social Sciences 6

Wrap-Up 8

Try This! 8

Challenge Yourself 10

Reflect on This 12

Bibliography 13
Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

Lesson 1.3

Community Dynamics and Actions

Introduction
Have you ever wondered about the life of your parents when they were just adolescents
like you? If you ask them, they would probably say how your life is easier because of how
technology has improved lives. You enjoy more opportunities, and you have faster access
to information, communication, and other necessities.

However, if you ask them about policies, programs, and delivery of social services to all
community members, can they say that our community life today is better? Are all of our
needs met? Are there equal opportunities? Does everyone have social well-being and not
treated unfairly?

This lesson will discuss the changes communities experience and how community action
plays a significant role in community development. As young students, this lesson will also
give you a glimpse of the different career paths you may want to pursue in the future.

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

Learning Objectives DepEd Learning Competency

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to
In this lesson, you should be able to do the explain the importance of studying community
following: dynamics and community action in relation to
applied social sciences and the learners’ future
● Understand the definition of
career options (HUMSS_CSC 12-IIIa-c-1).
community dynamics, its forms,
purposes, and approaches.
● Understand the definition of
community action, its forms,
purposes, and approaches.
● Recognize the interplay between
community dynamics and
community action.

Let’s Connect

Professionals in Action 10 minutes

This activity will allow the students to understand the importance of learning community
dynamics and community action and their roles in their future careers in applied social
sciences.

Instructions
1. The class will be divided into five groups. Each group will be given a photo of a
professional in the following applied social sciences careers: a researcher, a social
worker, a journalist, a guidance counselor, and a community organizer.
2. Together with their group members, analyze the photo assigned to them. The
students must use the following questions as a guide in their discussion:
a. What do you think is the profession of the person in your photo?
b. What made you say he or she belongs in that profession?

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

c. What do you think is he or she doing in the photo?

d. In what ways do you think his or her profession helps the community?
3. The guide questions below will be used for reflection.

Guide Questions
1. What do you think is the importance of having professionals working for the
community?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

2. In your opinion, what skills and knowledge are necessary for becoming any of these
professionals?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Would you like to work in the community as a professional as well? Explain your
answer briefly.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Discover
To understand the concepts of community dynamics and community actions, let us begin by
defining each term.

From the previous lessons, we defined community as a network of human relationships

connected either by norms, religion, values, or identity. Meanwhile, the term dynamics
refer to “a pattern or process of change, growth, or activity.” Similarly, the term action refers
to a deed, a behavior, or an initiative. Both dynamics and actions entail movement or

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

change. Therefore, we can say that community dynamics and community actions involve
a process of transformation and progress within a community.

What is the importance of studying community

dynamics and actions?

Community Dynamics
Community dynamics, or the movement and change that occur in a community, involves all
its members. Community dynamics gives us an understanding of a community’s needs,
members’ involvement in decision-making, social networks, services, and policies present
and needed for the community’s continuous development. The critical approaches in
exploring community dynamics and its processes focus on community power relations,
leadership, and social change.

Community Power Relations

Community power refers to the question “who can wield power when he so desires?” It can
also be defined as the potential capacity for action. Community power relations deal with
the community’s capacity to control their activities and resources and exercise
decision-making power as members share the same interests.

Community Leadership
Leaders are persons or groups responsible for taking charge of a particular group. In a
community, its leaders must lead the members in carrying out their shared objectives.
Leaders are often composed of groups who represent the whole community. The following
are common characteristics of a good community leader:
● They are well-experienced and well-versed in community matters.
● Their involvement springs from their interests, connections, or their profession.
● They represent every socioeconomic group of the community.
● They understand the different points of view of every member of the community.
● They work toward overcoming community problems and attaining their community
objectives.

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

Social Change
Social change is the change in a mechanism existing in a social structure, like in a
community. Social change can be characterized by alterations of cultural attitudes and
values, behavior, or social organization. Social change can be brought about by natural,
cultural, religious, political, and economic forces.

Community Actions
Community actions are collective activities done by the community members that aim to
address its members’ needs. Having shared goals, members direct efforts in alleviating
them from possible distress and bringing about social change.

Community actions can be achieved through community engagement or working

collaboratively with a community through volunteering and civic involvement. Solidarity, or
the sense of responsibility and accountability to one’s community, and citizenship, which
refers to membership and fulfillment of duties to one’s community, are both forms of
community action in which community members participate, serve, and work for social
development.

Community action activities are often campaigns, advocacies or programs, and other
services that encourage connections and promote a sense of involvement among
community members to contribute to the common good.

Check Your Progress

Summarize the importance of studying community dynamics and
community actions.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

The Interplay of Community Dynamics and Community Actions

By studying community dynamics through institutions, civil society, and grassroots-level
movements, community members can develop community action initiatives that provide
solutions to their problems. Specifically, understanding community dynamics will help
community agents in the following ways:
1. It can provide data on current events that can serve as a benchmark for plans.
2. It can serve as preliminary information for project planning.
3. It can provide an in-depth understanding of the community’s rules, norms, attitudes,
behaviors, opportunities, and challenges.
4. It can become an opportunity for discussion of problems leading to better dialogue
among the agents involved.
5. It can make partnerships and coordination efforts more favorable among other
groups and institutions, resulting in a more efficient project or program
implementation.

Career Options in Applied Social Sciences

Applied social sciences aim to address different social issues in a progressive way that fits
present-day society. It integrates theory and practice to deliver professional services to
those affected by certain social phenomena. The following are some of the professionals we
can find in the field of applied social sciences:

1. Guidance counselors
Counselors provide assistance and guidance to empower individuals facing a crisis.
Applying psychological principles and communication skills encourages and
strengthens individuals to overcome challenges and reach their fullest potential.
2. Social workers
Social workers and other community workers support individuals by helping them
solve and ensure their access to resources. They organize communities and promote
the empowerment and liberation of people, especially those oppressed or
marginalized. Social workers and other related professionals guarantee the welfare
and enhancement of individuals’ and communities’ holistic well-being.
3. Communicators and journalists

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

Communicators, journalists, and other professionals working in the media provide

access to accurate, reliable, fair, and relevant information that benefits all
communities. They also protect and practice freedom of expression.

Guidance counseling, social work, and communication, and journalism provide the
necessary mechanisms and processes to connect individuals to his or her community.
Supported by the principles of human rights, social justice, inclusion, and empowerment,
these professions work toward improving community members’ quality of life and
well-being.

In Philippine Context
A study was conducted to explore the community dynamics of rural communities in the
Philippines. Since rural communities in the country are often situated in far-flung areas,
social development is challenging. To achieve social development, linkages must be
established. Through this extensive study, researchers found fundamental shortcomings in
terms of bridging the community with the resources they need for development.

What rural communities primarily need are roads. Roads will initiate the delivery of
physical needs and financial assistance. Furthermore, roads will facilitate the delivery of
capacity-building activities and community organizing that will empower the community.
However, for the development to be sustainable, it must be supported through continuous
participation and involvement of members and institutions or organizations. Only then can
there be long-term impacts on the community.

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

Wrap-Up
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
● Community dynamics is the movement and change that occur in a community that
involves all its members.
● The critical approaches in exploring community dynamics and its processes focus on
community power relations, community leadership, and social change.
● Community action activities are often campaigns, advocacies or programs, and
other services participated by the community that encourages connections and
promotes a sense of involvement among community members to contribute to the
common good.
● Community actions can be achieved through community engagement, solidarity,
and citizenship in communities.
● Supported by the principles of human rights, social justice, inclusion, and
empowerment, professions in applied social sciences work toward the
improvement of community members’ quality of life and well-being.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Try This!
A. Identification. Identify the term described in each statement. Write your answer in the
space provided.

______________________ 1. These are disciplines that aim to address different social issues
in a progressive way that fits present-day society.

______________________ 2. These are professionals who provide access to accurate,

reliable, fair, and relevant information that benefits all
communities. They also protect and practice freedom of
expression.

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

______________________ 3. These are professionals who encourage and strengthen

individuals to overcome challenges and reach their fullest
potential.

______________________ 4. Together with other related professionals, these professionals

guarantee the welfare and enhancement of individuals’ and
communities’ holistic well-being.

______________________ 5. In community dynamics, it deals with the community’s capacity

to control their activities and resources and their ability to
exercise decision-making power.

______________________ 6. In community action, it is an individual’s membership and

fulfillment of duties to one’s community.

______________________ 7. This is the process of working collaboratively with a

community through volunteering and civic involvement.

______________________ 8. In community dynamics, these are persons or groups

responsible for taking charge of a particular group.

______________________ 9. In community dynamics, this refers to a change in a social

structure mechanism, like in a community.

______________________ 10. This term refers to a deed, a behavior, or an initiative. It also

means movement or change.

B. Short-Response Essay. Answer the following questions briefly and coherently.

1. As a youth and a citizen, what can you learn and understand more by studying
community dynamics?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

2. What are the general objectives of community action?

________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How are community dynamics and community actions interrelated?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

4. How are the applied social sciences helpful in improving community dynamics?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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5. What are the essential mechanisms and principles in applied social sciences?
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Challenge Yourself
Short-Response Essay. Write a short essay that expresses your insights on the given
questions below.

1. Assess your community leaders. Discuss whether they possess the characteristics of
a good leader discussed in this lesson. Explain your answer in the space provided.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

2. Research about the roles and responsibilities of any of the applied social sciences
professions discussed in this lesson. From your gathered information, discuss how
they will be able to demonstrate the principles they uphold.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Suggested Rubric for Grading

The rubric below is a suggested one. Your teacher may modify the rubric based on your
needs. Consult your teacher for the final rubric.

Performance Levels

1 2 3 Suggested
Criteria Score
Beginning Proficient Advanced Weight
Proficiency Proficiency

Content Less than half of the More than half of All of the answers
answers are coherent the answers are are coherent and
and plausible. plausible.
×3
coherent and
plausible.

Completeness Less than half of the More than half of All the required
concepts are stated the concepts are concepts are stated ×2
accurately. stated accurately. accurately.

Language Less than half of the More than half of All answers are
answers are the answers are grammatically
grammatically correct grammatically correct correct and free ×1
and free from spelling and free from spelling from spelling errors.
errors. errors.

Total Possible Score 18

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

Reflect on This
Short-Response Essay. Write a short essay that expresses your insights on the given
question below.

Considering the Philippines’ community dynamics as a nation, what can you say about the
community power relations, community leaders, and social change in our country? Provide
situations to support your answer.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 1: Concepts and Perspectives of Community

Bibliography
Angell, Robert Cooley. "Community Leadership." American Journal of Sociology 57, no. 1
(1951): 101–09.

Barrios, Erniel B. Dynamics of Development in Rural Communities. Tokyo: Asian Development

Bank Institute, 2007.
http://hdl.handle.net/11540/3661.

Danzger, M. Herbert. "Community Power Structure: Problems and Continuities." American

Sociological Review 29, no. 5 (1964): 707–17.

Florin, Paul, and Abraham Wandersman. “An Introduction to Citizen Participation, Voluntary
Organizations, and Community Development: Insights for Empowerment Through
Research.” American Journal of Community Psychology 18, 1 (1990): 41–54.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00922688.

Wilterdink, Nico, and William Form. "Social Change." Encyclopedia Britannica. Last modified
November 16, 2020.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-change.

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