12

DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE

APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES

Quarter 2

Module 3
FUNCTIONS OF APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES

0
At the end of the module, the learner should be able to:
1. explain each of the functions of applied social sciences; and
2. identify situations that would require or necessitate the performance of the
various functions in local/Philippine settings.

Code: HUMSS DIASS_12-IIb-d-42, HUMSS DIASS_12-IIb-d-43

What’s UP?
Identify situations where the importance of the applied social sciences are highly visible.
Complete the concept map.

Why are the applied social sciences important?

Let’s Navigate…
IMPORTANCE OF APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES
The applied social sciences were developed as a response to the compartmentalization of
the social science knowledge that was common during the late ’90s and until the end of the
twentieth century. Scholars argued that there is a need for more collaboration within the
disciplines of the social sciences. This means that the different fields of the social sciences must
effectively work together in addressing issues. This multidisciplinary approach to the study of
different issues in society is the main focus of the applied social sciences. Applied social sciences
can also provide alternative solutions to diverse societal problems (Gouldner, 1989).

The applied social sciences have different functions and use. It is considered a lucrative career
path. It is also applied in addressing the different problems of society today.
• Self-development
• Organizing advocacy and mobilization
• Art and entertainment
• News and information
• Persuasion

1
 • Education
• Socialization
SELF-DEVELOPMENT

Applied social scientists can use their training as a self-development or personal development
counselor. As an applied social scientist-practitioner, they can be able to help resolve a range of
serious problems in people’s lives. There are different types of self-development or personal
development counseling that an applied social scientist can pursue. These include the following:

• Life Coaches for Personal Development. Life coaching is a profession that addresses
specific personal projects, business successes, general conditions, and transitions in a
person’s personal life, relationships, or profession. A life coach examines the present
condition of the client, discovers what obstacles or challenges a client faces and chooses
a course of action to make the client’s life be what he/she wants it to be.
• Career Counseling for Personal Development. One of the most common forms of personal
development is career counseling. It is needed by people who are entering the job market,
looking for career changes, and those who want to advance within their present careers.
Career counselors look into the client’s strengths and weaknesses in the job market, his
or her goals, and his/her options in life.
• Hypnotherapy. It is a form of complementary therapy that uses the power of positive
suggestion to bring about subconscious change to one’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
A hypnotherapist aims to alter one’s state of consciousness to relax the conscious part of
the mind while simultaneously stimulating and focusing the subconscious part. This
heightened state awareness, reached using skilled relaxation techniques, allows the
hypnotherapist to make appropriate suggestions.
• Personal Growth Counseling for Personal Development. A personal growth counselor
focuses on the evaluation of a client’s life goals, and the different aspects of your life. A
good personal growth counselor, while future-oriented and focused on helping promote
growth, takes time to integrate the past and present in the service of a better future. This
form of counseling incorporates the techniques and approaches of life and career
counseling into the more exploratory work done in traditional personal counseling.
PERSUASION

In career-related to communication like mass media, advertising, and business, persuasion is

very essential. To persuade someone means being able to convince other people to change their
attitudes or behavior regarding an issue through the communication of messages in an
atmosphere of free choice. One cannot persuade a person unless he/she has a grounding in the
social sciences. It is important that those who make the messages or advertisements that want
to persuade a client or customer must be knowledgeable about the culture of the people in which
messages are being communicated. Applied social scientists’ strong foundation in anthropology
and sociology is important in persuading people because these disciplines can help practitioners
understand the behavior, beliefs, and traditions of the people.

ART AND ENTERTAINMENT

Arts and entertainment are reflections of a country’s culture and society. To be able to
understand and analyze the development and new trends in the arts and entertainment, it is
important to be knowledgeable about people's social and cultural conditions. The applied social
sciences look into these important aspects as it studies the anthropological and sociological
conditions of society.

2
 As new forms and delivery systems, for entertainment proliferated, there is great importance
to understand the needs of the viewing public. It is necessary to cope up with the changing
demands of the viewers to get the audience’s attention. The applied social sciences prove to be
important in this aspect because a strong foundation in the study of people's viewing behavior
and patterns are emphasized in this multidisciplinary field.

NEWS AND INFORMATION

In the field of journalism, applied social sciences are important. The news and current affairs
sector emphasize the need for a balanced, objective, and truthful rendering of the political and
other important events as they happened. Practitioners in the applied social sciences have
thorough training in this regard because they have a good foundation in history and political
science. Through the application of these fields, applied social scientists have enough skills to be
able to write and report the news accurately and objectively.
In business organizations and public relations organizations, applied social scientists are
important because they serve as information researchers. Called in the business as market
researchers, applied social scientists can use their skills and training to coordinate and administer
the research projects. Essentially market researches help companies to produce better business
decisions about the development and marketing of their new products and services.

ORGANIZING, ADVOCACY, AND MOBILIZATION

Advocacy groups are organized t inform and educate on public issues and influence people on
the development of policies. Advocacy groups also play an important role in the development of
political and social systems. Applied social sciences is a background for advocacy organizing and
mobilization because these multidisciplinary fields study politics, governance, social and political
dynamics.
Advocacy works have different activities. All these activities require knowledge of the applied
social sciences. It includes the following:
1. Community organizing and mobilization---helping to mobilize constituents and build
power with their communities
2. Information dissemination---providing communities and people the right information on
important political, social, and economic issues affecting them.
3. Research---conducting studies that reflect the needs of the communities
4. Training---training sessions that will teach successful strategies and skills for personal
and community development.

EDUCATION AND SOCIALIZATION

The applied social sciences educate the public about the realities of life and the problems that
the country faces. Through mass media, the applied social sciences educate people about the
different events and phenomena that are happening. People are updated with the recent
developments in the sciences, technology, and other relevant fields of knowledge.
Social work does not only deal with individual and personal problems but it also addresses
social issues such as poverty, unemployment, and domestic violence. Human rights and social
justice are also part of social work practice. There are different areas where social workers are
needed. These include the following:

• Child welfare
• School social worker
• General and psychiatric hospitals

3
 • Health and community service centers
• Correctional field
• Policy analysis, development, and planning
• Academe and research

Let’s Knot It!

1. What is the importance of applied social sciences?
2. Why applied social sciences are indispensable in studying and understanding the
dynamics of society?

Do It!
Conduct a case study that will assess objectively how the functions of the applied social
sciences have been fulfilled in:
a. Counseling (school, DSWD, companies)
b. Social Work (DSWD)
c. TV network’s news and current affairs programs
You may interview professional counselors, social workers, or journalists virtually. If
it is not possible, you may watch documentaries on YouTube.
Criteria:
Content (Accuracy of Facts, Relevance/Connection to the Lesson, Coverage) -50
Presentation of Ideas (Organization, Analysis/Evaluation of Problems) -40
Writing Mechanics - 10
100 points

Test Yourself!
SHORT ESSAY: Use your critical thinking in answering the following statements.

1. Explain the diverse functions of the applied social sciences. Discuss each function and
give concrete examples to explain your answer.
2. Identify the different situations or settings in the country where different functions of the
applied social sciences can be helpful.

REFERENCES
Dela Cruz, AR., Fernandez, C., Melegrito, ML., & Valdez, V. (2016). Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences, Padayon Series. Phoenix
Publishing House, Inc.

IMAGES
www.google.com