Functions of the Applied Social Sciences

The Importance of Social Sciences

  1. Help better understand the society we live in — Society - the “matrix” or the “womb” that gives birth to politics.

  2. Helps us see the interplay of society and government.

  3. Help us better understand why conflicts take place in our daily lives

  4. Social sciences, arts, and humanities provide the heart and soul of professions — reason why students are required to take General Education Courses

  5. exposes us to the realities of life and mold us into becoming humane professionals.

The Functions of the Applied Social Sciences

  • Applied social sciences prepare us for the realities and challenges of life.

  • Help us understand and develop ourselves and our potentials.

  • Applied Social Sciences includes:

    • Self-development

    • Persuasion

    • The use of arts and communication

    • Access to discernment of news and information

    • Organizing for advocacy and mobilizations

    • Education

    • Socialization

    Self-development

    • a continuous process involving actions taken to improve ourselves and maximize our potentials.

    • The basic institution that helps us attain self-development is the family

      • Family - teaches us good manners and right conduct, prepares us to face challenges, confront problems, and get back up when we fall — “Matutong tumayong mag-isa kapag nadapa.”

      • Parents - the first teachers and counsellors, they are always available whenever we need them.

    • Upon reaching a specific age, we are sent to schools which exposes us to new knowledge and experiences. Learn to relate to our classmates who come from different socio-economic strata. Teachers impart the value of respect to our elders and people in authority.

    • Dreams are made clearer when we attend career orientation programs conducted by counsellors.

    • Pursuing self-development in our careers, our professional expertise must be complemented by knowledge from other fields.

    Persuasion

    • Communication — used to inform, argue, entertain and persuade.

    • It is the act of convincing others to agree with what are saying.

    • the ability to command obedience or influence others to do what we want them to do.

    • One must have good communication skills to be able to persuad

    The use of arts and communications

    • those who go through counselling are often provided art and music therapy services.

    • Art Therapy and Music Therapy are recommended by clinical psychologists and psychiatrists as stress management tools

    • Debriefing Sessions — also focuses on art and music therapy to help disaster victims start anew with their lives.

    • Entertainment is not only a component of therapy, but it is also a part of our daily lives.

    • Variety shows, game shows, teleseryes, talk shows, and movies are some mediums of entertainment that most people enjoy. These are considered as a form of escape from the hardships of life.

    Access to and discernment of news and information

    • News refers to the report of recent events in the country or in other places in the world

    • Information refers to knowledge, facts, or data about something or someone.

    • Technological advancements in communication have made access to news and information much easier. Radios was one of the first devices used that kept people informed in the early 20th century.

    • One of the challenges in analyzing news and information is the need for effective discernment. This is especially important since fake news are more prevalent.

    Organizing for Advocacies and Mobilization

    • we organize and mobilize for advocacies, we encourage people to take action and support a particular cause.

    • requires good communication and organizing skills.

    • driven by the spread of information.

      • Mass media and Alternative media help spread news about politics and current events

      • Lobbying - used by interest group and NGOs to promote their advocacies and have them enacted into law. Direct negotiations with legislators and writing appeals to lawmakers and newspapers.

      • Social workers - organize and mobilize in times of disaster

      • Government Groups and Private Sectors - provide immediate and long-term financial or material assistance to disaster victims. Also conducts debriefing sessions to help victims and survivors recover and start life anew.

    Education

    • helps us better appreciate and understand the interplay of society, politics, and government.

    • Counsellors and Social Workers educate people about the value of life, sanctity of the freedoms that they enjoy, role they play in society and their respective communities.

    • Communicators and Journalists use mass media to teach the public to be analytical and critical of government officials.

    • Printed Media includes books, journals, government reports, and annual report. These provide people with information regarding certain topics and issues. Can help form opinions, advance ideas, and perspectives, and advocate causes.

    • Comics are utilized to educate, which is another form of printed media.

    Socialization

    • relating and interacting with other individuals and groups.

    • Family is the primary unit of socialization, where we learn what is good and correct, where we learn how to interact with other people and other groups in he community.

    • individuals must use principles and skills in communication to effectively socialize with their co-workers.

    • Communication is used to adjust one’s socialization skills according to the type of organization the individuals works for.

    • Public Organizations are service-oriented and they operate in a highlighly political environment.

    • Private Organizations are profit-oriented and they operate business-like environment.