Lesson 12: Effects of

Applied Social Sciences

Disciplines and Ideas in the

Applied Social Sciences

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Awareness and
Knowledge

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Awareness
and Knowledge

The applied social sciences help

us understand ourselves and
other people.
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 Awareness
and Knowledge

We become conscious of using politically correct terms,

e.g.,
“visually challenged “physically
- blind” challenged - disabled”

We become careful with our choice of words to avoid

offending others and to show respect. 4
Awareness
and Knowledge

Delivering speeches and reports helps us become

aware of our capabilities as communicators.
Answering questions and hearing opinions from
our audience further contributes to the knowledge
we already have about a particular issue.
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Awareness
and Knowledge

• Conducting
Counselling and social work
both require relating with interview sessions
clients.
• Focus group
discussions
• Surveys
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Awareness
and Knowledge

Since social workers and counsellors both help

the mentally challenged, being fully aware of
their condition can help in deciding whether to
refer the client to a psychiatrist or clinical
psychologists.
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Awareness
and Knowledge

Counselling Counsellors help us face

leads to our struggles and
understanding one’s discover our inherent
strengths and strengths that can
address these problems.
weaknesses.
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Awareness
and Knowledge

Social workers create awareness among communities by

conducting events such as seminars and workshop to
enlighten them about issues such as human trafficking and
human rights abuses. Social workers also utilize various
methods to gain information, such as surveys and interviews.

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Awareness
and Knowledge

Social media has become an important tool for spreading

knowledge and awareness among individuals, groups, and
communities. Social media sites enable us to read and share
movie reviews or speeches of our government officials like the
President. Some social media sites even air these speeches real
time. Teachers also use social media sites such Facebook to
upload their lectures and interact with their students.

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Attitude
and
Value Change

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 Attitude and
Value Change

Mass media and information campaigns

exposed us to great amounts of information which
bring about change in our attitudes and values,
whether positive or negative.
 Attitude and
Value Change

Previously, citizens have been slow to react to or even ignored vital

information given through media. For instance, when Typhoon
Yolanda hit the country, several warnings were issued by the
government through television, the radio, and even social media.
However, some families were still unable to evacuate their homes or
take proper precautions before the typhoon
 Attitude and
Value Change

In particular, the warnings regarding expected storm surges were

ignored or misunderstood by many people in the city of Tacloban,
where the typhoon made a strong landfall. This resulted in the deaths
of thousands as they were swept away by the rising waters from the
storm surges.
 Attitude and
Value Change

Social scientists and practitioners have also been at

the forefront of addressing climate change and its
effects on the environment and society. The concern
regarding the environment has led to closer
coordination among practitioners of the various
sciences.
 Attitude and
Value Change

Scientists are now working closely with

politicians and legal experts in crafting laws to
mitigate the effects of climate change. Social
workers and non-governmental organizations are
also active advocates of conservation and the
responsible use of resources.
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BEHAVIORAL CHANGE
The social sciences and the applied social sciences can bring
about behavioral change in people. For instance, subjects in the
social sciences, the arts, and humanities make physicians more
humane, caring, and nurturing to their patients.
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 Behavioral
Change

With training in and knowledge of the applied social sciences like

counselling, a professional can help clients adopt a more positive
outlook in life.
With the help of media workers as fiscalizers, government
officials can be more discerning and prudent in their speeches and
actions. The constant vigilance of mass media also compels
government officials to be more judicious in managing public
funds, lest they will be charged with graft and corruption. In fact, in
other countries, the exposure of a public official’s corrupt activities
through the media can compel him/her to resign from office.
 Behavioral
Change

Communication teaches us negotiation and other conflict

management skills. This is important since conflicts are
inevitable in any organization, due to individual differences
and limited resources. Conflict management skills include
compromise, avoidance, confrontation, smoothing, and
forcing. These skills are ultimately aimed at peacefully
resolving a conflict.
 Behavioral
Change

Aside from managing conflicts, communication teaches us

that conflict can both be functional and dysfunctional.
When conflicts are functional, they can lead to the creation
of a better policy in the organization. On the other hand,
when conflicts are dysfunctional, the members of the
organization are unable to resolve them, leading to
problems and crises.
Structural
Change

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Structural Change

The application of the tools and knowledge of the applied

social sciences are expected to bring about changes in the
processes in various structures and units of society.
For instance, a program on organizational development can
lead to the merging of offices that practically serve the same
functions, or the abolition of certain department. The
prevalence of using telecommuting or electronic cottages can
also be a way for companies to cut down on certain costs.
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 Structural Change

Telecommuting enables employees to simply work from home

provided they have their electronic gadgets with them, internet
or Wi-Fi.

An electronic cottage refers to a house which has been outfitted

with technology to enable its dweller to conduct work and
interact with officemates without leaving the comfort of his/her
home.
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Structural Change

Technological advances in communication also

help organizations and institutions achieve
operational efficiency. Schools, for instance, may
put up a student information system, wherein
certain processes are conducted online, including
enrollment, grades submission and viewing, tuition
payment, and application for graduation.
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Structural Change

In businesses, a human resource information system

helps store pertinent information about the human
resource affairs of a company and lets employees
perform certain processes such as filing travel requests
and statements of assets and liabilities. Other
organizations and institutions have financial information
systems where payments and other transactions are
performed online.
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 Structural Change

The applied social sciences create structural change

beyond companies and organizations. This change also
extends to individuals and their families. Counsellors and
social workers help individuals experiencing problems
such as mental health issues and substance abuse.
These individuals consult with counsellors and social
workers in mental health institutions and rehabilitation
centers.
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Structural Change

Single parenting is another family-related issue

that the applied social sciences focus on. Single
parenting involves one parent rearing or raising
children on his/her own. The applied social
sciences, particularly social work and counselling,
help break the stigma toward solo parents and
instead help them adjust to their situation.
Structural Change

The Department of Social Welfare and Development,

the government office primarily providing social work
services in the country, gives counselling services and
conducts livelihood programs for solo parents. This is
made possible through Republic Act No. 8972, or the
Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000, which is aimed at
implementing projects giving support to solo parents.
Structural Change

Counsellors also assist the parents or relatives of the migrant

worker.
For example, if it is the father who is working abroad, the
mother assumes a dual role – that of the mother and the father.

Counsellors help the mother adjust to the situation, thus

helping prevent the breakdown of family ties.
 
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Structural Change

Lastly, social workers also aid communities

ravaged by typhoons, storms, flooding,
earthquakes, and other disasters. One of the
forms of assistance that social workers
provide is housing families in tents or in a
large community center where they will be
given additional aid.   33
Structural Change

There are times when instances of criminality take

place in these situations, example: theft, rape.
Criminality can make it difficult for families
affected by disasters to interact with one another
with trust, especially when they are in the same
location. This is where the support of community
social workers would prove to be useful.
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 THE END!
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