Kyla (Report)

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region VIII
Division of Samar
District of Villareal I
Villareal National High School
Villareal, Samar
FUNCTIONS OF APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES
SUBMITTED BY:
CAJEFE PRINCESS KYLA
ESPONGA MA. PATRICIA A.
SUBMITTED TO:
MANUEL N. GELI
Subject Teacher
Functions of Applied Social Sciences
In the previous lessons, applied social sciences like counseling, social

work, and communication were discussed. It is evident that these fields
perform various functions. In this lesson, these functions will be explored.
Self-development
One of the functions of applied social sciences is self-development. It is a

process of improving one’s self which also is synonymous to personal
development. The goal is to facilitate individuals’ understanding of
themselves and their surroundings. Individuals are given the opportunity
to know different aspects of their lives (e.g., skills, strengths, and
weaknesses) and are thus able to improve on qualities that need
enhancement while eliminating qualities that are deemed detrimental. It
is not only important to gain self- understanding but also recognize how
different surroundings or contexts impact on the self. In this way,
individuals gain insight about their behavior in different contexts; hence,
they are able to act and respond better. In short, self-development aims to
yield a better you.
In counseling, self-development or personal development is an essential

goal. For instance, a student seeks counseling because she experiences
too much stress due to difficulty in balancing her studies and her extra-
curricular activities. The aim of counseling may be the alleviation of stress
levels and better stress management. The counselor then can work with
the client in identifying the latter’s stressors, reactions to stress, and
coping strategies. As she goes through counseling, the student may
realize that some of her responses and methods of coping need to be
changed because these are maladaptive. Consequently, the student
comes up with an improved stress management plan, which includes
better ways to deal with stress while eliminating maladaptive ones. Thus,
the student is encouraged to implement her plan when she finds herself in
a similar situation. In this aspect, changing maladaptive ways of coping,
coming up with a stress management plan, and implementing such a plan
is part of self-development.
Persuasion
Persuasion is the act of causing people to do or believe in something

(Merriam- Webster 2014). According to CommGAP (n.d.), persuasion can
occur in three levels, namely: cognition, which means changing an
individual’s belief about an object or issue; attitude, which means
changing an individual’s attitude about an object or issue; and behavior,
which focuses on changing an individual’s behavior.
In the field of communication, one of its functions is to persuade or

influence. Persuasion may be in various forms such as convincing people
to change points of view, buy products, or make decisions. Voters may
change their opinion about a particular candidate after listening to the
latter’s speech. Mothers can be swayed into buying a product that they do
not even need because it Is at a discounted price. Students may decide to
enroll in a course that they do not even like after being persuaded by their
peers. However, it is important to note that not all forms of persuasion are
negative. In fact, Gass and Seiter (2013, 4) define persuasion as “the
cornerstone of a number of positive, prosocial endeavors.” Tasks
accomplished through persuasion have benefits and affirmative outcomes.
For instance, persuasion is evident in some of these activities: peace
agreements between nations, fundraising efforts, and convincing clients to
seek a professional when problems are too much to bear (Gass and Seiter
2013).
News and Information
Another function of the applied social sciences is to provide news and

information. In the field of communication, mass media provides news and
information about events happening in the local, national, and
international contexts. People can find information through various forms,
such as newspapers, tabloids, magazines, news shows, and
documentaries on different television channels, and the Internet. For
example, parents wait for the announcement of class suspension when
there is inclement weather by listening to the radio, watching the news, or
even reading online posts on social media sites. Students use the Internet,
particularly Google, when they need information about their homework or
projects.
Organizing, Advocacy, and Mobilization
The organizing, advocacy, and mobilization functions of applied social

sciences are more pronounced in the field of social work. In fact, these
three functions are considered processes in social work.
Organizing or community organization, as social workers use the term-is

uniting people together regardless of their differences to address a
common issue or problem. In the process of coming together, members of
the community are able to help themselves and one another, which in
turn empower individuals as well as the whole community (Talwar 2013).
Examples of community organizing involve a group of parents from public
schools coming together to demand the reduction of school fees or a
group of neighbors who organize to address security issues in their
neighborhood.
Education
Applied social sciences also educate people. For instance, in the field of
communications, mass media teaches people about current trends and
issues. Documentaries, feature-length films, websites, newspapers,
magazines, and television shows serve as vehicles in educating the
audience. Furthermore, effective communication is integral in education
as teachers need to communicate the lessons well to the students so that
learning may take place. Students, on the other hand, also need to
express in oral and written methods during classroom activities.
As discussed in Lesson 2, counseling is a learning process where clients

learn more about themselves and their environments with the aid of the
counselor. For example, a client learns different relaxation techniques
during a counseling session.
Socialization
Socialization is the “process in which people learn the skills, knowledge,

values, motives, and roles of the groups in which they belong to or the
communities in which they live” (NPTEL 2015). It influences an individual’s
development of character and behavior.
Arnett (1995) identifies the different goals of socialization: “a) impulse

control and development of conscience; b) role preparation and
performance including occupational roles, gender roles, and roles in
institutions like marriage and parent- hood; and c) the cultivation of
sources of meaning, or what is important, and valued. And to be lived for”
(as cited in NPTEL 2015, 1). However, it is Important to note that
socialization is culture dependent, which means that people in a particular
culture or society are socialized differently.
Grusec and Hastings (2015, xi) state that socialization “involves a variety
of outcomes, including the acquisition of rules, roles, standards, and
values across the social, emotional, cognitive, and personal domains.”
Socialization occurs in two parts: primary socialization, which takes place

during childhood until adolescence; and secondary socialization, which
occurs throughout one’s life (NPTEL 2015). For example, individuals learn
about norms, skills, values, and roles early on during childhood until
adolescence but later on learns more as they become a member of
different social groups. It is important to observe how both biological and
sociocultural factors affect the socialization process of individuals (Grusec
and Hastings 2015).
Different groups, persons, or institutions are responsible for socializing

people throughout their lives-family, peers, school, mass media,
workplace, religion, and government.

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Republic of the Philippines

FUNCTIONS OF APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES

CAJEFE PRINCESS KYLA

ESPONGA MA. PATRICIA A.

In the previous lessons, applied social sciences like counseling, social

One of the functions of applied social sciences is self-development. It is a

In counseling, self-development or personal development is an essential

Persuasion is the act of causing people to do or believe in something

In the field of communication, one of its functions is to persuade or

Another function of the applied social sciences is to provide news and

Organizing, Advocacy, and Mobilization

The organizing, advocacy, and mobilization functions of applied social

Organizing or community organization, as social workers use the term-is

As discussed in Lesson 2, counseling is a learning process where clients

Socialization is the “process in which people learn the skills, knowledge,

Arnett (1995) identifies the different goals of socialization: “a) impulse

Socialization occurs in two parts: primary socialization, which takes place

Different groups, persons, or institutions are responsible for socializing

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