Introduction to DIASS

Summary

This video script, part of the 'Disciplines and Ideas in Applied Social Sciences' course, introduces the concept of applied social science as an interdisciplinary field that integrates various theories and practices to address complex social issues. It highlights disciplines such as guidance, counseling, social work, and communication, emphasizing their roles in providing solutions to societal problems. The script also addresses common misconceptions and the evolving nature of social issues, aiming to change public perceptions and recognize the value of applied social sciences in society.

Takeaways

• 📚 Social sciences are disciplines that systematically study social phenomena, focusing on institutions, human society functioning, and interpersonal relationships.
• 🌐 The disciplines of social sciences include anthropology, economics, sociology, political science, history, psychology, geography, demography, and linguistics.
• 🔍 Applied social science is an integrated field that transcends various social science disciplines to address contemporary issues innovatively.
• 🤝 Applied social science combines theories and perspectives from different social science disciplines with practical applications to highlight the complexity of social issues.
• 🎯 Key disciplines of applied social sciences highlighted in the script are guidance and counseling, education, social work, public health, public administration, community organization, communication, advertising, and law.
• 🔄 The relationship between social science and applied social science is that the latter uses insights from the former to address specific social issues and concerns.
• 💡 Applied social sciences generate knowledge for evidence-based actions and solutions to social problems, moving beyond being just a source of factual knowledge.
• 🗣️ Communication in applied social sciences focuses on information dissemination and understanding, ensuring accessibility to information for individuals and the public.
• 🌟 Guidance and counseling in applied social sciences address individual issues, providing healing and strength for individuals to face life crises and make the best choices.
• 🌱 Social work in applied social sciences focuses on social issues and justice, promoting social change, problem-solving in human relationships, and empowering people for holistic well-being.
• 👀 Public perception of social science and applied social science practitioners varies, with some skepticism due to the dynamic and evolving nature of social issues and the challenges in providing definitive solutions.

Q & A

What are social sciences?

Social sciences are disciplines that systematically study social phenomena. They deal with the institutions, functioning of human society, and interpersonal relationships of humans as members of society.

What are some examples of social science disciplines?

Examples of social science disciplines include anthropology, economics, sociology, political science, history, psychology, geography, demography, and linguistics.

What is applied social science?

Applied social science is an integrated science that cuts across various social science disciplines to address a wide range of issues in a contemporary, innovative, and dynamic way. It combines theories and perspectives with practice to highlight the complexity of social issues.

Which disciplines are considered part of applied social sciences?

Disciplines of applied social sciences include guidance and counseling, education, social work, public health, public administration and governance, community organization, communication, advertising and public relations, and law.

How does applied social science differ from social science?

While social sciences focus on specific aspects of social phenomena, applied social sciences attempt to focus on distinct issues but use insights arising from various social science disciplines to address them.

What is the relationship between social science and applied social science?

Social science theories, concepts, methods, and findings gain application to problems identified in a wider society through applied social science. The learnings in social sciences are used to explain how people think and behave, which are then put into action in applied social sciences.

What are the functions and effects of applied social sciences?

Applied social sciences generate knowledge for evidence-based actions and solutions to social problems. They cause social sciences to do things rather than just remain a source of factual knowledge, providing practical solutions to complex social problems.

How does communication as an applied social science contribute to society?

Communication focuses on information dissemination and understanding. It provides accessibility to information, serving the rights of individuals and the public to be informed and to be heard by their elders and communities.

What is the role of guidance and counseling in applied social sciences?

Guidance and counseling focus on individual or personal issues, providing healing, courage, and strength for individuals to face their issues and take up the best possible options in moments of life crises.

How does social work as an applied social science contribute to society?

Social work focuses on social issues and social justice, promoting social change, problem-solving in human relationships, and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance their holistic well-being.

What are some public perceptions about applied social science practitioners?

Public perceptions vary. Some view social sciences and applied social sciences as key in creating opinionated persons and society, while others are skeptical due to their inability to provide definitive solutions to social problems. Media practitioners are often perceived as biased, social workers as distributors of relief goods, and counseling is stigmatized.