SOCIAL DIAGNOSIS: PHASES, TYPES, INDICATORS AND EXAMPLE - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The social diagnosis is a methodological process of interpretive court, seeking to know, understand, describe and assess needs or social problems in a given context. It is a key procedure in the field of social work and the foundation of development and wellness programs.

The clarification of priorities and the determination of effective intervention strategies can only be achieved after the social diagnosis has been made, hence the importance of this descriptive synthesis.

Social diagnosis is a key methodological procedure in the field of social work. Source: Pixabay

Through this, the distortions and problems of a certain social reality, the available means, the actors, the causes and the latent potentialities can be established, as well as the degree of viability and feasibility to implement corrective actions.

Among the definitions of social diagnosis given by the theorists, the social need construct stands out as a common element, which can be considered as that indispensable, universal and objective factor for the survival, integrity and reproduction of the human being, regardless of time or place.

In the field of social work, four basic areas are considered within social needs, and they will be the object of study in most diagnoses. These needs are integrity, inclusion, autonomy, and identity.

Phases of social diagnosis

The literature on social diagnosis usually raises 3 to 4 phases, which are specified below.

Phase 1: Descriptive synthesis

It is a first level of conceptualization through which the precise and explanatory evidence can be selected. This phase goes beyond mere data collection.

It consists of the selection of information and all those inputs that can explain the situation of social need. Ideally, a description should be made sequentially, reflecting how objective and subjective events have evolved, in order to understand their possible causes and effects.

Phase 2: Causal analysis

It involves the second level of conceptualization and seeks to find connections between the different variables and the elements that impact the situation, which could explain why.

In this analysis it is necessary to take into account not only the possible causes and effects, but also the origin, the people involved, the demand and the triggers. The aim is to determine the behavior of all these factors and determine whether they are independent or dependent variables.

Phase 3: Interpretation and conceptualization of social needs

At this level of conceptualization, the aim is to define existing social needs, interpret them, as well as determine their causes and components.

In this phase, the ideal is to be able to categorize social need according to the model of the four basic areas (integrity, inclusion, autonomy and identity). In addition, in light of the evidence collected, logical-theoretical relationships must be established with which the social situation can be explained in a detailed and organized manner.

Phase 4: Assessment and forecast of social needs

In this last level of conceptualization, it is sought to foresee the basic social needs of an individual or social group. Phases 3 and 4 are generally not presented in isolation, but it is important to explain their implications separately.

This phase has a double purpose: the first to determine the possibilities of change, the consequences of this, as well as the risk or protective factors. The second, trying to predict how these factors would evolve and what the future social scenario would be like.

Types

The basic social needs are: integrity, inclusion, autonomy and identity. Source: Pixabay

Hellen Harris Perlman (1905–2004), teacher and social worker, as well as one of the quintessential representatives of the Chicago School, raises three types of social diagnosis:

Dynamic diagnosis

This type of diagnosis seeks to define what the problem is, establish possible solutions, together with the means and resources available. Psychological and physical aspects of each case are taken into consideration, in addition to the social ones. It is an approach that requires flexibility, since it starts from the principle that every social situation is constantly changing.

Clinical diagnosis

It refers to those diagnostic processes in which the individual is analyzed from an ailment or pathology that he presents, always maintaining the social perspective of the problem. It is usually done with a multidisciplinary team that can provide the care nature.

Etiological diagnosis

In this type of social diagnosis, events are concatenated and the evolution of the problem from its origin is described. It also seeks to establish an immediate cause-effect relationship and forecast the most useful procedures to address the case.

Indicators

The indicators of a social diagnosis integrate all those aspects that can be measured by means of a scale and that together allow to conclude if the social situation is adequate, of vulnerability or deficit.

The items to be evaluated may vary according to the diagnostic model used by the social worker, as well as depending on the scope and basic need on which they are focusing.

For this reason, the number of indicators may vary. In addition to socio-biographical information, 5 key areas are usually handled in social diagnoses (economic, convivial, personal, health and social). The most common categories and indicators of each are mentioned below:

Economic

- Economic resources (availability of income, expenses for basic goods and services, expenses for non-basic goods).

- Occupational or labor situation (activity, duration of the day, stability, conditions, legality).

Coexistence

- Accommodation or housing (type of dwelling, supplies, conditions of habitability and equipment, access to basic services, location, owner)

- Relational situation (primary or family networks, secondary networks, coexistence networks, emotional abuse, physical or emotional abandonment, corruption of minors).

- Organization of daily life (food, personal hygiene, distribution of administrative tasks, distribution of domestic tasks, care of minors).

Personal

- Social skills (cognitive skills, conflict resolution, adaptation to changes, assertiveness, expression of feelings, communication).

- Training, education or training (level of study, schooling, languages, school performance, work experience, ongoing training).

Health

- Mental and physical autonomy (state of health, addictions, level of independence, need for treatment).

- Disability and incapacity for work.

Social

- Social participation (formal or non-formal participation, absence of participation, social isolation).

- Social acceptance (discrimination, freedom of rights, prohibition of use and enjoyment by coercion).

Example

If a social worker wants to determine the degree of social acceptance of a person, he will first collect the information through an instrument he has designed. Select the evidence and establish connections between the different variables.

Probably detect a very deficit level in the categories of economic resources, work, training, housing, social participation and social acceptance. Once the causes of discrimination have been determined, a work plan that specifies objectives, activities, resources and levels of intervention must be carried out with the affected person.

As part of the intervention strategies, dynamics of group and community participation could be implemented to address the most affected needs. Actions could also be carried out to sensitize the community, in order to promote a culture of equality.

References

1. Social diagnosis. (2019, July 20). Wikipedia, The Encyclopedia. Recovered from wikipedia.org
2. Muñoz, MM, Barandalla, MFM, Aldalur, AV, Urretxu, Á. A., San Juan, AF and Martín, BL (1996). Indicators manual for social diagnosis. Official Associations of Graduates in Social Work and Social Workers of the Basque Autonomous Community.
3. Díaz Herráiz, E. and Fernández de Castro, P. (2013). Conceptualization of the diagnosis in Social Work: basic social needs. Cuadernos de trabajo social, 26 (2), 431-443.
4. Aguilar Idáñez, MJ and Ander-Egg, E. (2001). Social diagnosis: Concepts and methodology. Political collection, services and social work (Mexico).
5. Arteaga Basurto, C., González Montaño, MV (2001). Diagnosis. In Community Development. Recovered from resources.udgvirtual.udg.mx