SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES TO IDENTIFYING THE ESSENCE OF THE TERM «SOCIAL SPHERE»
Abstract
The article explores scientific approaches to defining the essence of the term "social sphere" as one of the key elements of the socio-economic system. The social sphere encompasses a complex of sectors and institutions that meet the basic social needs of the population, particularly in education, healthcare, social protection, culture, and other areas related to improving quality of life and social stability. The paper examines various scientific approaches to identifying the essence of the social sphere, including morphological and cluster analyses.
An alternative method was applied in the article to create a unified definition of the term "social sphere" using content analysis with elements of mathematical modeling. Content analysis is a research method used for the systematic, objective, and quantitative description of communication materials (texts, documents, messages, etc.) to identify significant patterns, themes, or trends. This approach enabled a quantitative assessment of the importance of different components based on the frequency of their mentions in works by various authors. Content analysis allowed for the systematization of the concept of "social sphere," highlighting key elements and evaluating their significance based on mention frequency. Through a standardized approach, the study was able to avoid personal biases and develop a definition that reflects the collective understanding of the term across multiple authors. Transforming textual definitions into numerical data (weight coefficients) enabled the use of mathematical methods to formulate an optimized definition.
The distinctive feature of content analysis lies in its ability to combine qualitative and quantitative approaches to the study of textual information. It enables systematic and objective analysis of communication content, identification of main themes and trends, and quantitative assessment of the significance of different elements. In this case, content analysis served as a tool for structuring diverse interpretations of the concept of the "social sphere" and forming a unified definition based on mathematical modeling.
By applying mathematical modeling and analyzing the frequency of mentions of key elements in definitions by various authors, a unified definition of the concept of "social sphere" was formed. This definition considers the significance of each element and reflects the complex nature of the social sphere in modern society.
The article emphasizes the importance of a multidimensional approach to analyzing the social sphere and the necessity of combining several methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of its structure and functioning. The proposed approach allows for a deeper exploration of the essence of the social sphere, portraying it as a complex system that provides for population welfare and promotes social stability and economic development.
