ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some of the major applications of social assessment information and discusses why this information is important to policy makers and managers as well as to social scientists. Throughout history, communities and their residents have been shaped by the interplay of forces that cause social change. There are a number of reasons to consider social information. Some -- those most influential in justifying social impact assessments or evaluation studies -- are related quite directly to decision making. Social information is often critical to the identification and understanding of the problems and conflicts of a community or group. Social assessment information can be crucial in determining what mitigation is necessary, what mitigation alternatives exist, and which mitigation strategies are most likely to work. Important applications of social information are found in the evaluation of intentional, planned decisions such as the formulation of social policies, resource management decisions, and project or program implementation.
