Consumer science studies how individuals and families can improve their well-being through analyzing interactions with businesses, government, and the environment. It includes household finances, nutrition, parenting, and education, drawing on knowledge from various academic fields. The focus is on improving individual and consumer well-being, and related fields include interior design, consumer protection, and public policy.
Consumer science attempts to shed light on the various ways individuals and families can improve overall well-being. This includes concepts related to how interactions between people and business, government, and their immediate environment impact daily life. It focuses on choices related to family finances, nutrition, parenting, and education.
In the past, this particular science was referred to as home economics. The concept of home economics focused on individuals and families running an efficient and healthy home using the resources at their disposal. Since then, the concept has evolved to include the analysis of how various entities, including companies and governments, can influence consumer well-being.
To help understand the interaction between these various entities and consumers and identify possible outcomes, someone studying consumer science must draw on knowledge and experience from diverse scientific and academic fields. Understanding economic concepts, such as how consumers make decisions and the various factors that influence changes in decision making and business principles, is an important part of consumer science. Psychology, law and sociology are also important in analyzing the principles of consumer science.
Household finances are at the heart of this particular science. This includes analyzing how people spend money, what they spend money on, and what factors lead to a change in their spending or saving habits. For individuals and families, the focus is on teaching and educating the community about how to better manage money and stick to a family budget. Companies can use this same information to identify and capitalize on new trends in household goods and services.
Nutrition is another concern of those involved in the science surrounding home economics. The goal is to make sure families have access to healthy food sources and are educated about healthy food choices. Studies in this area of consumer science may seek to identify ways businesses can bring sources of healthy food to poor areas of a community or nation.
Consumer science also studies concepts related to improving parenting and education in families and communities. Research could include identifying factors, both at the household and community levels, that influence successful education and parenting programs. Once identified, professionals can help struggling families or communities adopt new processes or initiatives to improve future outcomes.
The focus of this branch of science extends across many fields and areas related to individual and consumer well-being. Other fields related to consumer science include interior design, consumer protection, and public policy. In general, anything that can affect the happiness and well-being of an individual or a family would be included in the study of consumer science.
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