標的群體之社會建構影響了政策議題及政策工具的選擇，與政策選擇之合法理性論據。它成為公民吸收政策的訊息並影響其政治參與及取向。此理論幫助了解在傳統政治權力概念中為何某些團體得天獨厚，以及政策設計如何增強亦或更改此利益。了解標的團體之社會建構增加了有關政策變遷的一般動態假設，決定了受益者及損失者，標的群體間不同的參與型態和層次，以及民主政治中政策所扮演的角色。

We argue that the social construction of target populations is an important, albeit overlooked, political phenomenon that should take its place in the study of public policy by political scientists. The theory contends that social constructions influence the policy agenda and the selection of policy tools, as well as the rationales that legitimate po1icy choices. Constructions become embedded in policy as messages are absorbed by citizens and affect their orientations and participation. The theory is important because it helps explain why some groups arc advantaged more than others independently of traditional notions of political power and how policy designs reinforce or alter such advantages. An understanding of social constructions of target populations augments conventional hypotheses about the dynamics of policy change, the determination of beneficiaries and losers, the reasons for differing levels and types of participation among target groups, and the role of policy in democracy.