Complexity Theory and the Social Sciences

The state of the art

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Politics, History & Theory, Social Science, Sociology, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy
Cover of the book Complexity Theory and the Social Sciences by David Byrne, Gillian Callaghan, Taylor and Francis
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Author: David Byrne, Gillian Callaghan ISBN: 9781134084982
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: September 11, 2013
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: David Byrne, Gillian Callaghan
ISBN: 9781134084982
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: September 11, 2013
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

For the past two decades, ‘complexity’ has informed a range of work across the social sciences. There are diverse schools of complexity thinking, and authors have used these ideas in a multiplicity of ways, from health inequalities to the organization of large scale firms. Some understand complexity as emergence from the rule-based interactions of simple agents and explore it through agent-based modelling. Others argue against such ‘restricted complexity’ and for the development of case-based narratives deploying a much wider set of approaches and techniques. Major social theorists have been reinterpreted through a complexity lens and the whole methodological programme of the social sciences has been recast in complexity terms.

In four parts, this book seeks to establish ‘the state of the art’ of complexity-informed social science as it stands now, examining:

  • the key issues in complexity theory
  • the implications of complexity theory for social theory
  • the methodology and methods of complexity theory
  • complexity within disciplines and fields.

It also points ways forward towards a complexity-informed social science for the twenty-first century, investigating the argument for a post-disciplinary, ‘open’ social science. Byrne and Callaghan consider how this might be developed as a programme of teaching and research within social science. This book will be particularly relevant for, and interesting to, students and scholars of social research methods, social theory, business and organization studies, health, education, urban studies and development studies.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

For the past two decades, ‘complexity’ has informed a range of work across the social sciences. There are diverse schools of complexity thinking, and authors have used these ideas in a multiplicity of ways, from health inequalities to the organization of large scale firms. Some understand complexity as emergence from the rule-based interactions of simple agents and explore it through agent-based modelling. Others argue against such ‘restricted complexity’ and for the development of case-based narratives deploying a much wider set of approaches and techniques. Major social theorists have been reinterpreted through a complexity lens and the whole methodological programme of the social sciences has been recast in complexity terms.

In four parts, this book seeks to establish ‘the state of the art’ of complexity-informed social science as it stands now, examining:

It also points ways forward towards a complexity-informed social science for the twenty-first century, investigating the argument for a post-disciplinary, ‘open’ social science. Byrne and Callaghan consider how this might be developed as a programme of teaching and research within social science. This book will be particularly relevant for, and interesting to, students and scholars of social research methods, social theory, business and organization studies, health, education, urban studies and development studies.

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