Complexity theory and the social sciences : an introduction / David Byrne.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Byrne, D. S. (David S.), 1947-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social sciences--Mathematical models.

Social sciences.

Chaotic behavior in systems.

Social sciences--Research.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (312 pages)

Edition:

1st edition

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 1998.

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Book Cover; Title; Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Understanding the complex; The reality of the complex: the complexity of the real; Complexity and the quantitative programme in social science; Analysing social complexity; Complex spaces: regions, cities and neighbourhoods in a complex world; The complex character of health and illness; Complexity, education and change; Complexity and policy: the limits to urban governance; Conclusion; Glossary; Notes; Bibliography; Inde

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-197) and index.

ISBN:

1-134-71473-4

0-203-00391-8

0-203-15842-3

9780203003916

OCLC:

48138913