Handbook of research methods in complexity science : theory and applications / edited by Eve Mitleton-Kelly (Director, Complexity Research Group, London School of Economics and Political Science), Alexandros Paraskevas (Chair in Hospitality Management, University of West London) and Christopher Day (Senior Research Associate, Complexity Research Group, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK).

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Mitleton-Kelly, Eve, editor.

Paraskevas, Alexandros, editor.

Day, Christopher, active 2018, editor.

Edward Elgar Publishing, publisher.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

System theory.

System analysis.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (640 pages)

Place of Publication:

Northampton, MA : Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018.

Summary:

This comprehensive Handbook is aimed at both academic researchers and practitioners in the field of complexity science. The book's 26 chapters, specially written by leading experts, provide in-depth coverage of research methods based on the sciences of complexity. The research methods presented are illustratively applied to practical cases and are readily accessible to researchers and decision makers alike. The Handbook's wide range of research methods are clearly illustrated with case studies that demonstrate their practical application. They range from the regeneration of communities to musical performance; from complex governance networks to psychotherapy; from gender dynamics to agent-based modelling; and the appropriate response to pandemics. Some unusual research methods - based on art, psychology and multi-level networks - are also included. Furthermore, the book incorporates discussions on the philosophical aspect of research methods and explores important theoretical concepts, such as exaptation, emergence, self-organisation and co-evolution. This is an ideal resource for academics and researchers in the field seeking and exploring new research methods. For decision makers and researchers trying to address complex challenges it will be an essential source of inspiration that will arm them with effective state-of-the-art research methods for the future.

Contents:

Contents: Part I

Complexity science research philosophy

Introduction to Part I / by Henrik Jeldtoft Jensen

1. Introduction to the strategy and methods of complex systems / Yaneer Bar-Yam

2. Complex evolving social systems: unending, imperfect learning / Peter Allen

3. Information theoretic measures of causality: music performance as a case study / Fatimah Abdul Razak, Xiaogeng Wan and Henrik Jeldtoft Jensen

Part II Case based qualitative techniques

Introduction to Part II / by Peter Allen

4. Addressing global challenges: the EMK complexity methodology / Eve Mitleton-Kelly

5. Complexity informed social research: from complexity concepts to creative applications / Lesley Kuhn

6. From Isolation to transformation with C2 / Hazel Stuteley and Jonathan Stead

7. Using complexity principles to understand the nature of relations for creating a culture of publically engaged research within higher education institutes / Robin Durie, Craig Lundy and Katrina Wyatt

Part III Visual methodologies

Introduction to Part III / by Alexandros Paraskevas

8. The Art of Complexity: using visual artefacts and dialogue to bridge the gap between strategic plans and local actions in organisations / Julian Burton and Sam Mockett

9. Inner Complexity: using landscape of the mind to catalyse change in organisations / Kate Hopkinson

10. On the visualization of dynamic structure: understanding the distinction between static and dynamic network topology / Kurt A. Richardson and Andrew Tait

11. Network text analysis and social network analysis in investigating complex governance networks: applications of AutoMap and ORA / Göktu? Morçöl and Sohee Kim

Part IV Modelling and statistical analysis of empirical data

Introduction to Part IV / by Bill McKelvey

12. Using maximum likelihood estimation methods and complexity science concepts to research power law-distributed phenomena / G. Christopher Crawford and Bill McKelvey

13. Multifractal signatures of intersectionality: nonlinear dynamics permits quantitative modeling of hierarchical patterns in gender dynamics at the cultural level / Hannah L. Brown, Chase R. Booth, Elizabeth G. Eason and Damian G. Kelty-Stephen

14. Modeling social complexity in infrastructures: a case-based approach to improving reliability and resiliency / Carl J. Dister, Brian Castellani and Rajeev Rajaram

15. Phase transitions and social contagion as enabling mechanisms for coordinated action in populations: a mathematical framework / James K. Hazy and Peter R. Wolenski

16. Applying complex adaptive systems to agent-based models for social programme evaluation / Michael E. Wolf-Branigin, William G. Kennedy, Emily S. Ihara and Catherine J. Tompkins

17. Complexity, the bridging science of emerging respiratory outbreak response / Babak Pourbohloul, Krista M. English and Nathaniel Hupert

Part V Multi-level networks

Introduction to Part V / by Patrick Beautement

18. Multilevel systems and policy / Jeffrey Johnson , Joyce Fortune and Jane Bromley

19. Complex scenarios in socio-economic data: a comprehensive analytical study / Sanjay Kumar Palit, Santo Banerjee and Sayan Mukherjee

20. Employment of tools and models appropriate to complex, real-world situations / Patrick Beautement

21. Leadership network structure and influence dynamics / Michael Gabbay

Part VI mixed methods and complex analogies

Introduction to Part VI / by Benyamin Lichtenstein

22. Complex analogy and modular exaptation: some critical clarifications / Pierpaolo Andriani and Giuseppe Carignani

23. Emergence and radical novelty: from theory to methods / Jeffrey Goldstein

24. Applying the 15 complexity sciences: methods for studying emergence in organizations / Benyamin Lichtenstein

25. Mixed methods research:a method for complex systems / Liz Varga

26. Dynamical Systems Therapy (DST): complex adaptive systems in psychiatry and psychotherapy / Yakov Shapiro and J. Rowan Scott

Index.

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print record.

ISBN:

9781785364426 (e-book)

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.