Complexity and the social world.

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Complexity and the social world. / Medd, Will.
In: International Journal of Social Research Methodology, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2002, p. 71-81.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Medd, W 2002, 'Complexity and the social world.', International Journal of Social Research Methodology, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 71-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645570110098091

APA

Medd, W. (2002). Complexity and the social world. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 5(1), 71-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645570110098091

Vancouver

Medd W. Complexity and the social world. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 2002;5(1):71-81. doi: 10.1080/13645570110098091

Author

Medd, Will. / Complexity and the social world. In: International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 2002 ; Vol. 5, No. 1. pp. 71-81.

Bibtex

@article{83de4b8ebbe64537afe9e01bb412cc98,

title = "Complexity and the social world.",

abstract = "This paper is concerned with two related methodological problems. First, presented with a complex social scenario of a meeting between the representatives of different social welfare agencies, how should we make sense of this meeting? Second, in the context of the potential insights that the complexity sciences offer for understanding the social world, how can we translate those models to make sense of complex social dynamics? The example of the meeting, taken from an ethnographic study of collaboration in social welfare, is used to situate debates about the use of complexity science in knowing the social world. Drawing upon the work of Luhmann, I argue that we need to re-think the insights complexity sciences in order to situate the problem of complexity in the social world itself. Doing so locates the problem of knowing the social world in the social world itself, and highlights the necessary role of ignorance both in social life itself, and in knowing the social world.",

keywords = "complexity theory, methodology, qualitative methods, ethnography, Luhmann, partnership working",

author = "Will Medd",

note = "The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 5 (1), 2002, {\textcopyright} Informa Plc",

year = "2002",

doi = "10.1080/13645570110098091",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

pages = "71--81",

journal = "International Journal of Social Research Methodology",

issn = "1364-5579",

publisher = "Taylor and Francis Ltd.",

number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Complexity and the social world.

AU - Medd, Will

N1 - The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 5 (1), 2002, © Informa Plc

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - This paper is concerned with two related methodological problems. First, presented with a complex social scenario of a meeting between the representatives of different social welfare agencies, how should we make sense of this meeting? Second, in the context of the potential insights that the complexity sciences offer for understanding the social world, how can we translate those models to make sense of complex social dynamics? The example of the meeting, taken from an ethnographic study of collaboration in social welfare, is used to situate debates about the use of complexity science in knowing the social world. Drawing upon the work of Luhmann, I argue that we need to re-think the insights complexity sciences in order to situate the problem of complexity in the social world itself. Doing so locates the problem of knowing the social world in the social world itself, and highlights the necessary role of ignorance both in social life itself, and in knowing the social world.

AB - This paper is concerned with two related methodological problems. First, presented with a complex social scenario of a meeting between the representatives of different social welfare agencies, how should we make sense of this meeting? Second, in the context of the potential insights that the complexity sciences offer for understanding the social world, how can we translate those models to make sense of complex social dynamics? The example of the meeting, taken from an ethnographic study of collaboration in social welfare, is used to situate debates about the use of complexity science in knowing the social world. Drawing upon the work of Luhmann, I argue that we need to re-think the insights complexity sciences in order to situate the problem of complexity in the social world itself. Doing so locates the problem of knowing the social world in the social world itself, and highlights the necessary role of ignorance both in social life itself, and in knowing the social world.

KW - complexity theory

KW - methodology

KW - qualitative methods

KW - ethnography

KW - Luhmann

KW - partnership working

U2 - 10.1080/13645570110098091

DO - 10.1080/13645570110098091

M3 - Journal article

VL - 5

SP - 71

EP - 81

JO - International Journal of Social Research Methodology

JF - International Journal of Social Research Methodology

SN - 1364-5579

IS - 1

ER -

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