Complexity Theory and the Social Sciences: An Introduction

Chaos and complexity are the new buzz words in both science and contemporary society. The ideas they represent have enormous implications for the way we understand and engage with the world. Complexity Theory and the Social Sciences introduces students to the central ideas which surround the chaos/complexity theories. It discusses key concepts before using them as a way of investigating the nature of social research. By applying them to such familiar topics as urban studies, education and health, David Byrne allows readers new to the subject to appreciate the contribution which complexity theory can make to social research and to illuminating the crucial social issues of our day.

Customer Reviews:

Social Systems Science and Complexity Theory

By Success Coach - November 28, 2012

From my perspective as a social systems scientist, this book delves deeply into the concepts of complexity theory relevant to social sciences. In conducting research, I was looking for clear, substantive definitions of complexity theory as it applies to social systems. Byrne lays a foundation with distinctions about chaos, complexity, non-linear relationships, and agency. Byrne discusses the limitations of reductionistic science, as well as mathematics as a language of modeling, not as ultimate truths. For students who are seeking a good grounding in the applications of complexity theory to social science issues, Byrne offers perspective for several social systems such as cities (communities), health care, education, pulic policy, and governance. On the whole the book is balanced between scholarly theory and practice.