Social Synthesis: Finding Dynamic Patterns in Complex Social Systems (Complexity in Social Science)

How is it possible to understand society and the problems it faces? What sense can be made of the behaviour of markets and government interventions? How can citizens understand the course that their lives take and the opportunities available to them?There has been much debate surrounding what methodology and methods are appropriate for social science research. In a larger sense, there have been differences in quantitative and qualitative approaches and some attempts to combine them. In addition, there have also been questions of the influence of competing values on all social activities versus the need to find an objective understanding. Thus, this aptly named volume strives to develop new methods through the practice of ‘social synthesis’, describing a methodology that perceives societies and economies as manifestations of highly dynamic, interactive and emergent complex systems. Furthermore, helping us to understand that an analysis of parts alone does not always lead to an informed understanding, Haynes presents to the contemporary researcher an original tool called Dynamic Pattern Synthesis (DPS) – a rigorous method that informs us about how specific complex social and economic systems adapt over time. A timely and significant monograph, __Social Synthesis__ will appeal to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, research professionals and academic researchers informed by sociology, economics, politics, public policy, social policy and social psychology. Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- 1 Methodology: towards a representation of complex system dynamics -- Introduction -- Complexity science -- Sensitivity to initial conditions -- Emergence -- Autopoiesis -- Feedback -- Networks -- Summarising the influences of complexity theory -- Understanding system change as patterns -- Complexity in economic systems -- Time and space -- Critical realism -- Case similarity and difference -- Convergence and divergence -- Complex causation -- Methodological conclusions -- Conclusions -- 2 The method: introducing Dynamic Pattern Synthesis -- Introduction -- Cluster Analysis -- Cluster Analysis: specific approaches -- Distance measures -- Hierarchical and nonhierarchical CA -- Clustering algorithms -- Dendrogram charts -- Icicle charts -- Using SPSS to calculate and compare cluster methods -- Further considerations of the effects of clustering algorithms -- Understanding variable relationships within cluster formulation -- Repeating CA over time -- Qualitative Comparative Analysis -- Crisp set QCA -- Accounting for time in case based methods -- Combining the two methods: CA and QCA -- Qualitative Comparative Analysis and software packages -- Applying QCA -- An alternative confirmation method: ANOVA -- The application of CA and QCA as a combined method -- Dynamic Pattern Synthesis: seven cities, three years later -- Threshold setting for binary crisp set conversion -- Prime implicant 'near misses' -- Other considerations for the DPS -- Conclusion -- 3 Macro examples of Dynamic Pattern Synthesis -- Introduction -- Macro case study 1: health and social care in Europe -- Macro case study 1, wave 1, 2004 -- Macro case study 1, wave 2, 2006 -- Macro case study 1, wave 4, 2010 -- Macro case study 1, wave 5, 2013 How Is It Possible To Understand Society And The Problems It Faces? What Sense Can Be Made Of The Behaviour Of Markets And Government Interventions? How Can Citizens Understand The Course That Their Lives Take And The Opportunities Available To Them? There Has Been Much Debate Surrounding What Methodology And Methods Are Appropriate For Social Science Research. In A Larger Sense, There Have Been Differences In Quantitative And Qualitative Approaches And Some Attempts To Combine Them. In Addition, There Have Also Been Questions Of The Influence Of Competing Values On All Social Activities Versus The Need To Find An Objective Understanding. Thus, This Aptly Named Volume Strives To Develop New Methods Through The Practice Of ‘social Synthesis’, Describing A Methodology That Perceives Societies And Economies As Manifestations Of Highly Dynamic, Interactive And Emergent Complex Systems. Furthermore, Helping Us To Understand That An Analysis Of Parts Alone Does Not Always Lead To An Informed Understanding, Haynes Presents To The Contemporary Researcher An Original Tool Called Dynamic Pattern Synthesis (dps) – A Rigorous Method That Informs Us About How Specific Complex Social And Economic Systems Adapt Over Time. A Timely And Significant Monograph, Social Synthesis Will Appeal To Advanced Undergraduate And Postgraduate Students, Research Professionals And Academic Researchers Informed By Sociology, Economics, Politics, Public Policy, Social Policy And Social Psychology. -- Methodology : Towards A Representation Of Complex System Dynamics -- The Method : Introducing Dynamic Pattern Synthesis (dps) -- Macro Examples Of Dynamic Pattern Synthesis (dps) -- A Meso Case Study Example : London Boroughs -- Conclusions -- References -- Index. Philip Haynes. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "How is it possible to undiferstand society and the problems it faces? What sense can be made of the behaviour of markets and government interventions? How can citizens undiferstand the course that their lives take and the opportunities available to them? There has been much debate surrounding what methodology and methods are appropriate for social science research. In a larger sense, there have been differences in Quantitative and qualitative approaches and some attempts to combine them. In addition, there have also been questions of the influence of competing values on all social activities versus the need to find an objective undiferstanding. Thus, this aptly named volume strives to develop new methods through the practice of 'social synthesis', describing a methodology that perceives societies and economies as manifestations of highly dynamic, interactive and emergent complex systems. Furthermore, helping us to undiferstand that an analysis of parts alone does not always lead to an informed undiferstanding, Haynes presents to the contemporary researcher an original tool called Dynamic Pattern Synthesis (DPS) - a rigorous method that informs us about how specific complex social and economic systems adapt over time. A timely and significant monograph, Social Synthesis will appeal to advanced undifergraduate and postgraduate students, research professionals and academic researchers informed by Sociology, Economics, Politics, Public Policy, Social Policy and Social Psychology."--Provided by publisher How is it possible to understand society and the problems it faces? What sense can be made of the behaviour of markets and government interventions? How can citizens understand the course that their lives take and the opportunities available to them? There has been much debate surrounding what methodology and methods are appropriate for social science research. In a larger sense, there have been differences in quantitative and qualitative approaches and some attempts to combine them. In addition, there have also been questions of the influence of competing values on all social activities versus the need to find an objective understanding. Thus, this aptly named volume strives to develop new methods through the practice of ‘social synthesis’, describing a methodology that perceives societies and economies as manifestations of highly dynamic, interactive and emergent complex systems. Furthermore, helping us to understand that an analysis of parts alone does not always lead to an informed understanding, Haynes presents to the contemporary researcher an original tool called Dynamic Pattern Synthesis (DPS) – a rigorous method that informs us about how specific complex social and economic systems adapt over time. A timely and significant monograph, Social Synthesis will appeal to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, research professionals and academic researchers informed by sociology, economics, politics, public policy, social policy and social psychology. -- Provided by publisher Macro case study 1: conclusions -- Macro case study 2: the evolution of the euro based economies -- Macro case study 2, wave 1, 2002 -- Macro case study 2, wave 2, 2006 -- Macro case study 2, wave 3, 2013 -- Macro case study 2: conclusions -- 4 A meso case study example: London boroughs -- Introduction -- Meso case study, 2010 -- Meso case study, 2011 -- Meso case study, 2012 -- Meso case study: conclusions -- 5 Micro case study example: older people in Sweden -- Micro case study: older people in Sweden born in 1918 -- Micro case study, wave 1, 2004 -- Micro case study, wave 2, 2006 -- Micro case study, wave 4, 2010 -- Conclusions for the micro case study -- 6 Conclusions -- Dynamic Pattern Synthesis and different dynamic typologies -- Reflections on complexity theory and DPS -- References -- Index