Introduction to the Mini Special Issue on Complexity Theory: A New Research Paradigm in Social Work

Wolf-Branigin, Michael

doi:10.1080/01488376.2012.723977

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…A challenge and opportunity in applying complexity theory is identifying the system under study. The system can be defined and bounded in a variety of ways, as demonstrated by social work complexity theorists: the family (Stevens & Hassett, 2007), social work practice (Fish & Hardy, 2015), social service organisations (Wolf-Branigin, 2013) and transport for persons with disabilities Wolf-Branigin & Wolf-Branigin, 2012).…”

Section: Implications For Social Work Research and Scholarshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Complexity theory can extend social workers' conception of human behaviour in the form of CAS (Hudson, 2000; Wolf‐Branigin, 2012). Features of CAS are consonant with ‘the uncertainty and complexity of the majority of social phenomena and experiences’ (Geyer & Rihani, 2012, p. 6) that social workers address.…”

Section: Adopting Complexity: Required Shifts In Thinkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Generating inclusive services for children, youth and families: A shift to using complex systems theory

Lee

Wolf-Branigin

2023

Child & Family Social Work

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Service systems for children and families have been shaped by standard approaches to knowledge‐building, which reflect a reductionist approach and assume linearity and/or that individuals and experiences are normally distributed. Yet, these approaches may be inadequate for clients most at‐risk, especially those who would be analytic ‘outliers’. A complexity lens focuses on the whole system and seeks to identify patterns, including the dynamic interactions between components of the system. Social work scholars have begun to apply complexity theory to social work research efforts, demonstrating the conceptual potential of incorporating this theoretical approach into social work theories and models such as the person‐in‐environment framework and the ecosystems perspective. Yet, frameworks informed by complexity theory may require ontological and epistemological shifts in thinking and new methodological approaches in order to fully embody a complexity approach. Complexity theory offers the opportunity to consider social work clients who are most at‐risk, as it is better suited for power law distributions. We can, therefore, reconceptualize the most ‘at‐risk’ clients as being in a state of transition, which is also the space of most creativity and possibility.

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Section: Implications For Social Work Research and Scholarshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Adopting Complexity: Required Shifts In Thinkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generating inclusive services for children, youth and families: A shift to using complex systems theory

Lee

Wolf-Branigin

2023

Child & Family Social Work

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“…Rather, systemic approaches require a more expansive application of mixed methods and other rigorous methodologies. Some such approaches already exist with extensive use in disciplines adjacent to public health, (Gates & Dyson, 2017) including community psychology(Foster‐Fishman, Nowell, & Yang, 2007) and social services (Wolf‐Branigin, 2012). For example, community‐based participatory research is a research approach that is used across a number of disciplines and incorporates principles of collaborative inquiry and adaptive action into its methodologies (Israel et al, 2005; Israel, Schulz, Parker, & Becker, 1998).…”

Section: Systemic Approach To Population‐level Injury and Violence Prmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systemic approach to achieving population‐level impact in injury and violence prevention

2020

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The contemporary public health model for injury and violence prevention is a four-step process, which has been difficult to fully actualize in real-world contexts. This difficulty results from challenges in bridging science to practice and developing and applying population-level approaches. Prevention programmes and policies are embedded within and impacted by a range of system-level factors, which must be considered and actively managed when addressing complex public health challenges involving multiple sectors and stakeholders. To address these concerns, a systemic approach to population-level injury and violence prevention is being developed and explored by the Division of Analysis, Research, and Practice Integration in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This article makes the case for and provides a high-level overview of this systemic approach, its various components, and how it is being applied in one governmental unit.

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“…In the past decade or so, there has been a steady interest in complexity theory across the social sciences and applied professions. Areas drawing on complexity theory include nursing (Clancy, Effken, & Pesut, 2008), political science and public policy (Cairney, 2012), geography and urban planning (Manson & O’Sullivan, 2006), education and educational philosophy (Morrison, 2008), international development and humanitarian aid (Ramalingam, Jones, Reba, & Young, 2008), social work (Wolf-Branigin, 2012), and public health (Rickles, Hawe, & Shiell, 2007; Sterman, 2006), among others. Numerous theorists have described and articulated how complexity theory is used in the social, behavioral, and health sciences (Byrne, 1998; Cudworth & Hobden, 2012; Davidson, Ray, & Turkel, 2011; Dent, 1999; Mason, 2008; Patton, 2011; Plsek & Greenhalgh, 2001; Rickles et al, 2007; Sawyer, 2007).…”

Section: Complexity Theory: Family Of Theories Rooted In Multiple Dismentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Relevance of Complexity Theory for Mixed Methods Research

Kallemeyn

Hall

Gates

2019

Journal of Mixed Methods Research

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While the field of mixed methods has discussed complexity theory, more clarification regarding its conceptualization is needed. Accordingly, we first review how various fields have interpreted and applied the central ideas of complexity theory in the social sciences. We then analyze two empirical studies that used complexity theory and mixed methods. We highlight how both studies examined complex systems, used elements of complexity theory as their theoretical framework, and used complexity–congruent methodologies and methods. To conclude, we offer conceptual and methodological implications for using complexity theory for mixed methods research. We view the clarification provided an important contribution to the field of mixed methods as it assists researchers in studying complex systems, theorizing complex phenomena, and using complex methods.

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Introduction to the Mini Special Issue on Complexity Theory: A New Research Paradigm in Social Work

Cited by 6 publications

References 7 publications

Generating inclusive services for children, youth and families: A shift to using complex systems theory

Generating inclusive services for children, youth and families: A shift to using complex systems theory

A systemic approach to achieving population‐level impact in injury and violence prevention

Exploring the Relevance of Complexity Theory for Mixed Methods Research

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