Complexity and Method in the Social Sciences: An Interdisciplinary Approach

Over the past two decades, there has been a growing interesting in applying 'complexity theory' to think and learn about the real social worlds in which we all live. This is a particular kind of theory on how to see the world and study it--which has a history in Physics and Mathematics, but is also now taken up across all the sciences and increasingly the social sciences and even the arts and humanities. In a nutshell, complexity theory involves trying to detect, understand and explain particular kinds of patterns of change and continuity across dynamics systems.

In social science, complexity is particularly relevant given the open dynamic nature of all social systems. Indeed, we live in a world in which never-ending, real-time data has quickly built upon itself, generating a virtual "database" on each of us, as individuals, and the political, economic, geographical, environmental, technological and cultural networks and systems in which we live, from the global all the way down to the local. Furthermore, all of these data-driven complex networks are colliding into one another, at multiple levels, shaping and being shaped by factors and actors, structures and agents--as the whole global world and its myriad of interdependent, contextualized communities evolves across time, space and place.

All of this complexity has created serious methodological challenges for social scientists. For support on these methodological challenges, we can turn to the burgeoning complex systems literature. The call to look at methods and methodological concerns is reflected also in the ERSC's 2008 International Benchmarking Review of UK Sociology, which expresses concern over the methodological preparedness of social scientists.

Yet, complexity sits at the intersection of various intellectual traditions, ways of knowing, theoretical traditions, and interdisciplinary concepts and methods. In terms of complexity social science, this complex intersection has created several timely and highly important questions that revolve around various UK funding council priorities (e.g., ESRC, EPSRC) regarding data and interdisciplinary research. Examples include issues of big data, integrating qualitative and quantitative methods, and studying the complexities of time, space and place.

It is these key, timely questions that drive the Complexity and Methods in the Social Sciences (CaMSS) seminar series forward. CaMSS uses its three-year seminar and existing collaborations to create an established, interdisciplinary list of 18 leading scholars (including key UK social scientists in complexity, such as Prof. Paul Ormerod, Prof Sylvia Walby, and Prof. Nigel Gilbert) to address the methodological challenges that complexity presents to the social sciences.

CaMSS will address the following three themes:

THEME 1: What is the state-of-the-art in complexity method?
A. My kingdom for a function: What is gained by quantifying social science research to study complexity?
B. Time, temporality and patterns of change and continuity
C. So, what does the qualitative sociologist have to say? The value of metaphor and qualitative method in complexity

THEME 2: Different approaches to complexity
A. Multiple perspectives: The epistemology of complexity science method
B. Modeling complex social systems: A case-based perspective
C. Modeling cognition and social understanding: a topological approach

THEME 3: Putting it all together
A. Creating the complexity social scientist's methodological toolkit: Needs, desires and futures
B. I've got to teach them what? Improving how students are taught complexity social research methods
C. What next? Where is the state-of-the-art in complexity method heading?

It is intended that the impact of the proposed seminar series should extend beyond the academic community to users or practitioners and to the general public. The impacts we seek to accomplish are as follows:

(1) Changing organizational culture and practices regarding the perception of complexity within social science and science.

(2) Contributing towards issues of representation and policy-planning intervention at a local, regional, national and international level.

(3) Influencing and potentially transforming applied social science research for the purpose of informing practitioners and professionals in policy planning.

(4) Shaping and enhancing the effectiveness of interdisciplinary research, as it is used in the public and private sectors.

(5) Enhancing methodological expertise within the academy and beyond, specifically relating to conducting complexity social science research.

(6) Improving how practitioners address issues of social welfare, quality of life and health and well-being.

(7) Enhancing the research capacity, knowledge and skills of businesses and organizations.

(8) Advancing public awareness and understanding the role of complexity and method in science, economic and societal issues.

(9) Enhancing the efficiency, performance and communication amongst academia and governmental organizations including public services.

(10) Promoting UK competitiveness around issues of complexity and social science method.

In addition to these ten goals, publicity for the seminar amongst the general public will include the following: (1) Dedicated website; (2) Active Twitter account and live feeds to website; (3) Selected discussions and findings from the seminar series disseminated in the form of an edited book and/or through a special issue of an appropriate journal (e.g. Complexity, Emergence, Journal of Social Complexity); (4) Organized/lead themed streams at relevant international conferences (e.g. British, European or International Sociological Associations); (5) Practitioner-oriented bulletins summarizing findings and recommendations; and (6) Establishment of a post-seminar series, international, academic network involving scholars to continue sharing knowledge on complexity and method in the social sciences.