The Role of Systems Methodology in Social Science Research

R. Cavallo

ISBN 10: 0898380057 / ISBN 13: 9780898380057

Published by Springer Jul 1979, 1979

About this Item

Neuware - While general systems research has had a considerable impact on research in the social sciences, this impact has been mainly conceptual and has not served to provide the operational and methodological aids for research which are possible. In addition, many of those systems-oriented directions and results which do impact social science research have developed inde pendently and in piecemeal fashion in recent decades. The main develop ment of this book is a cohesive framework within which to integrate results of general systems research and which provides a means for the organiza tion of data and observations - and operational procedures by which to proceed - in the investigation and study of social and socio-technical systems. The book systematically develops in the first five chapters ail of the basic concepts and aspects which make up the framework, showing wherever possible the main sources of these concepts and placing them in historical perspective. The developments of the first five chapters are pulled together and integrated, in the last chapter, into a conceptual and operational general systems problem solving framework which extends the investiga tive capabilities of researchers of specific systems. The last chapter also contains an example of an overall investigation which utilizes the frame work and which proceeds from system definition through the derivation of explanatory knowledge regarding the object system and which illustrates in detail most of the concepts and elements of the framework.

Seller Inventory # 9780898380057

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Role of Systems Methodology in Social Science Research
• Publisher: Springer Jul 1979
• Publication Date: 1979
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0898380057
• ISBN 13: 9780898380057
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 234W x 156H x 14D millimeters 234 millimeters width by 156 millimeters height by 14 millimeters depth
• Weight: 481 grams

About this title

Synopsis

While general systems research has had a considerable impact on research in the social sciences, this impact has been mainly conceptual and has not served to provide the operational and methodological aids for research which are possible. In addition, many of those systems-oriented directions and results which do impact social science research have developed inde­ pendently and in piecemeal fashion in recent decades. The main develop­ ment of this book is a cohesive framework within which to integrate results of general systems research and which provides a means for the organiza­ tion of data and observations - and operational procedures by which to proceed - in the investigation and study of social and socio-technical systems. The book systematically develops in the first five chapters ail of the basic concepts and aspects which make up the framework, showing wherever possible the main sources of these concepts and placing them in historical perspective. The developments of the first five chapters are pulled together and integrated, in the last chapter, into a conceptual and operational general systems problem solving framework which extends the investiga­ tive capabilities of researchers of specific systems. The last chapter also contains an example of an overall investigation which utilizes the frame­ work and which proceeds from system definition through the derivation of explanatory knowledge regarding the object system and which illustrates in detail most of the concepts and elements of the framework.