Models and Theories in Social Systems

Models and Theories in Social Systems PDF Author: Cristina Flaut
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3030000842
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 576

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Book Description
This book concisely presents a broad range of models and theories on social systems. Because of the huge spectrum of topics involving social systems, various issues related to Mathematics, Statistics, Teaching, Social Science, and Economics are discussed. In an effort to introduce the subject to a wider audience, this volume, part of the series “Studies in Systems, Decision and Control”, equally addresses the needs of mathematicians, statisticians, sociologists and philosophers. The studies examined here are divided into four parts. The first part, “Perusing the Minds Behind Scientific Discoveries”, traces the winding path of Syamal K. Sen and Ravi P. Agarwal’s scholarship throughout history, and most importantly, the thought processes that allowed each of them to master their subject. The second part covers “Theories in Social Systems” and the third discusses “Models in Social Systems”, while the fourth and final part is dedicated to “Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences”. Given its breadth of coverage, the book will offer inquisitive readers a valuable point of departure for exploring these rich, vast, and ever-expanding fields of knowledge.

Models and Theories in Social Systems

Models and Theories in Social Systems PDF Author: Cristina Flaut
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3030000842
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 576

Get Book

Book Description
This book concisely presents a broad range of models and theories on social systems. Because of the huge spectrum of topics involving social systems, various issues related to Mathematics, Statistics, Teaching, Social Science, and Economics are discussed. In an effort to introduce the subject to a wider audience, this volume, part of the series “Studies in Systems, Decision and Control”, equally addresses the needs of mathematicians, statisticians, sociologists and philosophers. The studies examined here are divided into four parts. The first part, “Perusing the Minds Behind Scientific Discoveries”, traces the winding path of Syamal K. Sen and Ravi P. Agarwal’s scholarship throughout history, and most importantly, the thought processes that allowed each of them to master their subject. The second part covers “Theories in Social Systems” and the third discusses “Models in Social Systems”, while the fourth and final part is dedicated to “Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences”. Given its breadth of coverage, the book will offer inquisitive readers a valuable point of departure for exploring these rich, vast, and ever-expanding fields of knowledge.

Theories and Simulations of Complex Social Systems

Theories and Simulations of Complex Social Systems PDF Author: Vahid Dabbaghian
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642391494
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 204

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Book Description
Research into social systems is challenging due to their complex nature. Traditional methods of analysis are often difficult to apply effectively as theories evolve over time. This can be due to a lack of appropriate data, or too much uncertainty. It can also be the result of problems which are not yet understood well enough in the general sense so that they can be classified, and an appropriate solution quickly identified. Simulation is one tool that deals well with these challenges, fits in well with the deductive process, and is useful for testing theory. This field is still relatively new, and much of the work is necessarily innovative, although it builds upon a rich and varied foundation. There are a number of existing modelling paradigms being applied to complex social systems research. Additionally, new methods and measures are being devised through the process of conducting research. We expect that readers will enjoy the collection of high quality research works from new and accomplished researchers.

The Emerging Consensus in Social Systems Theory

The Emerging Consensus in Social Systems Theory PDF Author: Kenneth C. Bausch
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461512638
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 419

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Book Description
In The Emerging Consensus of Social Systems Theory Bausch summarizes the works of over 30 major systemic theorists. He then goes on to show the converging areas of consensus among these out-standing thinkers. Bausch categorizes the social aspects of current systemic thinking as falling into five broadly thematic areas: designing social systems, the structure of the social world, communication, cognition and epistemology. These five areas are foundational for a theoretic and practical systemic synthesis. They were topics of contention in a historic debate between Habermas and Luhmann in the early 1970's. They continue to be contentious topics within the study of social philosophy. Since the 1970's, systemic thinking has taken great strides in the areas of mathematics, physics, biology, psychology, and sociology. This book presents a spectrum of those theoretical advances. It synthesizes what various strains of contemporary systems science have to say about social processes and assesses the quality of the resulting integrated explanations. Bausch gives a detailed study of the works of many present-day systems theorists, both in general terms, and with regard to social processes. He then creates and validates integrated representations of their thoughts with respect to his own thematic classifications. He provides a background of systemic thinking from an historical context, as well as detailed studies of developments in sociological, cognitive and evolutionary theory. This book presents a coherent, dynamic model of a self-organizing world. It proposes a creative and ethical method of decision-making and design. It makes explicit the relations between structure and process in the realms of knowledge and being. The new methodology that evolves in this book allows us to deal with enormous complexity, and to relate ideas so as to draw out previously unsuspected conclusions and syntheses. Therein lies the elegance and utility of this model.

Social Systems

Social Systems PDF Author: Niklas Luhmann
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 9780804726252
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 692

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Book Description
Germany's most prominent social thinker here sets out a contribution to sociology that aims to rework our understanding of meaning and communication. He links social theory to recent theoretical developments in scientific disciplines.

Sociology and the New Systems Theory

Sociology and the New Systems Theory PDF Author: Kenneth D. Bailey
Publisher: State University of New York Press
ISBN: 0791495620
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 392

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Book Description
This book provides current information about the many recent contributions of social systems theory. While some sociologists feel that the systems age ended with functionalism, in reality a number of recent developments have occurred within the field. The author makes these developments accessible to sociologists and other non-systems scholars, and begins a synthesis of the burgeoning systems field and mainstream sociological theory. The analysis shows not only that important points of rapprochement exist between systems theory and sociological theory, but also that systems theory has in some cases anticipated developments needed in mainstream theory.

Computer-Assisted Theory Building

Computer-Assisted Theory Building PDF Author: Robert Hanneman
Publisher: SAGE Publications, Incorporated
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
This volume provides a new set of tools for creating and analysing theories. Computer-Assisted Theory Building re-orients the way many social scientists build and work with theories -- and it will prove of value to all practising social science theorists. Because verbal formulations are insufficiently specific and mathematical formulations often too restrictive, the author proposes a new formal language as a middle way, advocating computer simulation models to allow the formulation of more dynamic theories.

Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Human Behavior and the Social Environment PDF Author: Orren Dale
Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
ISBN: 9780205613694
Category : Human behavior
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Emphasizing the application of theory to practice, this text provides a comprehensive overview of the Human Behavior theories used at all levels of generalist social work practice - the individual, the social group, the family, the organization, and the community. The authors evaluate the theories and provide a framework that helps apply theory into practice. A generalist social work practice framework is used throughout.

Toward a Structural Theory of Action

Toward a Structural Theory of Action PDF Author: Peter H. Rossi
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 1483288277
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 381

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Book Description
Toward a Structural Theory of Action: Network Models of Social Structure, Perception, and Action centers on the concept of social structure, perceptions, and actions, as well as the strategies through which these concepts guide empirical research. This book also proposes a model of status/role-sets as patterns of relationships defining positions in the social topology. This text consists of nine chapters separated into three parts. Chapter 1 introduces the goals and organization of the book. Chapters 2-4 provide analytical synopsis of available network models of social differentiation, and then use these models in describing actual stratification. Chapter 5 presents a model in which actor interests are captured. Subsequent chapter assesses the empirical adequacy of the two predictions described in this book. Then, other chapters provide a network model of constraint and its empirical adequacy. This book will be valuable to anthropologists, economists, political scientists, and psychologists.

Theories of Social Innovation

Theories of Social Innovation PDF Author: Danielle Logue
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 1786436892
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 207

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Book Description
As we grapple with how to respond to some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as inequality, poverty and climate change, there is growing global interest in ‘social innovation’ as a potential solution. But what exactly is ‘social innovation’? This book describes three ways to theorise social innovation when seeking to manage and organize for both social and economic progress.

Health Behavior

Health Behavior PDF Author: Karen Glanz
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118628985
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 512

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Book Description
The essential health behavior text, updated with the latest theories, research, and issues Health Behavior: Theory, Research and Practice provides a thorough introduction to understanding and changing health behavior, core tenets of the public health role. Covering theory, applications, and research, this comprehensive book has become the gold standard of health behavior texts. This new fifth edition has been updated to reflect the most recent changes in the public health field with a focus on health behavior, including coverage of the intersection of health and community, culture, and communication, with detailed explanations of both established and emerging theories. Offering perspective applicable at the individual, interpersonal, group, and community levels, this essential guide provides the most complete coverage of the field to give public health students and practitioners an authoritative reference for both the theoretical and practical aspects of health behavior. A deep understanding of human behaviors is essential for effective public health and health care management. This guide provides the most complete, up-to-date information in the field, to give you a real-world understanding and the background knowledge to apply it successfully. Learn how e-health and social media factor into health communication Explore the link between culture and health, and the importance of community Get up to date on emerging theories of health behavior and their applications Examine the push toward evidence-based interventions, and global applications Written and edited by the leading health and social behavior theorists and researchers, Health Behavior: Theory, Research and Practice provides the information and real-world perspective that builds a solid understanding of how to analyze and improve health behaviors and health.