Realism and Complexity in Social Science

Malcolm Williams

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English

Routledge
31 December 2020

Research methods: general; Sociology

Series: Complexity in Social Science

Realism and Complexity in Social Science is an argument for a new approach to investigating the social world, that of complex realism. Complex realism brings together a number of strands of thought, in scientific realism, complexity science, probability theory and social research methodology.

It proposes that the reality of the social world is that it is probabilistic, yet there exists enough invariance to make the discovery and explanation of social objects and causal mechanisms possible. This forms the basis for the development of a complex realist foundation for social research, that utilises a number of new and novel approaches to investigation, alongside the more traditional corpus of quantitative and qualitative methods. Research examples are drawn from research in sociology, epidemiology, criminology, social policy and human geography.

The book assumes no prior knowledge of realism, probability or complexity and in the early chapters, the reader is introduced to these concepts and the arguments against them. Although the book is grounded in philosophical reasoning, this is in a direct and accessible style that will appeal both to social researchers with a methodological interest and philosophers with an interest in social investigation.

By: Malcolm Williams
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 660g
ISBN: 9781138335554
ISBN 10: 113833555X
Series: Complexity in Social Science
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 31 December 2020
Audience: College/higher education , Primary , A / AS level
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction: Knowing the Social World: Challenges and Possibilities 2. Realism and Its Discontents 3. Complexity, Probability and Necessity in the Social World 4. Causes and Complexity 5. Representation and Reality 6. Theory Choice – Verification, Falsification and Inference 7. Objective Knowledge 8. Mechanisms 9. A Methodological Toolkit: From Micro Complexity to Macro Explanation. 10. A Manifesto for Complex Realism

Malcolm Williams is Professor and Co-Director of the Q-Step Centre, at Cardiff University.