Title: What is the role of anecdotal evidence in research of complex social systems?
Headings: What is the role of anecdotal evidence in research of complex social systems?
What is the role of anecdotal evidence in research of complex social systems?
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Content: They have been very helpful. Cite
2nd Aug, 2012
Ali Sumner
Curtin University
Hi David - like Gillian my PhD research is 'framed' within complexity theory and specifically complexity leadership theory which is itself framed within the context of human organisations being complex adaptive systems - my methodology is Classic (Glaserian) Grounded Theory - my decision to use this methodology has been confirmed as appropriate for research in the area of complex systems and leadership theory by Dr Jim Hazy (Adelphi University) one of the key academics within this area that uses quantitative methodologies (specifically dynamic network analysis) ... I asked him if there was a role for Glasserian GT with complexity leadership research ... his comment to me being: " there is certainly opportunity to use qualitative methods including grounded theory (GT) within a complexity context" and "In my way of thinking, complexity science is a framework about interactions, rules of interactions as well as how these changes as the environment changes, and emergent properties. As such, complex systems approaches form a general framework whereby one can explore whatever patterns are discovered in the data. From these analyses, further empirical tests can be devised and implemented, and so on"
In regards to the use of anecdotal evidence within this context, with Classic GT I am not concerned whether the data I am collecting is anecdotal or not ... with Grounded Theory methodology whatever the data and however it is collected, it is data to be analysed for patterns of meaning. As Glaser points out in regards to Classic GT: " There is no such thing as bias, or objective or subjective interpreted or misinterpreted ... the product (theory) will be transcending abstrac