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The Policy Sciences: The Challenge of Complexity

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  • Rebecca M. Hendrick
  • David Nachmias

Abstract

This essay reviews some of the recent criticisms of positivist science. It interprets this criticism, more generally, as directed towards the complexity of social science phenomena and the difficulty of dealing with complexity epistemologically and methodologically. Rather than ignoring complexity, changing the subject matter or explaining it away, we argue that complexity may be acknowledged and studied systematically withn the context of post‐positivist approaches. The essay than proposes several strategies for conceptualizing and researching complexity (at a “meta‐level” from substantive policy research) that are based in systems theory.

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  • Rebecca M. Hendrick & David Nachmias, 1992. "The Policy Sciences: The Challenge of Complexity," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 11(3‐4), pages 310-328, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:revpol:v:11:y:1992:i:3-4:p:310-328
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-1338.1992.tb00475.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Kristan Cockerill & Lacy Daniel & Leonard Malczynski & Vincent Tidwell, 2009. "A fresh look at a policy sciences methodology: collaborative modeling for more effective policy," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 42(3), pages 211-225, August.

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