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Searching for Appropriate Ways to Face the Challenges of Complexity and Dynamics

Sommerfeld, Peter ; Hollenstein, Lea

In: British Journal of Social Work, 2011, vol. 41, no. 4, p. 668-688

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    Titre
    • Searching for Appropriate Ways to Face the Challenges of Complexity and Dynamics
    Auteur
    • Sommerfeld, Peter
    • Hollenstein, Lea. Peter Sommerfeld is professor of Social Work at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, School of Social Work. Recent research has been completed in the fields of probation services, psychiatry and occupational social work. He teaches theories of Social Work and General Systems Theory. He is co-president of the Swiss Society for Social Work. Lea Hollenstein is senior researcher at the institute for ‘Social Work Research and Cooperative Knowledge Creation' at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, School of Social Work. Recent research has been completed on integration and exclusion processes and in the field of psychiatry. She teaches on professional assistance to female victims of violence.
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • British Journal of Social Work, 2011, vol. 41, no. 4, p. 668-688. Oxford University Press
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:304247
    Summary
    People, as bio-psychological systems, are just as dynamic and complex as the social systems that they create. Social work intervenes in the interplay of these two complex, dynamic systems. How can we capture these complexities and dynamics in social work research and practice? The paper introduces the theoretical grounds on which a mixed-methods design has been developed combining a longitudinal quantitative method called Real Time Monitoring that produces dense time series data with qualitative methods (biographical and reflecting interviews) within the framework of grounded theory. After some short notes on the methodology, its application is demonstrated alongside a case example. Because complexity and dynamics challenge not only research, but also the practice of social work, the approach is finally discussed in view of the ‘realistic evaluation' paradigm