The Role of Systems Methodology in Social Science Research. Dedicated to my father, Ruggiero, and to the memory of my mother, Mary.

Transcription

1 The Role of Systems Methodology in Social Science Research Dedicated to my father, Ruggiero, and to the memory of my mother, Mary.

2 Frontiers in Systems Research: Implications for the social sciences Vol. 1 Editorial Board: Prof. George J. Klir (Editor-in-Chief), State University of New York at Binghamton, U.S.A. Prof. Stein Braten, University of Oslo, Norway Prof. John Casti, New York University, U.S.A. Advisory Board: Prof. Fred Emery, Australian National University, Australia Prof. Brian R. Gaines, University of Essex, England Prof. A. F. G. Hanken, Technical University Twente, The Netherlands Prof. John H. Milsum, University of British Columbia, Canada Prof. Charles Muses, Center for Mathematics and Morphology, U.S.A. Prof. Werner H. Tack, University of Saari andes, German Federal Republic Prof. Masanao Toda, Hokkaido University, Japan The objective of the series is to develop a rich resource of advanced literature devoted to the implications of systems research for the social sciences. The series includes monographs and collections of articles suitable for graduate students and researchers in academia and business, including rewritten Ph. D. dissertations. No undergraduate textbooks or reference books are included. Quality, originality and relevance with respect to the objectives of the series will be used as primary criteria for accepting submitted manuscripts.

3 The Role of Systems Methodology in Social Science Research Roger E. Cavallo State University of New York at Binghamton GMartinus GJVijhoff Publishing Boston/TheHague/London 1979

4 Distributors for North America: Martinus Nijhoff Publishing Kluwer Boston, Inc. 160 Old Derby Street Hingham, Massachusetts Distributors outside North America: Kluwer Academic Publishers Group Distribution Centre P.O. Box AH Dordrecht, The Netherlands Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Cavallo, Roger E The role of systems methodology in social sciences research. (Frontiers in system research ; v. I) Bibliography: p. Includes indexes. I. Social science research. 2. Social sciences Methodology. I. Title. II. Series. H62.C '.1' ISBN-13: e-isbn-13: DOl: / Copyright 1979 by Martinus Nijhoff Publishing. Softcover reprint of the hardcover I st edition 1979 No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by print, photoprint, microfilm or any other means, without written permission from the publisher.

5 Preface While general systems research has had a considerable impact on research in the social sciences, this impact has been mainly conceptual and has not served to provide the operational and methodological aids for research which are possible. In addition, many of those systems-oriented directions and results which do impact social science research have developed independently and in piecemeal fashion in recent decades. The main development of this book is a cohesive framework within which to integrate results of general systems research and which provides a means for the organization of data and observations - and operational procedures by which to proceed - in the investigation and study of social and socio-technical systems. The book systematically develops in the first five chapters ail of the basic concepts and aspects which make up the framework, showing wherever possible the main sources of these concepts and placing them in historical perspective. The developments of the first five chapters are pulled together and integrated, in the last chapter, into a conceptual and operational general systems problem solving framework which extends the investigative capabilities of researchers of specific systems. The last chapter also contains an example of an overall investigation which utilizes the framework and which proceeds from system definition through the derivation of explanatory knowledge regarding the object system and which illustrates in detail most of the concepts and elements of the framework. When the Society for General Systems Research was started, one of the founders - Kenneth Boulding - pointed to an inherent difficulty stemming from the fact that the same intellectual independence responsible for much of the vitality of general systems research could serve to prevent a consolidation and practical evaluation of many results and that this could in turn restrict the potential for further growth. He thus observed that one need which was most pressing, as well as most difficult to achieve, was the development of a viable overall framework which would be organically

6 VI PREFACE connected with all aspects of general systems research. Major progress toward achievement of this development has been the goal of the approach to general systems taken by George Klir. The process-oriented problem solving framework developed in this book is based primarily on the hierarchy of epistemological levels of systems which he has developed. In this regard, I would like to express my appreciation for the motivation and inspiration supplied to me by George Klir, both directly and indirectly through his extensive and continuing work devoted to the creation and development of a perspective which encompasses, encourages and supports contributions from varied and diverse perspectives, and which provides means to integrate and benefit from this diversity. I would also like to thank Waiter Lowen for his administrative efforts devoted to the creation of an academic atmosphere, at the School of Advanced Technology, which is oriented toward and supports the integration of diverse approaches. Lastly I would like to thank my wife Colleen for her support, especially regarding the tending of logistic details including the organization and typing of the manuscript for this book.

7 Contents PREFACE... v INTRODUCTION Science and Scientism The Social Sciences and the Analytical Method Hucksterism in Economics The Systems Paradigm and the Re-emphasis of Interaction The Status of Mathematical Research General Systems Methodology and Empirical Research The Influence of Cybernetics Lessons from the Situation in Physics General Systems Methodology as Language Thematic Influences on Knowledge Methodological and Pragmatist Emphases General Systems Research as a Methodological Language Basic Concepts Categorization and Uncertainty Epistemological Levels Primitive Concepts System Traits Basic System Types... 51

8 VIII CONTENTS Object Systems.... General Image Systems.... Data Systems.... Higher Level Systems.... Framework/Investigator Interface.... Behavior Systems Generative Systems Introduction Representation of Source Systems Representation of Data Systems Definition of Mask Choice of Best Mask, Sampling Scheme and Behavior System General Considerations Approximation versus Complexity System Identification Relations to the Social Sciences Pragmatism and Uncertainty Structure Systems General Considerations Definition of Structure Structural Derivations Separability in Design Summary of Fundamental Concepts GSPS Part I: An Organized Methodological Framework Knowledge as Process 'Theory' and Data in the Social Sciences General Systems Problem Solving

9 CONTENTS IX GSPS System Types Problem Kinds Requirement Types and Problem Types; Particular Systems, Requirements, and Problems Formal Description Summary GSPS as an Interactive Framework Part II: General Systems Problem Solving and the Study of Domestic Conflict Introduction The Need for General Operational Methods Past Work Systems Problems Related to Source, Data and Behavior Systems Source System and Data System Behavior Systems Memoryless Behavior Memory Effects Systems Problems Related to Structure GSPS and Theory Construction Further Directions for Investigation APPENDICES 165 REFERENCES 187 INDICES