'''Hierarchy theory''' is a means of studying [[ecological systems]] in which the relationship between all of the components is of great complexity. Hierarchy theory focuses on [[Level of organization|levels of organization]] and issues of [[Scale (analytical tool)|scale]], with a specific focus on the role of the observer in the definition of the system.<ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Timothy F. H. |date=2001 |title=A summary of the principles of hierarchy theory |url=http://isss.org/hierarchy.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011218001638/http://isss.org/hierarchy.htm |archivedate=2001-12-18 |accessdate=2016-03-19}}</ref> Complexity in this context does not refer to an intrinsic property of the system but to the possibility of representing the systems in a plurality of non-equivalent ways depending on the pre-analytical choices of the observer. Instead of analyzing the whole structure, hierarchy theory refers to the analysis of hierarchical levels, and the interactions between them. | '''Hierarchy theory''' is a means of studying [[ecological systems]] in which the relationship between all of the components is of great complexity. Hierarchy theory focuses on [[Level of organization|levels of organization]] and issues of [[Scale (analytical tool)|scale]], with a specific focus on the role of the observer in the definition of the system.<ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Timothy F. H. |date=2001 |title=A summary of the principles of hierarchy theory |url=http://isss.org/hierarchy.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011218001638/http://isss.org/hierarchy.htm |archivedate=2001-12-18 |accessdate=2016-03-19}}</ref> Complexity in this context does not refer to an intrinsic property of the system but to the possibility of representing the systems in a plurality of non-equivalent ways depending on the pre-analytical choices of the observer. Instead of analyzing the whole structure, hierarchy theory refers to the analysis of hierarchical levels, and the interactions between them. |