| Methodologically, social complexity is theory-neutral, meaning that it accommodates both local and global approaches to sociological research.<ref name="CCS-MMT"/> The very idea of social complexity arises out of the [[Historical comparative research|historical-comparative]] methods of early sociologists; obviously, this method is important in developing, defining, and refining the theoretical construct of social complexity. As complex social systems have many parts and there are many possible relationships between those parts, appropriate methodologies are typically determined to some degree by the research level of analysis [[Differentiation (sociology)|differentiated]]<ref>Luhmann, Niklas (1982). ''The Differentiation of Society.'' New York, NY: Columbia University Press.</ref> by the researcher according to the level of description or explanation demanded by the research hypotheses. | | Methodologically, social complexity is theory-neutral, meaning that it accommodates both local and global approaches to sociological research.<ref name="CCS-MMT"/> The very idea of social complexity arises out of the [[Historical comparative research|historical-comparative]] methods of early sociologists; obviously, this method is important in developing, defining, and refining the theoretical construct of social complexity. As complex social systems have many parts and there are many possible relationships between those parts, appropriate methodologies are typically determined to some degree by the research level of analysis [[Differentiation (sociology)|differentiated]]<ref>Luhmann, Niklas (1982). ''The Differentiation of Society.'' New York, NY: Columbia University Press.</ref> by the researcher according to the level of description or explanation demanded by the research hypotheses. |
| At the most localized level of analysis, [[ethnographic]], [[Participant observation|participant-]] or non-participant observation, [[content analysis]] and other [[qualitative research]] methods may be appropriate. More recently, highly sophisticated [[quantitative research]] methodologies are being developed and used in sociology at both local and global [[level of analysis|levels of analysis]]. Such methods include (but are not limited to) [[bifurcation diagram]]s, [[Social network analysis|network analysis]], [[Nonlinear system|non-linear]] modeling, and [[Computational sociology|computational]] models including [[Cellular automaton|cellular automata]] programming, [[sociocybernetics]] and other methods of [[social simulation]]. | | At the most localized level of analysis, [[ethnographic]], [[Participant observation|participant-]] or non-participant observation, [[content analysis]] and other [[qualitative research]] methods may be appropriate. More recently, highly sophisticated [[quantitative research]] methodologies are being developed and used in sociology at both local and global [[level of analysis|levels of analysis]]. Such methods include (but are not limited to) [[bifurcation diagram]]s, [[Social network analysis|network analysis]], [[Nonlinear system|non-linear]] modeling, and [[Computational sociology|computational]] models including [[Cellular automaton|cellular automata]] programming, [[sociocybernetics]] and other methods of [[social simulation]]. |
| Complex [[social network]] analysis is used to study the dynamics of large, complex social networks. [[Dynamic network analysis]] brings together traditional [[social network analysis]], [[link analysis]] and [[multi-agent system]]s within [[network science]] and [[network theory]].<ref>Carley, Kathleen M. (2003), "Dynamic Network Analysis." ''Dynamic Social Network Modeling and Analysis: Workshop Summary and Papers'', Ronald Breiger, Kathleen Carley, and Philippa Pattison (eds.), National Research Council (Committee on Human Factors): Washington, D.C.: 133–145.</ref> Through the use of key concepts and methods in [[social network analysis]], [[agent-based modeling]], theoretical [[physics]], and modern [[mathematics]] (particularly [[graph theory]] and [[fractal geometry]]), this method of inquiry brought insights into the dynamics and structure of social systems. New computational methods of localized social network analysis are coming out of the work of [[Duncan Watts]], [[Albert-László Barabási]], [[Nicholas A. Christakis]], [[Kathleen Carley]] and others. | | Complex [[social network]] analysis is used to study the dynamics of large, complex social networks. [[Dynamic network analysis]] brings together traditional [[social network analysis]], [[link analysis]] and [[multi-agent system]]s within [[network science]] and [[network theory]].<ref>Carley, Kathleen M. (2003), "Dynamic Network Analysis." ''Dynamic Social Network Modeling and Analysis: Workshop Summary and Papers'', Ronald Breiger, Kathleen Carley, and Philippa Pattison (eds.), National Research Council (Committee on Human Factors): Washington, D.C.: 133–145.</ref> Through the use of key concepts and methods in [[social network analysis]], [[agent-based modeling]], theoretical [[physics]], and modern [[mathematics]] (particularly [[graph theory]] and [[fractal geometry]]), this method of inquiry brought insights into the dynamics and structure of social systems. New computational methods of localized social network analysis are coming out of the work of [[Duncan Watts]], [[Albert-László Barabási]], [[Nicholas A. Christakis]], [[Kathleen Carley]] and others. |