Abstract
This article explores the potential of complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory to inform behaviour change research. A CAS describes a collection of heterogeneous agents interacting within a particular context, adapting to each other’s actions. In practical terms, this implies that behaviour change is (1) socially and culturally situated; (2) highly sensitive to small baseline differences in individuals, groups, and intervention components; and (3) determined by multiple components interacting ‘chaotically’. Two approaches to studying CAS are briefly reviewed. Agent-based modelling is a computer simulation technique that allows researchers to investigate ‘what if’ questions in a virtual environment. Applied qualitative research techniques, on the other hand, offer a way to examine what happens when an intervention is pursued in real-time, and to identify the sorts of rules and assumptions governing social action. Although these represent very different approaches to complexity, there may be scope for mixing these methods–for example, by grounding models in insights derived from qualitative fieldwork. Finally, I will argue that the concept of CAS offers one opportunity to gain a deepened understanding of health-related practices, and to examine the social psychological processes that produce health-promoting or damaging actions.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 405-418 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Health Psychology Review |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 22 Jun 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2 Oct 2018 |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Complex adaptive systems: A new approach for understanding health practices'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Profiles
-
Tim Gomersall
- Department of Psychology - Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology
- School of Human and Health Sciences
- None in Three Centre for the Global Prevention of Gender-based Violence
Person: Academic