Implications of complex adaptive systems theory for interpreting research about health care organizations

Authors: Jordon, Michelle¹; Lanham, Holly Jordan²; Anderson, Ruth A.; McDaniel Jr, Reuben R.³

Source: Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, Volume 16, Number 1, February 2010 , pp. 228-231(4)

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Abstract:

Rationale

Data about health care organizations (HCOs) are not useful until they are interpreted. Such interpretations are influenced by the theoretical lenses used by the researcher. Objective

Our purpose was to suggest the usefulness of theories of complex adaptive systems (CASs) in guiding research interpretation. Specifically, we addressed two questions: (1) What are the implications for interpreting research observations in HCOs of the fact that we are observing relationships among diverse agents? (2) What are the implications for interpreting research observations in HCOs of the fact that we are observing relationships among agents that learn? Methods

We defined diversity and learning and the implications of the non-linear relationships among agents from a CAS perspective. We then identified some common analytical practices that were problematic and may lead to conceptual and methodological errors. Then we described strategies for interpreting the results of research observations. Conclusions

We suggest that the task of interpreting research observations of HCOs could be improved if researchers take into account that the systems they study are CASs with non-linear relationships among diverse, learning agents. Our analysis points out how interpretation of research results might be shaped by the fact that HCOs are CASs. We described how learning is, in fact, the result of interactions among diverse agents and that learning can, by itself, reduce or increase agent diversity. We encouraged researchers to be persistent in their attempts to reason about complex systems and learn to attend not only to structures, but also to processes and functions of complex systems.

Keywords: diversity; learning; research methods

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2009.01359.x

Affiliations: 1: PhD Student in Education Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education, Austin, TX, USA 2: PhD Student in Information Management, The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, Austin, TX, USA 3: Professor and Charles and Elizabeth Prothro Regents Chair of Healthcare Management, The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, Austin, TX, USA

Publication date: 2010-02-01

Implications of complex adaptive systems theory for interpreting research about health care organizations

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