Chaos Theory: An Alternative Approach to Social Work Practice and Research

Bolland, Kathleen A.; Atherton, Charles R.

doi:10.1606/1044-3894.1216

Cited by 26 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Stability of policy thus became an 'unattainable anomaly,' which was echoed in frequent policy shifts, detailed media portrayals of a regional health crisis, and a prevailing environment of uncertainty and unknown risk. Rather than moving toward stability and homeostasis, chaos emerged as the expected yet irreconcilable 'norm' [27] of daily health care delivery.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pediatric epidemic crisis: Lessons for policy and practice development

et al. 2008

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Given the continuing threat of current and future airborne viruses with potential for epidemic spread and devastating outcomes, preparedness strategies are certainly needed. Effective strategies in pediatrics include practices that provide family centered care while minimizing disease transmission. Toward this end, lessons learned from previous outbreaks merit consideration and may inform future epidemics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pediatric epidemic crisis: Lessons for policy and practice development

et al. 2008

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“…Similar problems of specificity and reliability (7,8) also baffle other approaches to chaos detection that rely on certain topological or information measures of attractors reconstructed from the data (9,10). The lack of a definitive test of chaos in experimental time series has thwarted the application of nonlinear dynamics theory (4,11) to a variety of physical (6,(12)(13)(14)(15), biomedical (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24), and socioeconomic systems (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) where chaos is thought to play a role. Overcoming these hurdles may open exciting possibilities for practical applications such as the improved forecasting of weather (31) and economic (30) patterns, novel strategies for diagnosis and control of pathological states in biomedicine (23,24,(32)(33)(34)(35) or the unmasking of chaotically encrypted electronic or optical communication signals (36)(37)(38)(39).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Titration of chaos with added noise

Poon

Barahona

2001

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

135

114

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Deterministic chaos has been implicated in numerous natural and man-made complex phenomena ranging from quantum to astronomical scales and in disciplines as diverse as meteorology, physiology, ecology, and economics. However, the lack of a definitive test of chaos vs. random noise in experimental time series has led to considerable controversy in many fields. Here we propose a numerical titration procedure as a simple ''litmus test'' for highly sensitive, specific, and robust detection of chaos in short noisy data without the need for intensive surrogate data testing. We show that the controlled addition of white or colored noise to a signal with a preexisting noise floor results in a titration index that: (i) faithfully tracks the onset of deterministic chaos in all standard bifurcation routes to chaos; and (ii) gives a relative measure of chaos intensity. Such reliable detection and quantification of chaos under severe conditions of relatively low signal-to-noise ratio is of great interest, as it may open potential practical ways of identifying, forecasting, and controlling complex behaviors in a wide variety of physical, biomedical, and socioeconomic systems.

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“…Recent findings in neuroscience either support or are grounded in dynamic systems principles (Cozolino, 2006;Schore & Schore, 2008;Siegel, 1999Siegel, , 2007. These theories are also beginning to emerge within social work publications (Bolland & Atherton, 1999;Hudson, 2000aHudson, , 2000bHudson, , 2004Warren, Franklin, & Streeter, 1998;Wolf-Branigin, 2006). Though DST holds promise as a theoretical framework for our profession, there are two limitations to consider: (1) As a newer set of principles, theoretical development and empirical research are still ongoing and, (2) as a process model, DST does not specify specific variables, levels, or areas of focus.…”

Section: Overview Of Dynamic Systems Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Using Dynamic Systems Theory to Understand “Stress and Coping” and “Trauma and Resilience”

Keenan

2010

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment

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Although research is beginning to capture the complex interactions of biopsychosocial variables operating within experiences of stressors and trauma, the bodies of research have remained largely separate and limited. This study describes a scaffold of factors and pathways based on principles from dynamic systems theories (DST) to organize the literatures on stress and coping and trauma and resilience. As a process model, DST provides the language to understand both impact and response to stressors and trauma: not as a list of symptoms but as interactive processes within persons and between persons and their surroundings.

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Chaos Theory: An Alternative Approach to Social Work Practice and Research

Cited by 26 publications

References 6 publications

Pediatric epidemic crisis: Lessons for policy and practice development

Pediatric epidemic crisis: Lessons for policy and practice development

Titration of chaos with added noise

Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Using Dynamic Systems Theory to Understand “Stress and Coping” and “Trauma and Resilience”

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