First eight years: a case study of starting a social system design lab

Hovmand, Peter S.

doi:10.1002/sdr.1593

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…For example, social network analysis has been used to study organisational collaboration and is especially useful for exploring interactions between organisations and self‐organising (Bunger et al, 2014; Bunger & Huang, 2019). System dynamics modelling, a type of computer simulation model, is being used by the Social System Design Lab (Hovmand, 2017). System dynamics modelling is well‐suited to study cumulative risk and feedback loops (Payne‐Sturges et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Social System Design Lab at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University provides an example of a research centre that both applies complexity theory and uses non-linear approaches to exploring complexity-informed models (Hovmand, 2017). This includes studies of scaling up housing vouchers in child welfare services and addressing homelessness (Fowler et al, 2019(Fowler et al, , 2020.…”

Section: Current Examples Of Complexity In Social Work Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Generating inclusive services for children, youth and families: A shift to using complex systems theory

Lee

Wolf-Branigin

2023

Child & Family Social Work

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Service systems for children and families have been shaped by standard approaches to knowledge‐building, which reflect a reductionist approach and assume linearity and/or that individuals and experiences are normally distributed. Yet, these approaches may be inadequate for clients most at‐risk, especially those who would be analytic ‘outliers’. A complexity lens focuses on the whole system and seeks to identify patterns, including the dynamic interactions between components of the system. Social work scholars have begun to apply complexity theory to social work research efforts, demonstrating the conceptual potential of incorporating this theoretical approach into social work theories and models such as the person‐in‐environment framework and the ecosystems perspective. Yet, frameworks informed by complexity theory may require ontological and epistemological shifts in thinking and new methodological approaches in order to fully embody a complexity approach. Complexity theory offers the opportunity to consider social work clients who are most at‐risk, as it is better suited for power law distributions. We can, therefore, reconceptualize the most ‘at‐risk’ clients as being in a state of transition, which is also the space of most creativity and possibility.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Current Examples Of Complexity In Social Work Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generating inclusive services for children, youth and families: A shift to using complex systems theory

Lee

Wolf-Branigin

2023

Child & Family Social Work

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Leveraging group model building to operationalize implementation strategies across implementation phases: an exemplar related to child maltreatment intervention selection

Cruden,

Powell,

Frerichs

et al. 2024

Implement Sci Commun

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Background Implementation strategies can help support the adoption and implementation of health interventions that are appropriate for a local context and acceptable to decision makers and community members. Implementation strategies should be designed to handle the complexity of the multi-level, dynamic contexts in which interventions are implemented. Systems science theories and methods explicitly attend to complexity and can be valuable for specifying implementation strategies. Group Model Building (GMB) combines research partner engagement strategies with systems science to support researchers’ and partners’ learning about complex problems and to identify solutions through consensus. This paper specifies how GMB can operationalize implementation strategies — methods for supporting evidence implementation in real-world practice — and describes how GMB can aid in selecting and tailoring both health interventions and implementation strategies. A case study in child maltreatment prevention planning is provided to illustrate how GMB was used to specify the “actions” — strategy activities — for three implementation strategies (conduct local consensus discussions; build a coalition; model and simulate change) during the earliest implementation phases, with the goal of supporting intervention selection decisions. Examples are provided of generalizable research products that can be produced concurrently through GMB, in addition to contextually-driven implementation support. Methods Participants ( n = 8) were engaged over four sessions using tailored GMB activities. Participants generated a qualitative system dynamics model that described their theory of change for how to prevent child maltreatment in their communities. This theory of change reflected a dynamic understanding of the interconnected determinants of child maltreatment. Results GMB was acceptable to participants and resulted in products that could be used for implementation planning (e.g., to model and simulate change) and future research. GMB fostered trust and idea sharing between participants. Conclusion GMB can facilitate learning about which outcomes are (or are not) impacted by interventions, which resources and approaches are required for quality implementation (e.g., implementation strategies), and tradeoffs in outcomes and resources between interventions. GMB also provides a structured, effective process to generate a shared implementation vision amongst participants. Lessons learned include methods for developing trust with and between participants, and the need for researchers to tailor GMB actions for participant and project needs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43058-024-00660-2.

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First eight years: a case study of starting a social system design lab

Cited by 2 publications

References 34 publications

Generating inclusive services for children, youth and families: A shift to using complex systems theory

Generating inclusive services for children, youth and families: A shift to using complex systems theory

Leveraging group model building to operationalize implementation strategies across implementation phases: an exemplar related to child maltreatment intervention selection

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