Social Synthesis

How is it possible to understand society and the problems it faces? What sense can be made of the behaviour of markets and government interventions? How can citizens understand the course that their lives take and the opportunities available to them? There has been much debate surrounding what methodology and methods are appropriate for social science research. In a larger sense, there have been differences in quantitative and qualitative approaches and some attempts to combine them. In addition, there have also been questions of the influence of competing values on all social activities versus the need to find an objective understanding. Thus, this aptly named volume strives to develop new methods through the practice of ‘social synthesis’, describing a methodology that perceives societies and economies as manifestations of highly dynamic, interactive and emergent complex systems. Furthermore, helping us to understand that an analysis of parts alone does not always lead to an informed understanding, Haynes presents to the contemporary researcher an original tool called Dynamic Pattern Synthesis (DPS) – a rigorous method that informs us about how specific complex social and economic systems adapt over time. A timely and significant monograph, Social Synthesis will appeal to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, research professionals and academic researchers informed by sociology, economics, politics, public policy, social policy and social psychology.

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If one schematically compares the three principal tendencies in psychotherapy (Freudian, Jungian, Adlerian) with regard to the direction in which their central thought leads, one could say: - The analytical method of Sigmund Freud looks for the causae efficientes, the causes of the later behavioural disturbances. Alfred Adler considers and treats the initial situation with regard to a causa finalis and both see in the drives the causae materiales. In Carl Gustav Jung's case the term 'synthesis' is based on his abandonment of the causal thinking of the alternative psychological methods of treatment. Jungian psychotherapy, therefore, is not an analytical procedure in the usual meaning of this term. Whatever the differences among Freud's, Jung's and Adler's extensive works on the therapeutic methodologies; scientists, artists, thinkers and practitioners accept the great importance of Adler's, Freud's and Jung's studies for medicine, psychology, anthropology, religion, art, history, literature, etc.

Evolution of qualitative synthesis within systematic reviews -- Methods to aggregating, integrating and interpreting qualitative research -- Mixed method designs for including qualitative research -- Clarifying methodological issues: a way forward -- A systematic approach for conducting qualitative synthesis -- Searching and screening qualitative studies -- Appraising the evidence of qualitative studies -- Reporting systematic qualitative synthesis -- Future directions for social work practice and policy.

Evidence syntheses use multidisciplinary and intersectoral sources of evidence to support policy-making. The Health Evidence Network (HEN) has supported and strengthened the use of evidence in health policy-making in the WHO European Region since 2003. The HEN synthesis report series responds to public health questions by summarizing the best available global and local findings from peer-reviewed and grey literature as well as policy options and proposes general directions strategies and actions for consideration. This resource has been developed to outline key approaches methods and considerations for a HEN evidence synthesis to support the systematic and routine use of the best available evidence for decision-making relevant to the needs of public health decision-makers. It proposes approaches that hold both scientific rigour and practical applicability for individuals and institutions that perform commission review and/or publish evidence syntheses.