Research agenda |
My research agenda applies a complexity framework to two distinct substantive areas, developmental disabilities and substance abuse. This affords a unique platform for investigating my primary research interest. The first, persons with developmental disabilities, typically have a strong support network in the form of advocates and family members. The second, people with substance abusing behaviors, typically lacks a similar support system. Complexity theory attempts to identify an underlying order to disorderly phenomenon by using agent-based (client) modeling to discern choice-making leading to an emergent behavior or pattern. This theoretical approach, given social work’s person-in-environment perspective, has potential applications in consumer and organizational decision-making, planning, and outcomes management. My professional experiences and influences provide the background for my primary interest in self-organization and emergent behaviors aspects of complex systems theory.