Burrowing into the legal system: using interview methods while respecting the theoretical basis of systems theory

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Sociology
• Systems Theory

Background:

• Niklas Luhmann's systems theory views society as interconnected systems (politics, law, economy, media), not individuals.
• This anti-humanistic approach poses challenges for empirical research methods that focus on individuals.
• The unknowability of individual cognition complicates the operationalization of systems theory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To theoretically justify a methodology that reconciles systems theory with individual-centered research.
• To explore how interviews can be used to empirically study systems theory.
• To bridge the gap between Luhmann's theoretical framework and practical social research.

Main Methods:

• Proposes a theoretical justification for a methodology using observation of systems.
• Focuses on the construction of systemic possibilities, theoretically excising the human agent.
• Utilizes researcher and interviewee observations within the systems theory framework.

Main Results:

• Offers a theoretical basis for using interview methodologies within systems theory.
• Suggests a way to observe systems and their internal dynamics empirically.
• Demonstrates the potential for operationalizing systems theory through specific research designs.

Conclusions:

• Reconciling systems theory with individual-focused methods is crucial for its empirical application.
• This approach allows for the examination of societal systems through systemic possibilities.
• Recognizing the possibilities of systems theory enhances its utility in social science research.