PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - F Griffiths
AU  - D Byrne
TI  - General practice and the new science emerging from the theories of 'chaos' and complexity.
DP  - 1998 Oct 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - 1697--1699
VI  - 48
IP  - 435
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/48/435/1697.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/48/435/1697.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract1998 Oct 01; 48
AB  - This paper outlines the general practice world view and introduces the main features of the theories of 'chaos' and complexity. From this, analogies are drawn between general practice and the theories, which suggest a different way of understanding general practice and point to future developments in general practice research. A conceptual and practical link between qualitative and quantitative methods of research is suggested. Methods of combining data about social context with data about individuals and about biomedical factors are discussed. The paper emphasizes the importance of data collected over time and of considering the multiplicative interactions between variables. Finally, the paper suggests that to develop this type of research, general practice many need to reassess systems of categorizing and recording appropriate data.