ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to bring together constructionism, causality, social problems, and steering, which we discussed in Chapters 5–7. We present a systems-theoretical variant of the functionalist method (equivalence functionalism), which rids itself from traditional versions such as structural functionalism and anthropological functionalism (Malinowski, 1944; Parsons, 1951). In this context, we will also discuss some thoughts about systems theory as a means of social criticism. Equipped with concepts such as multiperspectivity, contingency, and equivalence functionalism, Luhmannian systems theory is tolerant of other theoretical perspectives and viewpoints, which also prevents it from claiming the role of a be-all and end-all. We will conclude the chapter with a systems-theoretical view on social work research, which argues that academic social work operates through the logics of two function systems: as an academic discipline within the system of science and as a reflection theory within the social help system.
