Chain-computerisation as a research methodology: The fruits of six years of Chain Landscape Research at Utrecht University

Abstract

With the emeritus status of Professor Jan Grijpink, the moment has come to take stock of the Chain Landscape Research that has been going on under his supervision at Utrecht University since 2005. Central to this research is the implementation of chain analyses on the basis of the theory of Chain-computerisation. Its chain analysis profiles can be used as either descriptive or as assessment tools. Over the past six years, approximately 25 social chains have been examined. Generic, recurring results have bearing on the dominant chain problem, fallacies of the wrong level and identity fraud. Chain Landscape Research is continuing in the form of a debating society and that is desperately needed in view of the contribution that Chain-computerisation can make in providing an answer to large-scale information problems.