Background

Evidence-based social science has its roots in the development of evidence-based medicine, the evidence is the core and foundation of evidence-based social science.  But high-quality evidence, as the core element of high-quality social science research, is undergoing a profound transformation from structured data based on traditional sample surveys to massive, heterogeneous and unstructured big data. With the flourishing of social science, evidence-based social science is regarded as a relatively independent and emerging cross-cutting research field, and it is of great significance to develop theoretical and empirical research on it.

Objective

This project aims to drive the development of this cross-cutting field through the project, thereby clarifying the issues of theory, evidence, application and platform of evidence-based social science, filling many gaps in the current development of evidence-based social science in China, breaking through the existing research pattern, enriching the research content and methods, and enriching the research content and methods. The project will enrich research content and methods and promote innovation in the theory and practice of evidence-based social science. According to research needs, there are five subtopics, namely:

  • Theoretical system research of evidence-based social sciences
  • Construct evidence-based social science evidence ecosystem system
  • Empirical research on the international development of evidence-based social sciences
  • Develop path of evidence-based social sciences in China
  • Develop the China’s Evidence Based Social Science Platform

Methods

We will comprehensively use the methods including bibliometric analysis and system review/meta-analysis to summarize the international theoretical system and development experience of the evidence-based social science. And we will use expert interview, Delphi, evidence mapping approach, case analysis, system analysis, deductive and inductive approach, and ontology modeling to develop the path of evidence based social sciences in China and establish China’s Evidence Based Social Science Development Platform.

Project progress: We hope to use our platform to engage African research who can learn from the Chinese experience.

Acknowledgements: The author(s) is solely responsible for the content of this article, including all errors or omissions; acknowledgements do not imply endorsement of the content. The author is grateful to Siziwe Ngcwabe, the content committee and the Africa Evidence Network team for their guidance in the preparation and finalisation of this article as well as their editorial support.

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