Crisis of Social Sciences and Alternative inAge of Convergence: Focusing on the Political Use of Social Science Research

From the late 1990s to the current in Korea, the discourse on ‘crisis of social sciences’ has been rampant. Although it is the various diagnostic and alternatives to the crisis of the social sciences, but this paper is... [ view full abstract ]

From the late 1990s to the current in Korea, the discourse on ‘crisis of social
sciences’ has been rampant. Although it is the various diagnostic and alternatives to the
crisis of the social sciences, but this paper is focused the discussion on improving political
utilization of social science research.
After briefly reviewing the previous studies about the crisis in the social sciences, it
was carried out Case studies on the possibility of production of policy knowledge and
political utilization of Social Science Research by case study of SSK research team. As a
result, most of the research team may have the potential to produce a policy knowledge.
Specifically, awareness and research issues of the social sciences with practical execution
regions were likely to produce a higher level of policy knowledge. But SSK Research was
found stuck in the level of indirect interventions, such as public relations, rather than to
intervene directly in the political utilizing the research results. After all, despite the
possibility to produce policy knowledge high, real political utilization was very small. The
causes were mentioned, such as the lack of information and experience on a policy
studies of researchers. the distinction consciousness for the researchers and officials.
Finally, we have discussed the ways to increase the political utilization of social science
research divided into a cognitive dimension (the restoration of the tradition of shil-hak,
practical study) and institutional dimension (policy development support center).