Social Research Division

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I.Current Research Areas

Currently, research projects by fellows within the social research division have been mainly concentrated in three areas:

Studies have been focused on the relationship between allocation of social resources and quality of life of the general public, while analyzing issues such as the evaluation of residential policies, women's social welfare needs, familial care-taking, as well as elderly health care. Moreover, particular emphasis has been placed on the complexity involved in allocating internal and external familial resources. As a result, a Third Conference on the Allocation of Familial and Social Resources is already being planned.

The following represents a list of research projects that are currently in progress:

Researcher Research Project

Chu, Cathy R. L.	Social Change Survey, 1998-1999 Panel Study of Family Dynamics-Second Year Parental Influence on Children: The interaction effect of parenting and family conflicts
Yang, Wen-Shan	Projection Model of Taiwan's Mortality Rate and Cause-Specific Death Rates Family Dynamics, Social Relations and Individual Health: A prospective study Returning to the Homeland: A study on Filipino foreign laborers' adjustment strategies
Chin, Tom Yi-Huei	The Historical Event of the National Army's Occupation of Burma from 1950 to 1961 The Latest Development in Housing Policies in Britain
Lee, Annie	A Study on the Interactive Development of the Relationship between Women's Organizations and Women's Rights in Taiwan
Jou, Yuh-Huey	The Use of Social Support Gaining Tactics and Interpersonal Relationships Mate Selection Processes: Towards the identification of developmental pathways to marriage The measurement and pattern of family systems: A pilot study of adolescent families
Tsay, Jen-Huey	Horizontal Equity of Taiwan's National Health Insurance Financing The Impact of Taiwan's Higher Education Policy on Risk Reduction and Income Distribution An Examination of Social Assistance Programs During the 921 Chi-Chi Earthquake Disaster
Tzeng, Ovid J. L.	The Relationship between Chinese Language Learning and Mental Processes The Psychological Processes and Reading Chinese Texts: The word order effect An Integrated Study on Verbal Abilities of Science-gifted Students A Componential Analysis of Verbal Abilities of Science-gifted Students A Study on Syntactic Sensitivities of Science-gifted Students Cognitive Science Research Promotion Projects Projects on fMRI Research: Exploration of Basic Processes in Character Recognition Exploring the Processes of Lexical Access in Reading Chinese Words Exploring the Cognitive Processes of Recognizing Chinese Words: a construction and verification model

II.Future Research Projects

As past research has proven, given the dual influences of population growth and social change, Taiwan has already undergone large-scale transformations in the area of inter-familial relations. Spousal relations and father-son relationships have faced great pressure to adjust under these circumstances. On the one hand, large numbers of women entering the workforce has lead to issues within the family household in terms of husband-wife relations and the distribution of spousal rights. Moreover, as individuals develop a growing sense of independence, one finds a corresponding increase in the number of single-parent households, a phenomenon that has influenced traditional child-rearing practices as well. On the other hand, the fertility rate average has gradually equalized in relation to the mortality rate, while the life-span of the average person also continues to rise. In addition, a mass migration of the working-age population to metropolitan areas constitutes a primary factor in the changing face of cross-generation relationships. In the future, the social research division plans to reorganize and combine findings on familial from the areas of social psychology and population studies, as well as continue to develop research projects on internal familial relationships and the allocation of spousal responsibilities.

In light of changing demographics, it is anticipated that Taiwan's population as a whole will gradually age. This trend will have a significant influence on a number of social structures and services, including family composition, the average age of the working population, family and social support networks, as well as health insurance and retirement pensions. Currently, Taiwan has in place an individual retirement pension plan as well as a national health care program, which together comprise the future base of Taiwan's social security system. Moreover, these social welfare programs are directly involved in addressing the allocation of social resources in face of a rapidly growing aging population. Presently, the social research division is engaged in analyzing social welfare systems employed in other countries. Studies on population and family composition trends in Taiwan are also being pursued in the effort to develop systematic theoretical models that contribute towards formulating viable social policies.

As a result, the future development of the social research division hopes to consolidate studies in the areas of sociology (population studies), psychology (social psychology), and social welfare policy-making. The division also intends to make individual life experiences and changing family household structures the backbone of future research projects. This will be realized by establishing a systematic research direction, as well as encouraging both individual and group research studies. Such projects will focus on studies regarding psychological and behavioral variations among individuals, including the analysis of familial relations, life adjustment processes and spiritual development, the source and influence of social support, as well as changes in traditional cultures and value systems. Analyses on changes within the population and changing family structures will be conducted from the angle of population studies. Simultaneously, particular attention will be paid on factors that contribute to socially supported income structures, as well as poverty and the allocation of social resources, from both a cognitive perspective and as a social trend in order to better evaluate social security policies. The following areas represent the social science division's primary short-term and long-term research topics:

1.Short-term Research Focus, Directions and Areas of Study

1. Research on Individual Life Processes
1. Possible effects of different social networks and social support systems on personal income and other related issues
2. Physiological changes and mid-life crises during one's lifespan
3. Issues regarding income reduction and poverty among the elderly, including income maintenance and the acquisition of social welfare resources
4. The relationship between personal health and mortality
5. The distribution of social resources and social security policies


2. Research on Familial Structures and Relationships
1. The distribution of family and social resources
2. Parent-child and spousal relationships within the household, as well as care-taking responsibilities for the elderly
3. Residential policies

2.Long-term Research Focus, Directions and Areas of Study

1. Research on Individual Life Processes
1. Population change and its influence on personal life processes
2. Issues relating to adolescence
3. Education opportunities, occupational choices, and individual social mobility


2. Research on Familial Organization and Relationships
1. Disrupted marriages, single-parent households, unmarried population, and personal life adjustments
2. Traditional and new household organizational arrangements
3. Familial relationships within Chinese communities

These topics eventually became the long-term research focus and direction of the social research division as a result of certain social changes within Taiwan. Future projects that are currently under development encourage research fellows to engage in joint research projects, in an effort to achieve the goals outlined in three previously established five-year development plans. These goals hopefully will strengthen the depth and breadth of research projects. On the one hand, the division intends to internationalize its joint research efforts, especially with neighboring Asian countries. On the other hand, the social research division strives to develop more comparative studies in the areas of culture, environmental geography, and development backgrounds with these regions. These aspirations are also intended to provide evidence that models developed for the Taiwan region are applicable to other areas as well, especially in other Chinese communities.

Multidisciplinary projects within the Sun Yat-Sen Institute of Social Sciences and Philosophy are also highly encouraged, such as projects jointly developed among the economic, political science, juristic science, and historical philosophy divisions, as well as others. Among the planned projects several are directed towards the political economic division, including the study of the distribution and acquisition of social resources, individual life processes, as well as topics addressing personal familial relationships. In addition, research fellows are currently developing joint research projects with the political science and juristic science divisions on political psychology and legal psychology respectively.

III.Past Research Accomplishments
(1) Preparatory Office Period (August, 1975 to July, 1981)
Primary large-scale collective research projects include the following:

1. Studies on the transformation of family authority and structure
2. Studies on social mobility in Taiwan over the last 30 years
3. The changes in population distribution of the greater Taipei area
4. Studies on Taiwan's policies towards the social welfare system for the elderly

(2) First Five-year Development and Planning Period (August, 1981 to July, 1986)

1. Research Plan
1. Joint, cooperative, and commissioned research projects
1. Studies on the division of family income
2. Studies on the transformation of family authority and structure
3. Studies on social mobility in Taiwan over the last 30 years
4. Studies on the daytime and nocturnal population distribution and its interactive relationship in the Taipei city region
5. Studies on Taiwan's policies and social welfare system for the elderly
6. A quantitative model of Taiwan's commodity price fluctuations


2. Individual Research Projects
1. Population Growth in the Taipei Region (Chen Kuang Zheng)
2. A Study on the Event of Lo Fu-sing's Anti-Japanese Revolution (Tom Yee-Huei Chin)
3. Conceptualizing the Social Security System Under the Three Principles of the People (Tom Yee-Huei Chin)
4. Urban Housing Satisfaction in a Transitional Society: A case study in Taichung, Taiwan (Yi Chin-Chun)
5. Analyzing the Causes of Juvenile Delinquency
6. The True Meaning on the Equality of the Sexes (Wang Xiang-Yun)


2. Academic Activities
1. Conference on social indexes
2. Conference on the history and the transformation of Chinese societies

In August 1981, the Social Research Division was officially established as a research division of the Sun Yat-Sen Institute of Social Sciences and Philosophy. Since then, the division has endeavored to achieve the goals outlined by the Academia Sinica under the First Five-Year Development and Planning Period. Within this five-year period, the Social Research Division published a total of 27 articles in the following areas of study:

1. Social Mobility: six articles
2. Population Histories and Formation:four articles
3. Educational Development:three articles
4. Deviant Behavior:three articles
5. Status of Women in Society:three articles
6. Family Household Structure: eight articles

(3) Second Five-year Development and Planning Period (August, 1986 to July 1991)
Research Goals and Focus

1. Research Goals
1. Quality of Life:including the evaluation of population density, health, and housing issues
2. Population Growth and Policies
3. Social Welfare: including an analysis on the possibility of implementing a pension system in Taiwan
4. Socioeconomic Class: including an analysis on educational, occupational, as well as labor market factors
5. Women's Issues


2. Research Focus

1. First Year
1. Entering the Workforce, and Child-rearing Practices: an analysis on women's decision-making process and its contributing factors
2. An Evaluation of Residents' Quality of Life in Three Traditional Districts in Taipei: Yanping, Jiancheng, and Tatung
3. Labor Market Research (first year of study)
4. Taiwan's Evolving Occupational Structure: an analysis of the past 30 years.
5. Population Cycles and Policies (first year of study)


2. Second Year
1. Taiwanese High School Graduates' Interest in and Performance on the Joint-College Entrance Exam: a study on the influence of familial and individual factors
2. Study on the Standard of Living in Newly Developed Business Districts in Taipei
3. Analysis of the Applicability of Theoretical Structures on Female Employment and Childbirth Practices
4. Urban Residents' Expectations and Level of Satisfaction Towards Housing Conditions
5. Developing and Establishing a Socioeconomic Measurement of Taiwan
6. Population Cycles and Policies (second year of study)


3. Third Year
1. Study on Taipei's Suburban Residential Life Patterns
2. Women and Employment: its influence on familial authority and structure
3. Analysis on the Relationship between Social Class, Housing Expectations and Level of Satisfaction
4. Health and Stress: a methodological analysis
5. Labor Market Research (second year of study)


4. Fourth Year
1. Relationship between College Students Area of Study, Individual Ability and Interest
2. Investigating the Relationship Between (Professional) Child-caretaker Policies and Professional Women's Employment and Childbirth Practices
3. Relationship Between Housing Satisfaction and Moving Behavior: the applicability and effectiveness of using Western theoretical models to study developing societies
4. The Cause and Effect Relationship Between Taiwan's Changing Occupational Structure and Educational Development
5. Health and Stress: Chinese people's understanding of health and its influencing factors


5. Fifth Year
1. The Relationship Between Education and Employment Opportunities
2. The Role of Working Women: expectations, conflicts, and the adjustment process
3. The Influence of Housing Density on Individuals and Families
4. The Influence of Occupational Structure on Income Distribution
5. Health and Stress: Chinese Medicinal Practices

During the second five-year development and planning period, the Social Research Division successfully published a total of 70 periodical articles, conference articles, and research papers. The main contribution these academic papers provided is their ability to address a wide range of topics regarding Taiwan's rapidly evolving society. Studies included issues relating to population, family, social class, employment, and social security among others. Each of these research projects employed rigorous theoretical and empirical methods in order to provide in-depth analyses on their topics. Consequently, the results of these projects play a significant role in examining recent social phenomena in Taiwan, as well as contributing towards social policy-making.

(4)Third Five-year Development and Planning Period (August 1991 to July 1996)

1. Research Projects and Descriptions

During the third five-year development and planning period, the social research division encouraged its research fellows to conduct joint research projects, as well as to further the research results of projects completed during the first two five-year development and planning periods. It is hoped that research fellows will continue to pursue studies that provide both in-depth and broad-based analyses. Furthermore, the division plans to internationalize its focus by engaging in cooperative research with various international academic institutes. Aside from developing research exchanges with Asian-Pacific departments in various American universities, the Social Research Division also intends to establish joint research projects and academic exchanges with neighboring Asian countries.

1. Research on Population Change and International Comparisons

During the first of two five-year development and planning periods, the social research division successfully concluded a study as well as developed a theoretical model on Taiwan's changing demographics. In the third development and planning period, the division intends to foster comparative international research projects with other countries in the areas of culture, environmental and geographic, as well as developmental background. In addition, the division hopes to test the applicability of its theoretical models to population trends outside the Taiwan region. Countries with which the Social Research Division would like to engage in joint research projects with similar cultural backgrounds include Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Mainland China. The division also intends to develop research studies with countries of similar environmental, geographic, and developmental backgrounds, such as Mexico, Cuba, the Philippines, and South Korea. The social science division regards the opportunity to engage in comparative research on Taiwan's population trends with those of the aforementioned countries (on issues relating to birth and mortality rates, as well as family organization), as integral to testing the theoretical models designed by its research fellows.

2. Analysis and Development of Multiple-Decrement Life Tables for Taiwan

Due to a dearth of resources, the social research division has been in the past limited to using single decrement life tables in analyzing the probability of survival in Taiwan. Thus, attempts to measure the relationship between survival probability and age have been significantly limited. Given technological advances, the division has been able to accumulate data from various governmental records and reports. Moreover, the division can now use multiple-decrement life tables to construct and analyze cause-specific death-rates. Moreover, due to findings made in the previous two five-year periods, the division has successfully constructed various occupational life tables including household heads, cause-specific death rates, elderly living arrangements, and various occupational populations (i.e., medicine). The construction of these life tables will eventually assist the division to better understand the consequences of Taiwan's changing demographics, as well as lead to the development of new theoretical models.

3. Social Security Policy in Taiwan

The results of the previous two-five year development and planning periods have indicated that following trends in Taiwan's changing demographics, the country is experiencing a rapidly aging general population. As a result, Taiwan's family structure, working-age population, medical insurance, and retirement pension funds will uniformly be placed under unprecedented strain. The existing military and civil service retirement payment policy, the retirement reserve funds under the Labor Standards Law, and the National Insurance Policy constitute the pillars of Taiwan's social security system. These policies are all related to the issues of balance of payments and the effective utilization of reserve funds as a result of Taiwan's aging population. The social research division hence intends to analyze social security programs implemented in other countries, including those in Europe, Japan, and the United States. By understanding the methods and planning strategies other countries have used in bolstering their savings and pension fund systems, it is hoped that similar programs and policies may be adopted in Taiwan.

4. Family Structure and Marital Adjustments in Taiwan

From past research, it has been noted that under the dual influences of an evolving society and population, various relationships within the family have likewise experienced momentous changes. Most significantly, spousal (husband-wife) and parent-child relationships have experienced the greatest pressure to adjust to new and emerging social circumstances. On the one hand, women are entering the workforce in record numbers, thus raising issues within the household in terms of conflicting spousal roles. As individuals develop a sense of self-reliance and independence, single-parent families are becoming an increasingly common phenomenon in Taiwanese society, which subsequently raises social concerns towards child-rearing practices. While Taiwan's birthrate has declined, the society has simultaneously witnessed an increase in living standards and a longer average lifespan. In addition, large numbers of young adults have immigrated to metropolitan areas, which have likewise contributed to Taiwan's shifting social demographics. In the third five-year plan, the division intends to consolidate research findings from the fields of sociology, social psychology, and population studies in order to forward more widely applicable hypotheses for further experimental study.

5. Taiwanese Life Attitudes and Values

Although social change arises due to the impact of various external forces, internal, subjective factors play a significant role as well. Consequently, social transformations occur through the mutual interaction of external and internal influences. Continuing with the Second Five-Year Developing and Planning Period's research focus, the Sociology Research Division is pursuing further study in the area of Taiwanese people's cognitive perceptions regarding their quality of life and living conditions. In particular, the division intends to provide more in-depth studies on changes in societal values towards traditional culture, moral standards, family households, and work ethics. Comparative studies on the degree of urbanization of various regions in Taiwan will also be conducted.

6. Urbanization of Taiwan

Past research has indicated that as Taiwan's various metropolitan regions rapidly expand, the population growth of urban regions are becoming more evenly distributed. However, this has resulted in increased traffic congestion as well as greater environmental damage to surrounding areas. Taiwanese people's quality of life on a day-to-day basis has not necessarily improved due to greater suburban population development. Rather, it could be argued that the opposite has occurred. Following the Third Five-Year Development and Planning Period, the social research division plans on pursuing further research on the process through which Taiwan's metropolitan areas are experiencing social development and change. In particular, studies will focus on the relationship between population distribution and population congestion. In addition to conducting comparisons between Taiwan's metropolitan areas (i.e., Keelung, Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung), research will also be pursued in comparing urban development in Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Mainland China.

2. Research Projects


1. Educational Development and Occupational Structure
2. Population Change
3. Familial Relationships and Organization
4. The Status and Role of Women in Society
5. Population Change and Transformation of Overseas Chinese
6. Social Class
7. Metropolitan Development and the Quality of Housing Conditions
8. Individual and Group Decision-making Behavior

From August 1991 to July 1994, he Sociology Research Division published a total of 81 articles, and 2 academic books. The topics covered in these publications included:
1. Population research: 16 articles
2. Family research: 17 articles; one book
3. Social Class research: 14 articles
4. Social Psychology: 8 articles
5. Social Welfare: 13 articles
6. Methodology: 5 articles; one book
7. Other areas: 8 articles


3. Research Achievements in 1992


1. May 21-23, 1992: International conference on "Family Structure and Organization: Eastern and Western Perspectives"; participants included over 200 social scientists from Taiwan as well as from North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia; 26 papers were presented.


2. Comparative and Influential Research in 1992:


1. "Research on Regional Social Change in Taiwan and the Health Status of the Elderly (I)": investigating the consequences of an aging population in Taiwan while developing a theoretical model for broad-based analysis and experimental research.
2. Research Model on the Development of Women's Right: examining the relationship between conflict and decision-making results among women, as well as related research on women's issues.
3. Research on Changes in the Social Stratification of Education: analyzing the equality of educational opportunities; transnational comparative research as applied to differences in educational opportunities among various ethnic groups in Taiwan.
4. Analysis on the Social Psychology of Chinese Culture: focusing Chinese parental practices as a means to understanding traditional Chinese Confucian concepts in the face of modern parenting standards. Research on attitudes towards philanthropy and charity based on Taiwanese resources in order to promote understanding of social psychological issues and interpersonal relations among Chinese.
5. Evaluation of the Establishment of an Economic Committee for a National Health Insurance System: an analysis into inadequacies within the National Health Care plan as well as concrete solutions for its improvement
6. Analysis on the Use of Amphetamines for High-Risk Individuals: using social science and medical experimental methods, research on in the effects of the reckless use of amphetamines and other illegal drugs in treating high-risk groups in different regions in Taiwan.


4. Research Achievements in 1993


1. Social Change: focusing on the areas of aging population trends, issues on elderly medical care and treatment, and related policies. A total of six scholarly works on these topics were presented at academic conferences, and later published in research journals and books.
2. Familial Relationships: concentrating on marital patterns and conflicts. Topics included parent-child interactions. A total of ten scholarly works were presented at international conferences and published in both domestic and international research journals.
3. Social Stratification: emphasis on education and income patterns in Taiwan as well as analysis on gender and status.
4. Social Psychological Issues: focusing on issues related to distinctive characteristics of local culture and on personality testing. These projects have made a significant contribution to research in these two fields in Taiwan.
5. Social Welfare in Taiwan: by using the British social welfare system to conduct comparative studies. These studies have generated greater awareness and study of this issue within academic circles.
6. Social Science Methodology: in particular examination of large-scale questionnaire materials and problems in differences between various questionnaires. Greater promotion of discussion sessions as well as increased participation in national academic conferences.


5. Research Achievements in 1994


1. Social Change: focusing on aging population trends, medical treatment and mortality policies. Over ten articles on these topics have been either presented at academic conferences or published in scholarly journals. A wide array of research achievements in this area has gradually garnered the attention of domestic and international social scientists alike.
2. Familial Issues: including topics such as the allocation of marital rights and marital conflict, as well as responsibility for childcare among married women. A total of five articles or papers were either published within a scholarly journal or presented at academic conferences. Research in this area has provided significant contributions to social issues in Taiwan.
3. Social Stratification: focusing on educational and marital stratification in Taiwan. Six articles or papers that focused on Taiwanese society were published within a scholarly journal or presented at academic conferences.
4. Social Psychological Issues: concentrating on psychological issues unique to Taiwanese society, parent-child relationships, and juvenile delinquency. Nine articles or papers were published in a scholarly journal or presented at academic conferences that advocated further awareness and examination of social psychology issues in Taiwan.
5. Social Welfare: focusing on social security system in Taiwan. Six articles or papers that highlighted this issue were published in a scholarly journal or presented at an academic conference.
6. Organized an ¡§International Conference on Population Change, National Health, and Social Security¡¨ in May 1994.


6. Research Achievements in 1995


1. Population Change: concentrating on household organizational structure, medical treatment, disabled persons, and mortality in Taiwan.
2. Familial Issues: including marriage, familial relationships, child-rearing practices.
3. Social Stratification: analysis of the stratification of education and marriage in Taiwan.
4. Social Security System: as related to population change, gender issues, and retirement policies.
5. Social Psychological Issues: the development and understanding of social psychology and family psychology issues in Taiwan

The aforementioned research achievements have resulted in 34 articles that were either published in domestic and international scholarly journals or presented as papers at academic conferences. In October 1994, the Social Research Division published "Inclinations of the Masses in Taiwanese Society". In March 1995, the division organized a "Conference on the Development and Application of Social Science Measurement Methodology."

7. Research Achievements in 1996


1. Population Change: factors contributing to disease and mortality rates in Taiwan
2. Family Issues: studies emphasizing women's social standing, familial relationships, and child-rearing practices
3. Social Security Policies: issues regarding poverty, gender, and retirement
4. Social Psychology: focusing on social support networks and interpersonal relationships
5. Language and Cognitive Psychology: memory and attention processes, reading processes, neural psychology, and psycholinguistics

Among the aforementioned research projects, a total of 27 articles and papers have either been published in international and domestic academic journals or presented at academic conferences. In addition, in February 1996, the social research division published the book, Population Change, National Health, and Social Security.

(5) Three-Year Research Plan (August 1996 to July 1999)

1. Research Achievements in 1996

The achievements of researchers within the social research divisions had established a rather impressive foundation, especially in the areas of population studies, family issues, psychology, as well as in social welfare policies, where a large number of projects were completed. Moreover, studies on topics such as family issues and social welfare policies had considerable influence in domestic policy-making.

1. Population Studies and Family Change:including issues relating to family household structure, health, and familial relationships
2. Studies on Social Security Policies
3. Studies on the Development of Taiwanese Psychology and Related Issues

Several articles and papers were either published in international and domestic academic journals or presented at academic conferences from the aforementioned research projects. In addition, on June 7, 1997, the social research division organized the First Academic Conference on Family and Social Resource Allocation.


2. Research Achievements in 1998

In recent years, research on the acquisition and allocation of social resources-- particularly in terms of its influence on individual life processes and families--as well as in the allotment of resources with each family, has been the division's main research focus.

Due to the accumulated research in the aforementioned areas, the social research division organized the Second Academic Conference on Family and Social Resource Allocation from June 5-6, 1998. Moreover, the conference expanded the discussion of topics related to family resource allocation by introducing studies that provided analyses from the angles of economic, social, psychological, and public policy issues. By addressing the concerns of underrepresented individuals within the family household¡Xnamely the financial security (or poverty) of the elderly and women¡Xas well as issues of social support, the conference was able to promote broader and more in-depth analyses on this topic. The 13 conference papers were eventually published as a collection in a conference proceedings. Among the papers presented at the First Academic Conference on Family and Social Resource Allocation held in June 1997, four papers were selected after careful review for publication by the social research division itself in a special issue entitled, Journal of Social Sciences and Philosophy (vol. 10, issue 2). The journal was published in June 1998 by the social research division.

3. Research Achievements in 1999

In recent years, the social research division has emphasized research projects on family and social allocation issues. In 1999, studies have concentrated on the relationships between social resource allocation and public living standards, including evaluating social welfare policies, women's welfare needs, family care-taking, as well as elderly health care issues. Most significantly, in order to promote greater in-depth studies on the complex nature of internal and external factors in the allocation of familial resources, a total of 17 articles and papers have been published or presented on these issues in this year alone.