SURVEY ON THE INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE'S ACTIVITIES (Ⅰ)

Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo
15 March 199

Dear Colleague,

Many thanks for your participation in our Institute's activities over the years.

As you know Shaken is working to raise the level of social science research on Japan and to build worldwide networks of social scientists. Over the past decade we have completed two major research projects, Contemporary Japanese Society and the 20th Century System. The results of both projects have now been published. We have also established the Information Center for Social Science Research on Japan. The Information Center's activities include the production of a new refereed journal in English, Social Science Japan Journal, an English magazine, email and Web-based discussion groups, and a data archive. The latter project, called SSJ-DA, is collecting, storing and making available for use empirical micro data on Japanese society. So far these activities have generally been well received. In order to focus our efforts more effectively, however, this year we will carry out an evaluation exercise led by a committee of experts and practitioners from both Japanese and overseas institutions.

As part of the evidence we present to this committee, we would like to produce a report including (1) the results of the questionnaires answered by former visiting fellows and research scholars to Shaken and (2) their opinions and evaluations of the Institute. Section (1) aims to gain objective data regarding what kind of role(s) the Institute has played in social science research abroad on Japan, including the training of young scholars. Section (2) aims to examine how the Institute's research activities are perceived abroad and to obtain valuable advice and suggestions on areas where we need to do better. We would be most grateful if you could take a little time to fill out the questionnaires and return them to us by 15th May.

Please feel free to answer the two questionnaires in any way you like. With regard to the results of the survey, we plan to make the statistically processed data public in section (1) of the report. Although we also plan to publicize the opinions and evaluations in section (2), we intend not to name the authors of individual answers, but simply to list all the respondents at the end of the report. We believe this will increase the credibility of the survey.

This evaluation exercise is very important to our future as an institute, and we thank you in advance for your collaboration. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

With best wishes,
Seigo Hirowatari,
Director

（Ⅰ）

Name

Male/Female

Nationality

General area of research:
　　1. Law
　　2. Political science
　　3. Economics
　　4. Sociology or labor studies
　　5. Other

Specific area of research:

Current affiliation and position:

Period of affiliation to Shaken:

1. Which organization funded your stay and research when you were affiliated with Shaken?
　　1. Japanese Government
　　2. Fulbright Program
　　3. Japan Foundation
　　4. Foreign government
　　5. Overseas research institute
　　6. Private foundation
　　7. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 　　8. Other

If you were affiliated with Shaken but were not a Ph.D. candidate, please answer questions 2 to 4. If you were a Ph.D. candidate, please go to question 5. If you currently hold a research post, please also go to question 8.

2. How much has your affiliation with Shaken contributed to your research so far?
　　1. Very much
　　2. Quite much
　　3. A little
　　4. Not very much

3. (For those who answered "Very much" or "Quite much" to the previous question) Which aspect(s) of your affiliation contributed to your research?
　　1. Suggestions of your research associates or your advisor/sponsor at Shaken
　　2. Materials in the Shaken Library
　　3. Exchanges with Shaken staff
　　4. Shaken served as a good base for outside research
　　5. Participation in study groups at Shaken

4. (For those who answered "Very much" or "Quite much" to question 2) If you have turned the results of your research at Shaken into publication, if possible please list the titles of those works.

If you were affiliated with Shaken as a Ph.D. candidate, please answer questions 5 to 7.

5. How much did your affiliation with Shaken contribute to your doctoral research?
　　1. Very much
　　2. Quite much
　　3. A little
　　4. Not very much

6. (For those who answered "Very much" or "Quite much" to the previous question) Which aspect(s) of your affiliation contributed to your research?
　　1. Suggestions and advice of your advisor/sponsor at Shaken
　　2. Materials in the Shaken Library
　　3. Exchanges with Shaken staff
　　4. Shaken served as a good base for outside research
　　5. Participation in study groups at Shaken

7-1. Have you received a doctorate?
　　1. Yes
　　2. No

7-2. (If yes) In which year did you receive it?

7-3. What is the title of your Ph.D. dissertation?

If you currently hold a research post, please answer questions 8 to 13.

8. How much did your affiliation with Shaken help you in obtaining the post?
　　1. Very much
　　2. Quite much
　　3. A little
　　4. Not very much

9. Have you taken a position such as a council/committee member in an academic society/association related to Asian or Japanese studies?
　　1. Yes
　　2. No

10-1. Have you stayed in Japan apart from your time at Shaken?
　　1. Yes
　　2. No

10-2. How long have you stayed in Japan in total (excluding the period(s) of your affiliation with Shaken)?
　　1. Within a month
　　2. A few months
　　3. Four to six months
　　4. Six to eleven months
　　5. One year or longer

11. Have you been invited to present a paper by a Japanese academic society/association or research institute?
　　1. Yes
　　2. No

12. (For those who answered "Yes" to the previous question) Which organization(s) funded your travel to and stay in Japan?
　　1. Japanese Government
　　2. Fulbright Program
　　3. Japan Foundation
　　4. Foreign government
　　5. Overseas research institute
　　6. Private foundation
　　7. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
　　8. Other

13. Have you trained Japan-related-scholars at a non-Japanese university or institute?
　　1. Yes
　　2. No

This is the end of the questionnaire. Thank you for completing it.