The intersection of humanities and social sciences offers a rich array of potential research topics, particularly in areas that require interdisciplinary approaches to address complex societal issues.

Key Insights

• Interdisciplinary Approaches to Societal Problems:
  • Research on societal issues like homicide benefits from integrating criminological, sociological, psychological, public health, and social work perspectives to create holistic solutions
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• Impact of Research Funding Policies:
  • The influence of research funding policies on topic selection and innovation in humanities and social sciences, with a focus on how funding intensity and restrictions guide research directions
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• Citizen Science and Sustainability:
  • The role of Citizen Social Science (CSS) in addressing sustainability issues, particularly through participatory research activities that align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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• Pandemic-Induced Research Topics:
  • Exploration of new research questions and topics in humanities and social sciences that have emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social restrictions
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• Critical Social Justice Education:
  • Development of teaching frameworks and practices for interdisciplinary courses on critical social justice, including relational cultural theory and community agreements
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• Metadata Standards in Research:
  • Analysis of research data and metadata standards in humanities and social sciences, highlighting the complexity and diversity of scientific data in these fields
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• Challenges for Returnee Scholars:
  • Examination of the publication practices and challenges faced by Chinese returnee scholars in balancing international and local academic norms
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Conclusion

Research at the intersection of humanities and social sciences is increasingly focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to address complex societal issues, the impact of funding policies, sustainability through citizen science, pandemic-induced topics, critical social justice education, metadata standards, and the challenges faced by returnee scholars. These areas offer fertile ground for future research that can contribute to a deeper understanding and more effective solutions to pressing global challenges.