What is characteristic of research in the humanities and social sciences?

Broadly speaking, the wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences seeks to investigate intellectual, cultural and social phenomena as well as their development and expression as determined by time and space. In accordance with the object of investigation, research fundamentally takes into account the complex manifestations and interactions of human thought and action. A characteristic feature of much research is the differentiation between historical contexts. Given the broad spectrum of potential research subjects – ranging from the fundamental features of human behaviour and phenomena relating to society, history, language and media, through to epistemological and ethical problems – the humanities and social sciences are characterised by an enormous variety of methods.

Since the turn of the millennium if not before, there has been a greater move towards empirically oriented research focusing on the study of large amounts of data and sources, though this has not entirely replaced other more traditional approaches. The growing influence of digital technologies has a key role to play here, in particular the processing of digital data using software-assisted methods. This development has led to an expansion of the range of methods in general and to some extent a convergence with other research sectors.

At the same time, cooperation across disciplinary boundaries has tended to become the norm for various reasons – not least because of science policy. Research in the humanities and social sciences as a whole now typically processes its results through a range of perspectives and in dialogue with other research sectors.

What are the consequences in terms of quality assurance?

Due to the diversity of methods used in research in the humanities and social sciences as well as the considerable differences in the design and practical implementation of research projects, diverse requirements apply when it comes to ensuring research integrity and a level of quality assurance that befits the modern era. The latter is also applied with reference to or in dialogue with other research sectors. In connection with empirically oriented historical and social science research, systematic methodological reflection must always include the credibility and substantiveness of the source base. In view of the impact of the digital turn, the growing importance of research software in particular gives rise to the challenge of developing a basis for “digital source criticism”.