Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Overview
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is a Canadian federal research funding agency that supports postsecondary-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences. Established in 1977, the SSHRC is governed by a council of academics from various disciplines and representatives from the private and public sectors. The council's mandate is to promote and support research and scholarship in the social sciences and humanities.
History
The SSHRC was established in 1977, following the recommendations of the Lamontagne Report on Government Science Policy. The report highlighted the need for a separate funding body for social sciences and humanities research, distinct from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), which fund research in the natural sciences and health respectively.
Mandate and Funding
The SSHRC's mandate is to "promote and assist research and scholarship in the social sciences and humanities." It provides funding through a competitive process, with applications assessed by committees of scholars from across Canada and around the world. The council supports research in a wide range of disciplines, including anthropology, economics, law, psychology, sociology, and history, among others.
In addition to funding individual researchers and research teams, the SSHRC also provides support for research institutions, including universities and colleges, through its Institutional Grants program. This program provides funding for research infrastructure, such as libraries and research databases, as well as for the dissemination of research findings.
Programs and Initiatives
The SSHRC offers a variety of programs and initiatives to support research in the social sciences and humanities. These include:
- Insight Grants: These grants support research excellence in the social sciences and humanities. Funding is available to both emerging and established scholars for research initiatives of two to five years.
- Partnership Grants: These grants provide support for new and existing research partnerships. They are designed to foster collaboration between researchers, businesses, and other partners.
- Talent Program: This program supports students and postdoctoral researchers in the social sciences and humanities. It provides scholarships, fellowships, and awards to help these individuals further their research and training.
- Knowledge Synthesis Grants: These grants support the synthesis of existing research knowledge and the identification of knowledge gaps. This program is particularly relevant for policy-makers and practitioners who need to access the latest research findings.
- Connection Grants: These grants support events and outreach activities geared toward short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization initiatives.
Impact and Evaluation
The SSHRC conducts regular evaluations of its programs and initiatives to assess their effectiveness and impact. These evaluations are based on a variety of indicators, including the number of research projects funded, the number of researchers and students supported, the quality and impact of the research produced, and the extent of collaboration and partnership among researchers and institutions.
The council also tracks the career trajectories of its grant recipients to assess the long-term impact of its funding on the advancement of research in the social sciences and humanities. These evaluations help to inform the council's strategic planning and decision-making processes.
Criticisms and Controversies
While the SSHRC plays a crucial role in supporting research in the social sciences and humanities, it has faced criticism over the years. Some critics argue that the council's funding decisions are overly influenced by political considerations, while others contend that its peer review process is flawed and lacks transparency. There have also been concerns about the council's focus on applied research at the expense of basic, curiosity-driven research.
Despite these criticisms, the SSHRC continues to be a major source of funding for social sciences and humanities research in Canada, and its programs and initiatives are widely recognized for their contribution to the advancement of knowledge in these fields.