中国法学中的研究问题:一次有关学术规范的理论铺陈

Research Question in Chinese Legal Scholarship: A theoretical Interpretation on Its Academic Norms

中国法学界对"研究问题"这一概念似乎认识不清,有必要对其进行一次理论铺陈。研究者提出研究问题时要考虑至少4个维度:形式、相关性、原创性、可行性。研究问题的形式是在论文一开始就提出的、数量惟一的、包涵学术不确定性的、可回答的疑问句,不同于我们所说的学术兴趣、选题、问题、命题,但与之又有密切联系。相关性指的是研究问题被提出的基础是利用文献综述的方式识别出的几种固定类型的研究空白,而不是现行法发展、社会现象或者流行词汇。研究问题的原创性和可行性分别指的是研究者要解释研究问题能够产生的知识增量,以及使用的研究方法。所以,所谓的"问题意识"不仅仅是在论文开头提出几个问句,而是一整套内在相互联系的学术规范。

Chinese legal community appears to be confused about the concept of research question,which calls for an explanation from the theoretical perspective.Researchers have to consider four aspects when raising a sound research question:its form,relevance,originality,and feasibility.A research question,in form,is one answerable interrogative sentence that contains academic uncertainty,different from,but connected with,academic interest,legal problem/issue and other similar concepts.Relevance means the research question is based on literature review that is meant to identify a gap in the existing body of legal knowledge,other than in social phenomena,positive law,or buzzwords.Originality and feasibility require researchers to explain what the added value may look like and which legal method fitting the question is employed.Hence,the so called "research question" is not the presence a few interrogative sentences ahead of the argumentation,but a set of academic norms coherent with each other.