Developing Social Science Databases: A Digital Ecosystem for Research and Policy Planning in the New Era

Abstract

This paper examines the role of social science databases in advancing research and enhancing evidence-based policy advisory and policy-making in the context of digital transformation and the data economy. Drawing on document analysis and a review of the existing literature, the paper highlights the central role of data as a foundation for modern national governance. The findings suggest that digital transformation in the social sciences should prioritize the development of a social data infrastructure capable of supporting data accumulation, interoperability, and reuse for research, forecasting, and evidence-informed policy advice, rather than focusing primarily on document digitization and the adoption of digital technologies. In this process, baseline surveys serve as the foundation for building a sustainable data ecosystem that supports longitudinal comparison and evidence generation. The paper also identifies key challenges, including fragmented and poorly integrated data sources, as well as constraints in human resources and data governance capacity. Based on these findings, the paper proposes the development of social science databases as a strategic national infrastructure to strengthen national governance capacity and promote evidence-based policy-making in the new era of development.