我對台灣第三部門研究的中間考察與反省

Intermediate Reflection on Research of the Third Sector: A Personal Note

本文以筆者參與非營利組織和第三部門研究的經驗為基礎，提供若干研究「中間考察」及個人心得，包括：第一、非營利組織研究本身的學術地位尚待釐清，應設法提高非營利組織研究的「學術性」，並爭取學術界的承認；第二、有關非營利組織、第三部門和公民社會等概念內涵仍嫌模糊，應儘速建置相關資料庫，廣泛蒐集足夠的資訊供進一步研究。第三、第三部門研究的取向宜與開發非營利組織之創新潛力有所關聯，非營利組織此時在台灣的共同任務，應該是傳播積極的公民意識、提供廣泛的參與機會、以及開發公民「自我培力」的潛能。總之，學術界的研究若能一方面詮釋本土第三部門現象之文化意義，另一方面系統地轉介西方相關領域之研究成果，對厚植台灣民間的「社會力」應可產生重大助益。

This research note attempts to provide a kind of ‘intermediate reflection' on the research field about the third sector in Taiwan. Based on my own experience of research activities, I find there are three major problems: First of all, the status of research in this field isn't established enough in the academic environment; Secondly, the classification and statistic of non-profit-organization are very inconsistent in Taiwan, it is necessary to build a database system to collect data for research; Finally, because of the special context of Taiwan's social and political development, researcher of the third sector should not play the role of ‘value-free observer', but rather the role of ‘advocate' of non-profit-organization. In sum, to improve the quality of research in this new field, many efforts are still needed.