國際人權實證研究方法概述

An Overview of Empirical Research Methods in International Human Rights

本文介紹美國學界近十幾年來在國際人權領域中運用實證方法之趨勢。以一些重要著作為例，探討人權實證研究方法之進展，並指出人權研究者在使用實證研究方法上應特別注意之處，包括研究倫理和人權資料相關問題。我國於2009年批准兩大人權公約後，來多學者與實務人士投入國際人權與在地實踐之研究，本文討論美國人權學界實證研究趨勢、實證方法之發展與挑戰，對我國研究者應有參考價值。

This research note introduces trends in U.S.academe regarding empirical research in international human rights over the past ten-plus years. It uses some important publications in this field as examples to discuss the relevant development of empirical research methods. The note also highlights a number of issues to which human rights researchers should give special atention when conducting empirical research, including issues relating to research ethics and data access. In 2009, the Republic of China (Taiwan) ratified the two principal human rights covenants, which has increasingly stimulated local scholars and practitioners to study international human rights and their local implementation. The trends in American empirical research and the progress and challenges of empirical methods discussed in this note should be useful references for researchers in Taiwan.