An Important Tool for Research and Management of Humanities and Social Science
—— An Introduction to “Chinese Social Science Citation Index” (CSSCI)

The Science Citation Index is used to reveal the inner link among scientific literatures from their citation relationships. Based on the statistics and analysis of the citation, professionals of social science can reveal the basic trend of research and development of various disciplines, evaluate the quality of the research and get first-hand information in humanity and social science research and development. The “Chinese Social Science Citation Index” (CSSCI), developed by Nanjing University, is a key project of the Ministry of Education. The CSSCI citation database was established in 2000; the web version and CD version of the database were released thereafter. Thanks to the development of several years, the database now includes data of seven years (1998—2004), available on the Internet to the general public with various types of inquiry services. The project has supplied a gap in the field of the social science citation index in China, and thus has a leading role in this field within the country.

Presently, the Ministry of Education has employed CSSCI data as an important criterion for evaluating universities, achievement awards, formulation of project proposals and cultivation of talented people. More than 100 universities, such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University, Wuhan University, Jilin University, Shandong University and Nanjing University, have purchased the CSSCI database used it as the basis for the evaluation and appraisal of regions, institutions, academic achievements, disciplines, professional titles, projects and achievements.

As an important tool for statistics, inquiry and assessment of the major documentation in the area of social sciences, CSSCI provides multiple methods for information query and indexing. It offers the most updated information as well as information on historical development of the area for scholars of social science; it also provides different types of statistical and analytical data on regions, institutions, disciplines and scholars for administrators of social science, hence becoming a good reference for administrators to make rational development plans and scientific research policies. The CSSCI database of Nanjing University is open to the public now. The services include: Flat Rate Online Database Service (for institutions which subscribe to this service and that their members can get access to CSSCI database at any time as well as use any computer linked with the institutions’ Intranet with the designated IP address); Online Inquiry Service (clients who don’t subscribe to Flat Rate Online Database Service can get access to the CSSCI database online by using their accounts); Requested Inquiry Service (Nanjing University offers CSSCI database upon request and provides inquiry reports); and, Cell Phone Inquiry Service ( China Mobile users can make inquiry into CSSCI database by sending short messages). For detailed information, please refer to the “Products and Service” page on the website.