Science Research Management ›› 2022, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (11): 163-171.

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The greater the funding intensity of a single science research project, the better?——A case study of humanities and social science projects

Yu Liping1, Dai Huayong2, Duan Yunlong3   

  1. 1. School of Statistics and Mathematics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China;
    2. Business School, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan 430205, Hubei, China;
    3. School of International Business, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, Yunnan, China
  • Received:2020-04-15 Revised:2020-09-03 Online:2022-11-20 Published:2022-11-18
  • Contact: Yu Li-Ping

Abstract:    Intensity of project funding is the amount of funding for a single project. Setting a reasonable amount of funding can not only ensure the smooth development of scientific research, but also play an effective incentive role to mobilize the enthusiasm of scientific research workers. In the past 10 years, more and more attention has been paid to the research of humanities and social sciences, and the intensity of project funding of a single projects of humanities and social sciences in China has steadily increased. However, there is a lack of systematic research on the performance of intensity of project funding. Research on project funding intensity is conducive to the rational allocation of scientific research funds, improving the performance of scientific research funds, and promoting the prosperity of humanities and social science research, which is of great significance to the development of humanities and social sciences. The research in this article also provides a new research paradigm to better analyze the relationship between intensity of project funding and performance.
   Based on the analysis of the mechanism of scientific research funding, this paper uses the data from the humanities and social sciences network of colleges and university, taking the first batch of “Double First-Rate” universities in the Ministry of Education as an example, and comprehensively using simultaneous equation models and panel threshold regression models to study the performance of the funding intensity of a single project. The research results show that: First, the intensity of project funding has a guarantee and incentive mechanism for scientific research results. From the perspective of the guarantee mechanism, the performance is better when project funds are slightly surplus, and public resources will be wasted when project funds are relatively abundant. From the perspective of incentive mechanism, the honor mechanism is mainly affected by the project level and more reflected in the material mechanism. Second, the intensity of project funding is generally poor for the performance of academic papers, and it is more appropriate for the performance of academic works, with some room for improvement. Therefore, a reasonable allocation of the intensity of project funding should be set. Third, in recent years, the performance of project funding intensity has shown a downward trend. But when the amount of the research achievements increased greatly, the overall performance of project funding intensity is generally good. Further strengthening the intensity of project funding of the team with fruitful scientific research results can improve performance. Fourth, the contribution of humanities and social sciences R&D personnel is greater than the R&D funding. Therefore, it is important to strengthen the spiritual incentives for humanities and social sciences, and achieve the best incentive effect by combining material and spiritual incentives.
    This paper puts forward the following policy suggestions. It is necessary to set a reasonable intensity of project funding, increase the intensity of project funding for academic works and strengthen the intensity of project funding for research teams with fruitful results. What′s more, paying attention to the spiritual incentives for humanities and social sciences scholars is also very important. 

Key words: humanities and social sciences, intensity of project funding, performance, simultaneous equation, panel threshold model