Development of Social Research in Japan from 1945 to the 1970's

This study examines the originality of social research in Japan from 1945 to the 1970’s. During this period, Japanese sociologists initiated social research adopting the framework of American sociology. This research was conducted in order to understand the sociologist’s approach to research, which was necessary for the reconstruction of sociology subsequent to World War II. I will take a historical approach to this issue by considering the development of Japanese sociology.

　　　　　　　Most studies deal with this era of social research mainly in the context of American sociology being adopted in Japan. However, this study refers to not only American sociology but also German theory of ideology because the development of social research in Japan was closely linked to Japan academia prior to 1945. This approach may also contribute to understanding the history of the sociology of culture in Japan.

  　　　　　　This study first discusses the development of social research in relation to American sociology. It explains that the process of social research development partly depended on the course of quantitative research based on positivism. This study then analyzes the investigations of collective mentality, including the results of working-class studies and mass communication studies. This analysis reveals that some Japanese sociologists adopted the American sociological approach critically; furthermore, the results suggest that they introduced the German theory of ideology, from a historical perspective, to their work. As some Japanese sociologists applied both American sociology and the German theory of ideology to Japanese sociology, this study concludes that Japanese social research developed during this era had some originality.