社会科学证据在美国的发展及其启示

我国的民事、行政法庭中已经出现了社会研究报告这种全新的证据形式,它实际上是社会科学证据的典型代表。社会科学证据已经在美国经历了超过百年的发展历史,最早可以追溯到上世纪初出现的"布兰代斯辩论摘要"。在经历了司法实践多年的考验之后,社会科学证据终于从上世纪70年代之后在美国获得了长足发展。如今,社会科学证据在美国的法庭中已得到了广泛的应用。我国可以学习美国的经验,将社会科学证据放在科学证据的框架之下进行研究和应用,这将成为我国证据法学理论的一个重要突破。基于当前的司法证明实践,应当对社会科学证据的证据属性、证据形式、公证问题、审查认定规则等重点问题加强研究。

The Development of Social Science Evidence in America and Its Inspiration

Social survey report,a fresh form of evidence used in civil and administrative courts in China today,is actually a typical part of social science evidence.In America,social science evidence,which can date back to Brandeis Brief appeared at the beginning of the 20th century,has been used for more than 100 years.After many years of judicial practice,it gained momentum after 1970s of the 20th century.Nowadays,social science evidence has come to play an increasingly important role in American courts at all levels.Through learning from American experience,we can place social science evidence within the framework of scientific evidence to conduct research and study its use.This will be an important breakthrough in the evidence law theory in China.On the basis of the current practice of judicial proof,we should strengthen research on some key issues of social science evidence,such as its attribute,form,notarization issue as well as the rule of examination and determination of social science evidence.