Taiwan Database for Empirical Legal Studies (TaDELS）focuses on empirical research in the field of law, providing a variety of survey data and methodological resources. The "Taiwan Law and Social Change Survey" utilizes large-scale questionnaire data to understand the interaction between law and social change, serving as a foundation for legal research and the formulation of legal policies.
The Dynamics of Law and Society
Since 2006, it has been funded by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), collaborating with research institutions, the legal practice community, and various advocacy groups and individuals to conduct surveys and collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Among these, the "Taiwan Law and Social Change Survey" has completed six phases with a total of eight surveys, as well as four thematic investigations.
The surveys explore the public's legal experiences and attitudes, covering areas such as everyday consumer experiences, family and labor issues, and perspectives on environmental topics. They also address issues related to the pandemic, indigenous peoples, technology, and privacy, providing resources for legal scholars and social scientists. This promotes interdisciplinary communication and enhances understanding of the dynamic relationship between law and society.
Data Open
2024 Law and Social Change Survey Round 6 (2): Public Participation and Legal Attitudes Survey
The survey was conducted using the LimeSurvey online polling system. The questionnaire covered a range of topics, including basic legal attitudes, trust in the judiciary, energy, Indigenous issues, technology and privacy, and social media information. The target population consisted of adults aged 20 and over residing in Taiwan. The fieldwork was carried out from April 30 to May 2, 2024, by the Pollcracy Lab, an online survey unit of the Election Study Center at NCCU. A total of 1,050 valid responses were collected.
Online Statistical AnalysisSurvey DataOur Features
The TaDELs (Taiwan Database for Empirical Legal Studies) database covers diverse legal materials from the Japanese colonial period to the present, including statistical data, legal documents, and archival images. This comprehensive collection showcases the evolution of Taiwan's legal system and societal changes, allowing users to deeply understand the historical progression of Taiwan's rule of law and its interaction with social life. It provides valuable research resources for both social science and legal studies. TaDELs has independently developed a survey model focused on ""Law and Social Life." This survey examines public awareness of the law, perceptions, and experiences with legal systems, trust in the judiciary and legal personnel, and public opinions on prominent legal issues. These diverse legal and social change surveys, reflect the public's attitudes and behaviors towards the law, helping to understand the acceptance and impact of laws and policies in society.
The research combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. Qualitative data is showcased through case files detailing the litigation process, reports, and interviews with participants in the legal proceedings, providing rich insights into legal awareness and lawful culture within specific contexts. On the other hand, quantitative methods reveal broader social trends through statistical analysis.
Quantitative data collection spans multiple levels, offering both general surveys on people's interaction with the legal system and more specialized research on particular legal issues. This enables the legal field to better understand societal trends and to more effectively serve diverse populations. Additionally, surveys on specific legal topics—such as "citizen voting," "parent-child relationships," "same-sex partnerships," and "public legal awareness in the digital age"—help to understand public attitudes and needs regarding these issues. This information serves as a crucial foundation for government bodies engaged in legal reforms or research and for practitioners offering legal support in these areas.
The publicly accessible and free-to-use survey data promotes the development of interdisciplinary research in law, sociology, and other fields. This open-access strategy broadens the reach of legal resources, not only to professional researchers but also to the general public, fostering a deeper connection between academic research and societal practices, while also enhancing public awareness and engagement with legal issues. The database has been cited in over a hundred journal articles, theses, and dissertations, and its data has been used in civic education, with permissions granted for its inclusion in three high school textbooks published by authorized publishers.
By grounding the abstract interpretation of legal texts in Taiwan’s social reality, this resource strengthens the link between judicial practice, legislative policies, legal research, and Taiwanese society. It helps policymakers and researchers better understand the public’s legal consciousness and needs, thereby improving the development of legal policies.
How We Conduct Surveys
In addition to conducting nationally representative face-to-face interviews, TaDELs also commissions the Pollcracy Lab at National Chengchi University’s Election Study Center to conduct online surveys to gather firsthand data. Moving forward, it will continue to adopt a mixed-mode survey approach that combines both face-to-face and online surveys.
To avoid purely voluntary samples, a "quasi-probability sample" is used in online surveys. This sample is drawn from a database of respondents collected by the National Chengchi University Election Study Center through previous telephone surveys. The respondents were asked during the phone interview if they would participate in an online public opinion survey. Although this is not a probability sample, it is not simply a voluntary sample, hence it is categorized as a "quasi-probability sample."
The database regularly adjusts the questionnaire items based on changes in the social context each year. Through cross-year surveys and the repeated design of the same questions, it explores the public's views on popular issues, providing insights into current social phenomena. This regular tracking helps reveal the evolution of societal viewpoints over time.
Research Resources
The establishment of the TaDELS not only includes the "Taiwan Law and Social Change Survey" but also integrates legal research data from both domestic and international sources. This comprehensive collection covers academic journals, legal documents, and related survey studies, as well as key academic institutions and social organizations, serving as a vital foundation for both academic research and practical legal work.
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