What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to outline the HSRC's contributions to demography and reflect on the evolution of its research focus over 25 years.

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May 24, 2026Open Access

The history and scope of demographic research at the HSRC from 1968

Key Points

The aim is to outline the HSRC's contributions to demography and reflect on the evolution of its research focus over 25 years.
Conducted a chronological review of HSRC reports on demographic research.
Analyzed the shift in research emphasis from initial work to fertility and demographic surveys.
Highlighted major contributions to empirical knowledge in South African demography.
Documented shifts in research priorities, with significant investigations on fertility trends.

Abstract

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) was an important contributor to empirical knowledge in the general field of demography in South Africa for a period of at least 25 years (see the Annexure containing a list of selected reports in chronological order). This chapter attempts to provide a concise account of the scope of demographic-related research at the institution. It also aims to reflect on the purpose of the initial work, how the emphasis changed over time and why the HSRC later undertook major fertility and general demographic surveys.

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