Accurately Grasp the Scientific Methods of Investigation and Research

Investigation and research are the foundation of planning affairs and the path to success; without investigation, there is no right to speak, and without investigation, there is no right to make decisions. To study, consider, and determine the ideas and major measures for comprehensively deepening reform, it is impermissible to be rigid and unadaptable, to work behind closed doors, or to indulge in wild fantasies; a comprehensive and in-depth investigation and research must be conducted. To thoroughly implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC [1]1 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held in July 2024, focused on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization. and to advance Chinese-path modernization through further comprehensively deepening reform, we must fully utilize this magic weapon of investigation and research, grasp the laws of development, solve development difficulties, and inject strong momentum into Chinese-path modernization.

调查研究是谋事之基、成事之道，没有调查就没有发言权，没有调查就没有决策权。研究、思考、确定全面深化改革的思路和重大举措，刻舟求剑不行，闭门造车不行，异想天开更不行，必须进行全面深入的调查研究。深入贯彻落实党的二十届三中全会精神，以进一步全面深化改革推进中国式现代化，必须用足用好调查研究这个制胜法宝，把握发展规律、解决发展难题，为中国式现代化注入强劲动力。

Investigation and research must adhere to seeking truth from facts

调查研究必须坚持实事求是

Carrying forward the spirit of scientific truth-seeking is the basic guideline for vigorously promoting the practice of investigation and research and continuously driving its integrity and innovation. Scientific truth-seeking means seeking truth from facts, adhering to the truth-seeking spirit of proceeding from reality in everything. Seeking truth from facts is the core content of the Party’s ideological line. All comrades in the Party must integrate seeking truth from facts into all work, conduct investigation and research frequently, extensively, and deeply, observe the actual situation, put forward practical measures, fully reflect the real situation, and ensure that theoretical and policy innovations are well-grounded and reasonable. Marx and Engels’ scientific understanding of human society was precisely built on their long-term and extensive investigation and research from the standpoint of the working class. Through in-depth examination of social history and reality, they revealed the essence of capitalist society and created the theory of scientific socialism. The Marxist worldview of Chinese Communists determines that they always emphasize investigation and research in practice, believing that making decisions without understanding the real situation and by shooting from the hip cannot lead to good work. Investigation and research are a basic skill for doing leadership work well, and the ability to conduct investigation and research is a component of the overall quality and capability of leading cadres. Investigation and research are not only a working method but also a major issue concerning the success or failure of the Party’s and the people’s cause. Only by adhering to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts and possessing the courage to pursue truth and correct mistakes can Party members and cadres seek scientific decisions and build the greatest consensus while facing problems head-on.

发扬科学求实精神是大兴调查研究之风、持续推动调查研究守正创新的基本遵循。科学求实就是实事求是，坚持一切从实际出发的求实精神。实事求是是党的思想路线的核心内容。全党同志一定要把实事求是贯穿到各项工作中去，经常、广泛、深入开展调查研究，察实情、出实招，充分反映实际情况，使理论和政策创新有根有据、合情合理。马克思、恩格斯对人类社会的科学认识正是建立在站在工人阶级立场上进行长久且广泛的调查研究之上的，通过对社会历史和现实的深入考察，揭示了资本主义社会的本质，创建了科学社会主义理论。中国共产党人的马克思主义世界观决定其在实践中始终注重调查研究，认为不了解真实情况、拍脑袋做决定是做不好工作的，调查研究是做好领导工作的一项基本功，调查研究能力是领导干部整体素质和能力的一个组成部分。调查研究不仅是一种工作方法，更是关系党和人民事业得失成败的大问题。党员干部只有坚持实事求是的思想路线，葆有追求真理、修正错误的勇气，才能在直面问题中寻求科学决策、凝聚最大共识。

Investigation and research must adhere to the systems concept

调查研究必须坚持系统观念

Adhering to the systems concept is a basic viewpoint of Marxist epistemology and methodology. The systems concept is a foundational thought and working method. We must observe things from a developmental rather than static perspective, a comprehensive rather than one-sided perspective, a systematic rather than fragmented perspective, and a universally connected rather than isolated perspective, accurately grasp objective reality, truly master the laws, and properly handle various major relationships. Only by observing things with a universally connected, comprehensive and systematic, and developmental and changing viewpoint can we grasp the laws of development of things. Only by using systems thinking and methods to conduct investigation and research can we discover and analyze the interconnections and interactions between the whole and the parts, and between the internal and external, and can we grasp things as a whole, resolve contradictions, and properly handle the relationships between the overall situation and the local, the principal contradiction and the secondary contradiction, and the special and the general. To this end, leading cadres must go both to places where work is going well and advanced working methods are used to sum up experience, and to places with more difficulties, complex situations, and sharp contradictions to study problems. In particular, they must go more to places where the masses have many opinions and to places where work is poorly done. They must listen not only to the masses’ agreeable words but also to their unpleasant words. Only in this way can they hear the truth, observe the real situation, and achieve practical results.

坚持系统观念是马克思主义认识论和方法论的基本观点。系统观念是具有基础性的思想和工作方法。要坚持发展地而不是静止地、全面地而不是片面地、系统地而不是零散地、普遍联系地而不是单一孤立地观察事物，准确把握客观实际，真正掌握规律，妥善处理各种重大关系。只有用普遍联系的、全面系统的、发展变化的观点观察事物，才能把握事物发展规律。只有运用系统思维和方法进行调查研究，才能发现和分析整体与部分、内部与外部的相互联系和作用，才能从整体上把握事物、解决矛盾，处理好全局与局部、主要矛盾和次要矛盾、特殊和一般的关系。为此，领导干部既要到工作局面好、工作方法先进的地方去总结经验，又要到困难较多、情况复杂、矛盾尖锐的地方去研究问题，特别是要多到群众意见多的地方去，多到工作做得差的地方去，既要听群众的顺耳话，也要听群众的逆耳言，这样才能听到实话、察到实情、收到实效。

Investigation and research must adhere to the mass line

调查研究必须坚持群众路线

“He who knows a leaky roof lives under it; he who knows a failed policy lives in the countryside.” [2]2 A classical Chinese saying from Wang Chong’s *Lunheng* (1st century CE), meaning that those directly affected by a problem are best placed to understand it. To conduct investigation and research, one must pass the test of the masses. We must adhere to going to the masses and to practice, listen to what the masses are thinking, anxious about, and expecting, understand and grasp the real situation, and must not skim the surface, touch upon things lightly, become complacent with a little knowledge, or take a part for the whole. Investigation and research must firmly stand on the people’s position. By going deep into the grassroots, deep into reality, and deep among the masses, we can understand what the masses are thinking, what they are hoping for, and what they most need the Party committee and government to do. Grassroots masses, important typical cases, and difficult places should become the focus of research, and more time should be spent understanding and studying them. Investigation and research must learn modestly from the masses. Investigation and research must achieve “depth, solidity, meticulousness, accuracy, and effectiveness.” [3]3 A five-character guideline for investigation and research work, often attributed to Xi Jinping, emphasizing depth, solidity, meticulousness, accuracy, and effectiveness. “Depth” means going deep into the grassroots and the masses, to the fields, factories and mines, and various social levels to understand and listen to the voices of the masses. “Solidity” means the work style must be solid, investigating and researching difficulties or demands closely related to the production and life of the common people. “Meticulousness” means extensively listening to opinions from all sides and systematically analyzing and solving problems. “Accuracy” means being good at seeing the essence through phenomena and accurately identifying the crux of the problem. “Effectiveness” means formulating practical and feasible solutions to the problems.

知屋漏者在宇下，知政失者在草野。开展调查研究必须过好群众关。要坚持到群众中去、到实践中去，倾听群众所想所急所盼，了解和掌握真实情况，不能走马观花、蜻蜓点水，一得自矜、以偏概全。调查研究要站稳人民立场。通过深入基层、深入实际、深入群众，可以了解群众在想什么、盼什么，最需要党委、政府干什么，基层群众、重要典型和困难的地方应成为调研重点，要花更多时间去了解和研究。调查研究要虚心向群众学习。调查研究要做到“深、实、细、准、效”。“深”就是要深入基层、深入群众，到田间、厂矿和各社会层面了解倾听群众呼声。“实”就是作风要实，调查研究与老百姓生产生活息息相关的困难或诉求。“细”就是要广泛听取各方意见，系统分析解决问题。“准”就是要善于透过现象看本质，准确找出症结所在。“效”即针对问题制定出切实可行的解决办法。

Investigation and research must adhere to a problem-oriented approach

调查研究必须坚持问题导向

Problems are the voice of the times; adhering to a problem-oriented approach is a distinctive feature of Marxism. The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC [4]4 The 20th National Congress of the CPC was held in October 2022, at which Xi Jinping delivered the report. stated, “We must enhance our problem awareness, focus on new problems encountered in practice, deep-seated problems in reform, development, and stability, urgent problems of pressing concern to the people, major problems in international changes, and prominent problems facing Party building, and constantly put forward new ideas, new thinking, and new methods to truly solve the problems.” Problems are manifestations of contradictions in things. Investigation and research involve investigating, understanding, analyzing, and studying objective actual conditions, with the purpose of clarifying the truth and full picture of things and accurately grasping the essence and laws of problems. Investigation and research must not only discover problems but also clarify the root causes of problems, grasp the essence and crux of things, reflect the full picture and characteristics of things, and find effective methods and approaches to solve problems. The fundamental purpose of investigation and research is to solve problems. Investigation and research are like ten months of pregnancy, and decision-making is like one day of childbirth. [5]5 A metaphor popularized by Mao Zedong, comparing the process of investigation and research to gestation and decision-making to childbirth. The measure of whether investigation and research is done well is not the scale or duration of the investigation, nor is it just the quality of the research report; the key is to look at the practical results of the investigation and research, the application of the research results, and whether the problems can be solved well. After comprehensive, detailed, and in-depth investigation and research, we must actively face and resolve the contradictions encountered in progress, achieving practical moves and tangible results. The situation must be clarified, the purpose must be clear, the tasks must be specific, the responsibilities must be implemented, and the measures must be forceful. The ultimate foothold is to introduce strong policies and elevate the scientific understanding gained from investigation and research to the institutional level. For research results that have not yet been thoroughly studied, opinions should be listened to more deeply before improvement and implementation; for research results that have already formed measures and been implemented and grounded, timely tracking and evaluation should be conducted, and adjustments and optimizations should be made as circumstances require. Especially when important policies and measures involving the vital interests of the masses are introduced, extensive opinions from the masses must be listened to, responding to the people’s ardent expectations.

问题是时代的声音，坚持问题导向是马克思主义的鲜明特点。党的二十大报告提出，“我们要增强问题意识，聚焦实践遇到的新问题、改革发展稳定存在的深层次问题、人民群众急难愁盼问题、国际变局中的重大问题、党的建设面临的突出问题，不断提出真正解决问题的新理念新思路新办法”。问题是事物矛盾的表现形式。调查研究是对客观实际情况的调查了解和分析研究，目的是把事情的真相和全貌调查清楚，准确把握问题的本质和规律。调查研究不仅要发现问题，还要厘清问题的根本原因，抓住事物的本质和症结所在，反映事物的全貌和特征，以找到解决问题的有效办法和途径。调查研究的根本目的是解决问题。调查研究就像十月怀胎，决策就像一朝分娩，衡量调查研究搞得好不好，不是看调查研究的规模有多大、时间有多长，也不是光看调研报告写得怎么样，关键要看调查研究的实效，看调研成果的运用，看能不能把问题解决好。全面细致深入调研后，要积极面对和化解前进中遇到的矛盾，做到谋实招、见实效。情况要摸清，目的要明确，任务要具体，责任要落实，措施要有力，最终落脚点是出台强有力的政策，将调查研究得来的科学认识上升到制度层面。对尚未研究透彻的调研成果，要更深入地听取意见，完善后再付诸实施；对已经形成举措、落实落地的调研成果要及时跟踪评估，视情况调整优化，特别是涉及群众切身利益的重要政策措施出台，要广泛听取群众意见，回应人民的热切期盼。

Investigation and research must adhere to keeping pace with the times

调查研究必须坚持与时俱进

Investigation and research are a heirloom passed down by our Party in doing leadership work well during various historical periods of revolution, construction, and reform. From the formulation of the “Sixty Articles on Agriculture” and the “Seventy Articles on Industry” [6]6 The “Sixty Articles on Agriculture” (1961) and “Seventy Articles on Industry” (1961) were policy documents drafted under Mao Zedong to regulate rural and industrial work after the Great Leap Forward. to the formulation of the “targeted poverty alleviation strategy,” [7]7 The targeted poverty alleviation strategy, launched under Xi Jinping around 2013, was a nationwide campaign to lift all rural poor out of poverty by 2020 through precise identification and tailored measures. the working method of going deep into the grassroots and the masses for investigation and research has been consistent. On the new journey of the New Era, we will encounter more severe and complex risks and challenges than before. Only by fundamentally adhering to adapting to events, advancing with the times, and innovating with the situation for new tasks, and accurately identifying the blockages, siltation points, and difficulties of the problems, can theories and policies fully reflect their advanced nature and scientificity. Investigation and research are the basic skills for doing work well in the New Era. To promote investigation and research, we must actively explore its characteristics and laws in the new historical period. Investigation and research work must adapt to the new situations of economic and social development and change. Investigation and research methods must keep pace with the times. The Party has accumulated a series of effective methods in long-term practice, such as holding investigation meetings, seminars, visit surveys, and station surveys. We must not only inherit and improve these existing investigation and research methods but also adapt to new situations and new circumstances, especially the characteristics of today’s information-networked society, further expand research channels, enrich research means, innovate research methods, learn, master, and apply modern science and technology, and at the same time comprehensively apply multidisciplinary theories such as economics, sociology, information theory, systems theory, and cybernetics, to provide comprehensive, detailed, and reliable information and data for correct decision-making, and effectively improve the efficiency and scientificity of research. We must combine micro and macro investigations, combine qualitative and quantitative analyses, boldly innovate, and adopt multiple approaches simultaneously to improve the work efficiency of investigation and research and the quality of research results.

调查研究是我们党在革命、建设、改革各个历史时期做好领导工作的传家宝。从“农业六十条”“工业七十条”的提出到“精准扶贫方略”的制定，深入基层、深入群众调查研究的工作方法一以贯之。新时代新征程，会遇到比以往更加严峻复杂的风险挑战，只有针对新任务从根本上坚持因事而化、因时而进、因势而新，找准问题的堵点、淤点、难点，才能使理论和政策充分体现先进性和科学性。调查研究是新时代做好工作的基本功，推动调查研究必须积极探索其在新的历史时期的特点和规律。调查研究工作要适应经济社会发展变化的新情况。调查研究方法要与时俱进。党在长期实践中积累了召开调查会、研讨会、走访调查、蹲点调查等一系列行之有效的方法，我们不仅要对这些已有的调查研究方法加以继承和完善，还要适应新形势、新情况，特别是当今社会信息网络化的特点，进一步拓展调研渠道、丰富调研手段、创新调研方式，学习、掌握和运用现代科学技术，同时综合运用经济学、社会学、信息论、系统论、控制论等多学科理论，为正确决策提供全面、翔实、可靠的信息和数据，切实提高调研的效率和科学性。要把微观和宏观调查结合起来，把定性和定量分析结合起来，大胆创新、多管齐下，提高调研工作效率和调研成果质量。

Investigation and research are the source of genuine knowledge and deep insight. Correct decision-making cannot be separated from investigation and research, and the implementation of policies likewise cannot be separated from investigation and research. At present, China’s development faces new strategic opportunities, strategic tasks, strategic requirements, and a strategic environment. A series of important speeches by Xi Jinping on investigation and research have undoubtedly provided the fundamental guidance for the current vigorous promotion of the practice of investigation and research across the entire Party. Deeply studying the connotation and spirit of these speeches and strengthening the transformation of the achievements of the Party’s innovative theories are of great significance for us to strengthen strategic thinking, maintain strategic resolve, promote the unity of planning affairs and planning situations, planning the present and planning the future, and continuously advance the Party’s great cause.

调查研究是获得真知灼见的源头活水，正确的决策离不开调查研究，政策的贯彻落实同样离不开调查研究。当前，我国发展面临新的战略机遇、战略任务、战略要求、战略环境，习近平总书记关于调查研究的一系列重要讲话，无疑为当下在全党大兴调查研究之风提供了根本遵循。深入学习这些讲话的内涵精神，加强党的创新理论的成果转化，对我们强化战略思维，保持战略定力，推动谋事和谋势、谋当下和谋未来相统一，不断推进党的伟大事业具有重要意义。

(The authors are a professor at the School of Marxism, Sichuan University; and a section chief of the Utilization, Compilation and Research Division of the Chengdu Municipal Archives.)

（作者系四川大学马克思主义学院教授；成都市档案馆利用编研处处长）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心