# Australian National University Demographic and Social Research Institute

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q101005607](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101005607)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/australian-national-university-demographic-and-social-research-institute

## Summary
The Australian National University Demographic and Social Research Institute is a research institute headquartered in Canberra, Australia, and is part of the Australian National University. As an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research, it is dedicated to generating new knowledge through systematic investigation rather than teaching or commercial activities. It is formally classified as a research institute, distinct from related entities like think tanks or scientific societies.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of:** Research institute
- **Part of:** Australian National University
- **Headquarters:** Canberra, Australia
- **Country:** Australia
- **Ringgold ID:** 170492
- **Geonames Feature Code:** S.ITTR
- **Library of Congress ID:** sh85113043
- **German National Library (GND) ID:** 4017909-6
- **Dewey Decimal Classification:** 001.406
- **Schema.org Type:** ResearchOrganization

## FAQs
### Q: Is the Australian National University Demographic and Social Research Institute a university?
A: No, it is a research institute that operates as a part of the Australian National University. Unlike universities, which balance teaching and research, this institute's sole purpose is conducting research without granting degrees or providing undergraduate education.

### Q: How is this institute different from a think tank?
A: While think tanks primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government decisions, the Australian National University Demographic and Social Research Institute focuses on fundamental scientific inquiry. It pursues the generation of new knowledge across its disciplines rather than focusing specifically on public policy advocacy.

### Q: Where is the Australian National University Demographic and Social Research Institute located?
A: The institute is headquartered in Canberra, Australia. It is geographically identified by the Geonames feature code S.ITTR and operates within the Australian National University system.

## Why It Matters
The Australian National University Demographic and Social Research Institute represents critical infrastructure for advancing human knowledge in its field. By serving as a dedicated engine of discovery, it allows researchers to concentrate resources and talent purely on investigation, free from the teaching obligations that divide university researchers' attention. This focus enables the pursuit of long-term, high-risk research that might not fit within university or corporate timelines. In an era where innovation drives economic competitiveness and addresses global challenges, such institutes are essential for accelerating breakthroughs and tackling complex problems through systematic investigation.

## Notable For
- Operating exclusively as a research entity, distinguishing it from hybrid organizations that combine research with other functions.
- Being a part of the Australian National University, a major academic institution.
- Holding the specific Ringgold ID 170492 for identification in academic and publishing systems.
- Being classified under multiple international knowledge organization systems, including the Library of Congress and the German National Library.
- Focusing on fundamental inquiry rather than membership activities, unlike scientific or learned societies.

## Body
### Organizational Classification
The Australian National University Demographic and Social Research Institute is formally classified as a research institute, a type of organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research. This classification distinguishes it from universities or companies that may include research as only one of several functions. The entity is mapped to schema.org/ResearchOrganization for structured data purposes and is recognized by the Wikidata ID Q31855 for its class. It is identified in library cataloging systems under the Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043 and the German National Library GND ID 4017909-6.

### Location and Affiliation
The institute is physically headquartered in Canberra, Australia, and is an integral part of the Australian National University. Geographic databases utilize the Geonames feature code S.ITTR to identify its location. In library science, the organization falls under the Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406. It is also associated with the specific Ringgold ID 170492, a standard identifier used in the academic and research publishing sectors.

### Distinctions from Related Entities
The Australian National University Demographic and Social Research Institute is differentiated from several similar organizational forms. Unlike scientific societies or learned societies, which are membership-based organizations, this institute is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation. It is also distinct from think tanks; while think tanks focus on policy research to influence government and public policy, this institute pursues fundamental inquiry across its specific disciplines. Furthermore, it is distinguished from research centers that may exist merely as sub-units within larger organizations, operating instead as a defined instance of a research institute.

### Operational Focus
As a research institute, the entity exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. It does not typically grant degrees or provide undergraduate education, allowing it to function without the distraction of teaching obligations. This operational model provides a space where researchers can pursue complex problems and long-term projects that might not be feasible within hybrid organizations. The global recognition of the research institute model, evidenced by coverage in 41 Wikipedia language editions, underscores the universal applicability and importance of this organizational structure.

## References

1. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions