Advancing Open Science: Mutual Responsiveness and Openness as Research Values

• September 7, 2024

Towards a New Ethos of Science or a Reform of the Institution of Science? Merton Revisited and the Future of Open Science

In his latest publication, Towards a New Ethos of Science or a Reform of the Institution of Science? featured in the sixth special edition of NOvation, Rene Von Schomberg discusses the evolving dynamics of the scientific community and the broader institutional structures underpinning it. The article explores a timely and vital question: should science be governed by a revised ethical framework that emphasizes openness and collaboration, or does it require a deeper, institutional-level reform to promote these values effectively?

Von Schomberg revisits Robert K. Merton’s seminal work on the ethos of science, which identified a set of norms guiding scientific practice. Merton’s framework included principles like communalism, universalism, disinterestedness, and organised skepticism, designed to ensure that science remained a self-regulated, autonomous system. The article questions whether Merton’s ethos remains relevant or if a more functional and systematic approach is needed to integrate modern values like openness and mutual responsiveness.

The Role of Open Science

Open science has emerged as a core theme in this debate. Von Schomberg argues that the values underpinning open science (openness in data sharing, collaboration across disciplines, and responsiveness to societal needs) require more than individual commitment from scientists. Instead, he proposes that these values should be institutionalised within the governance of science itself. This transition is necessary, particularly in the wake of global challenges like COVID-19, which showcased the importance of science’s responsiveness to societal pressures.

COVID-19 demonstrated how the urgency of producing knowledge to address real-world problems places new demands on the scientific institution. In this context, Von Schomberg suggests that focusing only on individual researchers and their adherence to ethical norms is inadequate. Instead, the evaluation systems in science, typically driven by metrics like publication counts and citations, should shift toward assessing the broader scientific system’s effectiveness in contributing to societal goals.

From Scientific Integrity to Broader Governance

One of the key shifts explored in the paper is the movement from Merton’s normative ethos toward codified frameworks like scientific integrity. While Merton’s ethos largely depended on the internal regulation of scientists, modern scientific integrity frameworks involve formal codes of conduct and guidelines meant to safeguard responsible research practices. Von Schomberg argues that such codifications, while necessary, are insufficient on their own for fostering true openness and collaboration.

Instead, the paper suggests that the governance of science should actively promote open science practices through policies and incentives. For instance, rewarding collaborative efforts and data sharing, rather than solely focusing on individual research output, can help institutionalise the values of openness and mutual responsiveness.

Implications for Research Assessment

A significant part of the paper is dedicated to discussing how these changes would affect research assessment. Traditional research evaluation methods, which often prioritise individual outputs, may not align with the goals of open science. Von Schomberg proposes that research assessments should prioritise the scientific system’s ability to contribute to societal challenges and foster collaborative research. This shift would require rethinking how success in science is measured, with a greater emphasis on the collective impact of research initiatives rather than individual accomplishments.

Reforming the Institution of Science

Von Schomberg concludes that the future of science lies not in simply revising its ethical norms but in overhauling the institutional structures that guide it. Open science, with its values of transparency, collaboration, and societal responsiveness, must become an integral part of how science operates at an institutional level. To achieve this, a reform of the system (encompassing governance, research evaluation, and scientific integrity) is essential.

The article provides a thought-provoking analysis of how the scientific community can evolve to meet the demands of the 21st century, emphasising the need for a systemic shift towards openness and collective responsibility.

For more of Von Schomberg’s insights, you can access the full paper here http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/nocsi.v0i6

Photo via Maastricht University