ESOn4017 Towards a ‘sociology of excellence’: constructing and deconstructing scientific impact

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Róbert Braun (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Csaba Szaló, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Tomáš Katrňák, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Fri 1. 4. 10:00–17:40 U34, Fri 29. 4. 10:00–17:40 U34, Fri 13. 5. 10:00–17:40 U34
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 1/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Abstract: Ever since the inception of public funding for basic scientific research after WWII the issue of ’what constitutes scientific excellence’ is a heated debate among scholars and policy makers alike. This course will introduce and discuss rationale for the public funding science, as originally proposed in the seminal paper of Vannevar Bush (Science the Endless Frontier, 1945), and the challenges and socio-political consequences thereof. Based on social theory and critique put forward by authors such as Kuhn, Foucault and Fayerabend, we will discuss models of evaluating scientific impact, analyse the genealogy of the ’publish or perish’ system, and institutions that emerged for and by it. Our focus will be the birth and institutionalization of the idea of ’scientific excellence’ via scientometric indicators, citation impact tools and bibliometric references, as well as funding institutions such as the European Research Council (ERC). Discussion will revolve around the behemoth of the system of scientific publishing, the neoliberalization of science and higher education as well as a critical assessment of social consequences, biases and misappropriations of scientometrics as method and as policy instrument. We will also look at emerging alternatives to evaluate and assess excellence and impact via an ’RRI (Responsible Research and Innovation) eye’, discussing limits to public engagement and science education, emerging distrust in science and the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and its recent applications by science funding bodies in the Netherlands and elsewhere.
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes: Basic knowledge of • sociology of science • science policy and funding • scientific impact and assessment • peer review system • scientometric and bibliometric evaluation • responsible research and innovation principles • politics of science • genealogy of scientific institutions • alternative assessment of science output • social impacts
Syllabus
  • Block Master seminar (3 times 4x90 mins; Fridays)
Literature
    required literature
  • Roger Pielke: Basic Research as a Political Symbol
  • Helga Nowotny: ERC—the next 10 years https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/355/6329/997.full.pdf
  • Hood & Wilson: The literature of bibliometrics, scientometrics, and informetrics https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1023/A:1017919924342.pdf
  • (2020) Novitzky, Peter, Michael J. Bernstein, Vincent Blok, Robert Braun, Tung Tung Chan, Wout Lamers, Anne Loeber, Ingeborg Meijer, Ralf Lindner, Erich Griessler. “Improve alignment of research policy and societal values”. Science 369, no. 6499, pp. 39-
  • Agamben: Homo Sacer (What is a camp?)
  • Rommetweit et al: The Scientific Revolution as an Invention and Suspension of Nature
  • Fayerabend, P.: Science in a Free Society, 96-107.
  • Michael Polanyi: The republic of science
  • Vannevar Bush: Science the Endless Frontier https://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/nsf50/vbush1945.htm#summary
  • Roger Pielke Jr: In Retrospect: Science — The Endless Frontier https://www.nature.com/articles/466922a.pdf
Teaching methods
Mode of instruction will be: seminar format.
Assessment methods
Students will have to write one academic blog post and a final course paper.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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