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

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Robert 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 3. 4. 10:00–17:40 U43, Fri 24. 4. 10:00–17:40 U43, Fri 15. 5. 10:00–17:40 U43
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: 0/25, 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
there are 12 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
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)
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2020/ESOn4017