Metascience, Research Software, and the Case for RS Metascience: Extended Preprint

Abstract

Metascience is the study of science itself, including how scientific research is conducted, evaluated, and improved. Rather than asking questions about the natural or social world, metascience asks questions about scientific research -- its methods, objects of study, participants, incentives, funding, and impact. Research Software (RS) is software created during the research process or for a research purpose. RS Metascience then studies how RS is created, used, shared, measured, evaluated, funded, and maintained -- and how this affects the quality and progress of science and overall scholarly research. In this article, we discuss and texture the various components of RS Metascience.