5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

We are witnessing a noticeable increase in attempts to reform and improve science. Calls for open science, for research assessment reform, for responsible research and innovation, for research integrity, etc. have become reform movements that are increasingly organized. The publicity of cases of scientific misconduct, the declaration of a “replication crisis”, the claim of a loss of scientific disruptiveness (i.e. innovation or translation), or the fear of diminishing public trust in science inspire academic activists to push for changes in research practices, such as registered reports, replication studies, or open science policies, and, more generally, to campaign for structural reform across the academic landscape and its periphery. With these reform movements we are also witnessing the development of an associated new research field with various labels such as meta-research, metascience, science of science, research on research, or journalology.
Our session aims to explore the multifaceted landscape of contemporary reform initiatives within and surrounding academia. We welcome an open discussion on the sociological implications of scientific reform movements and the changes in associated research fields and disciplines, especially in those that study science explicitly. We encourage submissions from diverse backgrounds, presenting case studies, empirical findings, or theoretical analyses on the implementation and outcomes of these reforms across various disciplines and regions. The session aims to foster a critical dialogue on the benefits and challenges associated with these initiatives, exploring questions of equity, sustainability, and the potential for systemic change in science.