Research on Research Joint Initiative

Research on research, also known as metaresearch, is the application of rigorous methods and analysis to the practice of research itself—its methods, standards and evaluation. Founded in 2019, the Research on Research Institute (RoRI) is a consortium of research funders and institutes that undertakes projects that can support the work of funding organizations. RoRI gathers evidence and data; undertakes experiments; and develops tools to improve how research is funded, practiced, communicated and evaluated.

The three Canadian core partners of RoRI—SSHRC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Michael Smith Health Research BC—have together launched this joint initiative as part of ongoing efforts to support metaresearch in the Canadian context. The goal of this joint initiative is to enhance national capacity for metaresearch, and bring Canadian expertise and perspectives into the international dialogue on improving research funding practices. Metaresearch is a vital element of social sciences and humanities research, as well as multidisciplinary research, as it allows greater insight into the ways in which research is conducted, evaluated and supported.

For the purposes of this joint initiative, metaresearch (also known in different contexts as research on research, metascience or the science of science) is defined as a field of research that draws on old and new disciplinary and methodological approaches to test, evaluate and experiment with different aspects of research systems, cultures and decision-making. It aims to ensure the full potential of research can be realized in ways that are rigorous, transparent, fair and evidence-informed. Metaresearch can be conducted by researchers in any disciplinary field.

This joint initiative aims to:

• build knowledge and understanding on metaresearch, i.e., the application of rigorous methods and analysis to the practice of research itself—its methods, incentives, standards and evaluation—and the practices of how that research is funded, communicated, applied and evaluated
• produce data on metaresearch that may have impacts on research and innovation policy and funding practices in Canada and other jurisdictions
• take part in knowledge mobilization among Canadian and international researchers, including members of RoRI’s consortium, to contribute to the development of research and innovation policies and research funding practices;
• provide training for students and highly qualified personnel
• build collaborations among researchers working on metaresearch, both in Canada and internationally