Metascientific Literacy
The ability to understand and critically evaluate the structures, practices, and social dynamics of science itself—not just scientific facts. A metascientifically literate person knows how funding shapes research agendas, how publication bias distorts literature, how peer review works (and fails), and how scientific consensus is built. They see science as a human institution, not a monolithic truth machine, and can navigate its complexities as both producer and consumer of knowledge.
Example: “Her metascientific literacy meant she didn’t just read a study’s conclusion; she checked the journal’s reputation, the authors’ conflicts of interest, and the sample size—understanding science as a process, not just a result.”
Metascientific Literacy by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026
