A focused branch of the sociology of science that investigates the "scientific method" itself as a social construct and a set of evolving norms. It looks at how the idea of what counts as "good science" changes over time and varies between disciplines. Who decided that double-blind studies are the gold standard? Why did certain methods become marginalized? It treats the rulebook of science as a living document written by a specific community, not a holy text handed down from on high.
Example: "The psychology field's 'replication crisis' is a perfect case study for the sociology of the scientific method, showing how its own cherished rules for 'proof' sometimes fail."
by Dumu The Void March 11, 2026
Get the Sociology of the Scientific Method mug.