Science of science policy (SoSP) is an emerging interdisciplinary research area that seeks to develop theoretical and empirical models of the scientific enterprise. This scientific basis can be used to help government, and society in general, make better R&D management decisions by establishing a scientifically rigorous, quantitative basis from which policy makers and researchers may assess the impacts of the nation's scientific and engineering enterprise, improve their understanding of its dynamics, and assess the likely outcomes. Examples of research in the science of science policy include models to understand the production of science, qualitative, quantitative and computational methods to estimate the impact of science, and processes for choosing from alternative science portfolios.[1]: 5
- ^ The Science of Science Policy: A Federal Research Roadmap. Report on the Science of Science Policy to the Subcommittee on Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, Committee on Science, National Science and Technology Council, Office of Science and Technology Policy (PDF) (Report). National Science and Technology Council. November 2008. DOE/SC-106. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 19, 2021.