Cudos

Cudos is an acronym used to denote principles that should guide good scientific research. According to the Cudos principles, the scientific ethos should be governed by Communalism, Universalism, Disinterested humility, Originality, Scepticism (CUDOS).

The term Cudos was introduced in 1942 by Robert K. Merton. An alternative term for Cudos is the Mertonian norms. The term Cudos is gaining in acceptance in the scientific community as a way of summarizing principles for good science.

The guiding principles in Cudos are:

• Communalism entails that scientific results are the common property of the entire scientific community.

• Universalism means that all scientists can contribute to science regardless of race, nationality, culture, or gender.

• Disinterestedness according to which scientists should not present their results entangled with their personal beliefs or activism for a cause. Scientists should have an arms length attitude towards their findings.

• Originality The claims by researchers must be novel and add something to our knowledge and understanding.

• Scepticism Scientific skepticism means that scientific claims must be exposed to critical scrutiny before being accepted.

In the original article from 1942, Merton defined Cudos in a somewhat different way as: Communism, Universalism, Disinterestedness, Organized Skepticism. However, in contemporary academic debate the modifed definition outlined above is the most widely used (e.g. Ziman 2000).

The similar sounding term kudos is derived from classical Greek and means fame and renown resulting from an act or achievement; and by extension is often used as a praising remark.

See also

• Robert K. Merton
• Scientific method
• Philosophy of science
• Scientific consensus

References

• Merton, R.K. (1942) The Normative Structure of Science In: R.K. Merton, The Sociology of Science: Theoretical and Empirical Investigations Chicago, IL, University of Chicago Press, 1973.

• Ziman, John (2000). Real Science: what it is, and what it means. Cambridge, Uk: Cambridge University Press.

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