Competition

* Unless explicitly noted, all times indicated for deadlines are for the appropriate NL timezone (NST or NDT)

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 (see expanded definition below). 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

Applications that align with RoRI priority areas as identified in the list of current RoRI projects (whether or not directly linked to those current RoRI projects) are welcome in this joint initiative, but the alignment is not mandatory. Applicants are invited to submit applications dealing with metaresearch in any disciplinary context. Possible research areas supported within the objectives of this joint initiative may include (but are not limited to):

• research on talent and professional development, including studying the effectiveness of interventions in: training and skills, talent retention, encouragement of entrepreneurship, and/or training and professional development assessment methods in research contexts

• research on allocation of research funding, including different peer review methodologies and different modes of funding (e.g., scholarships, fellowships, research grants), and their impacts on the distribution of research funds and associated research and career outcomes

• research integrity, including issues of reproducibility and the impact of interventions such as preregistration, open data, research data management, and reproducible code

• research on research infrastructure, including physical, digital and human infrastructures

• improving the dissemination of research outputs and their impact, including the role of technology transfer offices, varying publication practices, conferences and knowledge dissemination platforms

• understanding research impact, including improving the nuance with which the impact of research projects and programs can be defined and measured, and under what conditions various approaches to research facilitate meaningful use of evidence

• understanding the impacts of AI on the research ecosystem

SSHRC welcomes applications involving Indigenous research, as well as those involving research-creation.

In addition to the external funding agency’s submission procedures, this opportunity must also be submitted for Departmental, HSS Faculty, and Research Initiatives and Services (RIS) institutional reviews and approvals via Memorial's Researcher Portal (RP). In order to facilitate the HSS Faculty’s administrative review, please ensure "Heather C. O'Brien (Grants Facilitator)" and “Matthew Milner (Grants Facilitator)” are added as "Team Members" on your RP file. 

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols, all tabs of the RP file must be completed, the completed application must be uploaded to the “Attachments” tab, all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support must also be uploaded, and “Submit” must be pressed prior to the HSS internal deadline listed below. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed submission instructions and information, please consult the HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), e-mail an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca or 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca or 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of your intent to apply. E-mailing the intent to apply as early as possible will help to facilitate an efficient review. A Grants Facilitator can answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures and may also be able to help with proposal development.