Reshaping the Future of Social Metrology: Utilizing Quality Indicators to Develop Complexity-Based Scientific Human and Social Capital Measurement Model

Abstract

In this study, we made an effort to understand logic of management system standards with related thinking, and harness it to develop fractal model, focused on the scientific community. Therefore, we briefly explored the world of quality management and infrastructure, particularly its metrology with related concepts and vocabularies, in order to construct the new quality indicators and synthesize them to measure scientific human and social capital. This required us to discover utterly novel data sources, suitable to inform policy makers about changes regarding not only scientific results, but also attitudes, perceptions and behavior (ultimately, the Worldview) of scientists and researchers. The paper results with a proposal of a new social metrology model inspired by principles of the complexity theory and potentially capable of moving the whole process from aggregated macro statistics to smaller details, adjusted to the circumstances of the scientific communities. The novel, complexity-based model for measuring scientific human and social capital is explained through its seven main constructs (performances, metaphor, contexts, cultural, community, sustainable development and the Worldview) with belonging quality indicators and related stakeholders.