ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Sociology of science

Sociology of science is like trying to understand how science works by looking at the people who do science. Just like how you might watch someone play a game to understand how it works, or watch someone cook to understand how a recipe is made, sociology of science is about looking at how scientists do their work and how they are influenced by things around them like where they come from or what they believe in.

Scientists are people just like you and me, and they have their own ideas and opinions that can impact the science they do. For example, if a scientist grew up in a religious household, they might have certain beliefs or values that impact the research they do, or they may also have grown up in a certain part of the world where certain beliefs are more common than others. These can influence how they approach certain scientific questions or problems.

Another big part of sociology of science is looking at the different groups and communities that scientists belong to (like a certain school or company) and how they work together. Scientists often have to work with others to complete research projects or experiments, and the way they work together can impact the results they get.

Overall, sociology of science is about understanding what factors can influence the science that is done and how it is done, and it can help us to better understand and improve the scientific knowledge we have.