RoR and the concept of System Dynamics molecule

Molecules are "the building blocks of good system dynamics models." Developed by Jim Hines, Molecules represent a collection of good practice models that can assist novice modelers to get System Dynamic models right. In practice, Molecules not only make the modeling process more efficient, but also increase the overall quality of the modeling since it provides a direct path to ways of modeling that have proven to be effective over the years.

But how does this concept link with the idea of Research on Research (RoR). By definition, RoR focuses on the study of processes and policies in biomedical research, spanning from individual cognitive processes such as scientific writing, to collective problems such as designing and running clinical trials, up to research policy issues such as standardizing the regulatory process to conduct clinical research. Similar to the connecting role of SD molecules, the RoR version would connect different processes and policies related to biomedical research using System Dynamics models.

For example, one could create a model that evaluates how writing among novice researchers could be improved in terms of productivity and quality. This model, representing an individual molecule, could then be connected to another molecule representing the design of clinical trials and its execution, again trying to improve the quality and productivity of this process. The next molecule could be the capacity generated by investigators with the ability of designing clinical trials with the overall capacity of a region or country in conducting these trials. In sum, the RoR Molecules would connect processes and policy systems from an interdisciplinary perspective.