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, Disinterestedness, Originality and Skepticism.

CUDOS is based on the Mertonian norms introduced in 1942 by Robert K. Merton. Merton described "four sets of institutional imperatives [comprising] the ethos of modern science": "universalism, communalism, disinterestedness, and organized skepticism. " These four terms could already be arranged to form CUDOS, but "originality" was not part of Merton's list.

In contemporary academic debate the modified definition outlined below is the most widely used (e.g. Ziman 2000).

Communalism entails that scientific results are the common property of the entire scientific community (Trounce, 2013)

Universalism means that all scientists can contribute to science regardless of race, nationality, culture, or gender (JRD BOSS, 2013)

Disinterestedness according to which scientists are supposed to act for the benefit of a common scientific enterprise, rather than for personal gain.

Originality requires that scientific claims contribute something new, whether a new problem, a new approach, new data, a new theory or a new explanation.

Skepticism (Organized Skepticism) Skepticism means that scientific claims must be exposed to critical scrutiny before being accepted.

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