What is critical metascience and why is it important?

Metascience uses a scientific approach to understand and improve science. Critical metascience takes a step back to question metascience's common assumptions, methods, problems, and solutions. In this article, I aim to raise the profile of critical metascience and offer a rationale for viewing it as a distinct area of multidisciplinary inquiry. I define critical metascience, explain why it is important, and address some potential concerns about it. I also consider some emerging themes in the area and evaluate its potential relationships with metascience. I conclude that there needs to be greater recognition of critical metascience and greater interaction between metascience and critical metascience in order to improve metascience's objectivity and approach.