Collaboration Networks in the Brazilian Scientific Output in Evolutionary Biology: 2000-2012

Abstract

This article analyzes the existing collaboration networks in the Brazilian scientifi c output in Evolutionary Biology, considering articles published during the period from 2000 to 2012 in journals indexed by Web of Science. The methodology integrates bibliometric techniques and Social Network Analysis resources to describe the growth of Brazilian scientifi c output and understand the levels, dynamics and structure of collaboration between authors, institutions and countries. The results unveil an enhancement and consolidation of collaborative relationships over time and suggest the existence of key institutions and authors, whose infl uence on research is expressed by the variety and intensity of the relationships established in the co-authorship of articles. International collaboration, present in more than half of the publications, is highly signifi cant and unusual in Brazilian science. The situation indicates the internationalization of scientifi c output and the ability of the fi eld to take part in the science produced by the international scientifi c community.

Internationality of Publications, Co-Authorship, References and Citations in Brazilian Evolutionary Biology

“…The number of references per article is high in Evolutionary Biology and, although growth does not occur indefinitely, it is difficult to predict a saturation phase based on the results, eliminating the possibility of a maximum reference limit [26]. On the other hand, if we assume that a high number of references reflects citation density and provides clues on social connections in science [12], we can conclude that Brazilian Evolutionary Biology is a dense and highly connected discipline, reinforcing the results of Santin et al [10] regardin the collaboration framework and dynamics in the field.…”

“…It is also justified by the pattern of international publication and the high rates of collaboration with other countries identified in Brazilian Evolutionary Biology in previous studies [9,10]. Together, the indicators demonstrate the importance of internationality in contemporary scientific knowledge and qualify the area as a predominantly international field.…”

“…While the global average of international coauthoring is close to 35% [7], this occurs in about 30% of publications in Brazil [17,18]. The figure is higher in Evolutionary Biology and reinforces a specific characteristic of the area in the country [10]. Among the 1450 articles published between 2000 and 2012, 753 (51.9%) have international co-authorship and 645 (44.5%) national co-authorship.…”

“…The symmetry between international references and citations, in addition to the preference for publication in international journals and practice of international co-authorship [9,10], reinforces the consolidated internationalization pattern of Brazilian Evolutionary Biology.…”

The Scientific Collaboration Networks in University Management in Brazil

“…Vanz and Stump (2010), for example, have identified seventeen reasons that may favor scientific collaboration networks, such as the researcher's intention to raise his/her scientific popularity and productivity index; the formation of working groups based on personal relationships; obtaining and/or expanding financing, resources, special equipment, materials; rationalization of the use of the scientific labor force and time spent on research, or even the training of researchers and counselors, and the possibility of greater dissemination of research, among others. In addition to these reasons, the geographical distance between institutions, and consequently among Brazilian researchers, The geographical aspect is something that stands out in the structuring of the collaborative network, also influencing the formation of regional clusters of re- Furthermore, the geographical aspects, the institutional aspects also influence the formation of research clusters (Santin, Vanz, & Stumpf, 2016), In addition, it should be pointed out that the active participation of UFSC in this network of scientific collaboration, based on the publication database of GUAL Magazine, points to evidence of endogeny in the journal, a phenomenon that occurs, according to Valerio (1994), when the main authorship holder and scientific production of a particular journal is the publishing institution itself.…”