Brazilian Paleontology: a scientometric analysis from the Lattes Curriculum

Abstract

The present research aimed to conduct a scientometric analysis of Paleontology in Brazil using data collected from the Lattes Curriculum. The general objective of this dissertation is to analyze the scientific field of Paleontology diachronically through a scientometric study. This will be explicated using personal information from researchers collected from their profiles and the scientific literature produced and registered in the Lattes Curriculum of the Lattes Platform. The literature review presented the concepts of Information Science, which in this study seeks to understand Paleontology through its investigative tools; Scientific Communication, the main subject analyzed in this study; the Metric Studies of Information, the theoretical-methodological framework employed in this research; and Scientometrics, the theoretical scope used to understand the constitution of the national Paleontology field more deeply. Finally, references that help to understand Paleontology in its national, South American, North American, and European contexts were also presented. The research utilized a mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative elements. Data were generated from the curricula of researchers registered on the Lattes Platform, collected using the Brapci Bibliometric Tools, and analyzed using specific software for metric analyses. To achieve the research objectives, data from 1,465 profiles were analyzed. Regarding complete articles published in journals, 43,333 articles were considered valid. As for the keywords of the articles, 91,922 keywords were analyzed for word clouds and 84,771 for relationship networks. From academic advisories, 1,182 profiles resulted in 51,400 valid advisories. The aspect of current affiliation had 1,256 profiles and records considered. Regarding academic backgrounds, 1,465 profiles generated 4,556 academic backgrounds analyzed. The main contribution of this study is the unprecedented mapping of the landscape of Paleontology in Brazil, as there are no other studies establishing the same relationships this research sought to establish. Concerning the results, based on the data collected and analyzed, general metric indicators tied to the scientific production associated with Brazilian Paleontology were presented from information collected in the Lattes Curriculum; potential research direction in Paleontology that constitute this field in Brazil were mapped, as well as their thematic associations with other fields of knowledge; the formation of Ph.D. researchers working with Paleontology or whose production is associated with Paleontology was characterized concerning their academic background; and where scientific knowledge in Paleontology or associated with Paleontology is produced was identified. The results of this study are relevant for understanding Brazilian Paleontology, highlighting its national orientation in fossil studies, the formation of Ph.D.s in local institutions, and predominant performance in national organizations. These elements are important for consolidating a globally recognized Brazilian paleontological science. Regarding interdisciplinary relations, there is a clear proximity between Paleontology and Geosciences, influenced by the field's history and current dynamics.