Collaborative scientific production in the tropical health field: an analysis of the collaboration network in the Post-Graduation Program in Tropical Medicine of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Abstract

This paper describes the motivations and forms of scientific collaboration through social networks in the field of tropical health, studying the production of knowledge by researchers from the Post-Graduation Program in Tropical Medicine of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (PPGMEDTROP/UFPE), from 2004 to 2012. It considers their significant contribution to the solution of problems in the field. The study organizes a bibliometrical database with scientific indicators for the analysis of co-authorship, based on the analysis of scientific social networks established between authors. The research performed interviews with nine researchers from the Program in order to understand their motivations and visualize their collaboration relationships. It observes the tendency to organize science collectively. The researchers’ most relevant motivations to develop collaborations are: the possibility to face large research problems, to obtain and/or enlarge incentives, the process of validation of works performed in group and the possibility to evaluate the research products before the assessment entities.