The purpose of this research was to analyze the academic papers that discourse about the organic product consumer behavior published on the main journals and scientific Administration Brazilian events from January 1997 to March 2011. It was chosen a meta-study which, according to Richardson (2007), contributes for a better knowledge of the analyzed theme, in addition to enable the improvement of future studies related to the surveyed subject. The journals that have been surveyed are classified as A1, A2, B1 and B2 in the Qualis System Coordination Improvement of Higher Personnel Level (CAPES). Moreover, the scientific events organized by the National Association of Post-Graduation and Research in Administration (ANPAD) have been also considered. In order to filter the analyzed articles, it was chosen to select all the papers which contained the word "organic" or in the headline, or in the theme or as a keyword. In this first selection were pointed 54 articles and 63 scientific events. In the second phase were analyzed which ones of these 117 papers talked about the consumer's behavior towards organic food, identifying on the former selection 4 articles published on journals and 10 scientific events. The articles analysis enabled conclusions as: a. most part of the publications as in journals as in proceedings arise from Higher Educational Institutions located on the South (41,38%) and Southeast (34,48%); b. in relation to the articles published on journals and proceedings it was noticed that the majority prefers as a methodology work with surveys in depth and content analysis, nevertheless there is a sign identified during congress showing that this kind of methodology called survey has been showing the researchers' interest; c. it was found that the articles rather adopt the primary data collection and studies of the empirical kind; d. as to the researchers type it was highlighted the exploratory followed by the descriptive and explanatory. Other analysis showed that with respect to the theories and basic concepts established, there is a good stand-in from the academy as to the importance of substantiate the conceptual basis as well as to support the studies according to the kind of sample or the research's purpose. It was noticed that the weakest part of these publications is the sparse use of formulation of hypothesis and assumptions, missing also in the articles suggested recommendations for future researches and contributions aimed at the management application. Finally, it is concluded that a sample involving other journals in addition to those surveyed and the following study from 2011, it will be possible to analyze the research's increasing about the consumer's behavior towards organic food.
consumer's behavior; food; organic; meta-study
