Public Field: a scientometry from Course Pedagogical Projects

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The field of public policies (“Field of Publics”) is a rapidly expanding teaching area in Brazil. The article analyzes the intellectual and disciplinary identity of this area through the bibliographic references of the teaching plans present on the Pedagogical Projects of 14 bachelor courses.

Materials and Methods:

Through scientometric techniques and network analysis, we built a bimodal network formed by connections of the Courses’ Pedagogical Projects (CPP) of the Field of Publics and the cited authors in the bibliographic references of its disciplines (mandatory and optional) of these courses. Two types of analysis were made: bibliographic coupling of documents, and authors co-citation.

Results:

We found that there is no convergent training for public managers in Brazil. The network analysis revealed the existence of two main clusters. The first one approaches the courses with more similar readings to the Social Sciences, especially Political Science and Sociology. The second groups courses that have greater adherence to Applied Social Sciences, especially to administrative, legal, and economic disciplines. We describe these two profiles as “public policy manager” and “public and organizational administrator”, respectively. It is more correct, therefore, to speak of “Fields” of Publics, in the plural, given the diversity of curricula.

Discussion:

The article provided information for the improvement of assessment instruments in the area. The results can guide the reform of CPPs, the opening of new courses and foster the debate about the intellectual and disciplinary identity of the Field of Publics due to different trainings offered to those who intend to work in the Brazilian public sector.

Keywords
field of publics; scientometrics; course pedagogical project; teaching plans; network analysis