Brazil research in selected scientific areas: Trends 1981-2005

The paper analyses the general development of research in Brazil, 1981-2005 and compares to Mexico, Republic of South Africa (RSA) and the world. Publications from 15 research areas and their citations are analyzed for the three countries covering two five-year periods 1996-2005. The paper applies publication growth as well as Citedness and Field Crown Indicators (FCI). Results show that across all research fields, including the Social Sciences, from 1996 the absolute citation impact of Brazil and Mexico are alike, steadily increasing, and just below that of RSA. Publication growth patterns for Brazil and Mexico are identical, with a vast increase since 1991. In contrast, RSA follows the global growth rate. From 1996 to 2005 both Latin American countries almost doubles their research publications in English, probably influencing the growth in relative citation impact, as measured by FCI analyses across the 15 selected areas (Brazil FCI 1996-00: .44; 2001-05: .63; Mexico FCI 1996-00: .58; 2001-05: .64). Simultaneously the publication profile of Brazil becomes more global, whilst Mexico's and RSA's profiles become isolated. Citedness analyses show a significant correspondence to the FCI developments of Brazil, Mexico and RSA.