The lines of research in postgraduate programs in information science in Brazil: the theoretical domain of information production, mediation and management

Abstract

Considering that Postgraduate Programs in Information Science have been showing significant rates of demand in recent years in the country, this study proposes to carry out a mapping of these programs, given the emphasis on lines of research in the theoretical domain of production, mediation, and information management. To this end, it was also supported by the following specific objectives: establishing Strict Sense Postgraduate Programs in Information Science in Brazil; identify the areas of concentration of Strict Sense Postgraduate Programs in Information Science in Brazil; and present the lines of research of the Strict Sense Postgraduate Programs in Information Science in Brazil, which permeate the theoretical domain of information production, mediation, and management. Data collection was carried out using an online survey on the Sucupira Platform in addition to the survey on each website of the programs investigated. This study mapped the Postgraduate Programs in Information Science in Brazil, by region of offering, demonstrating that these programs have been occupying a leading position in the theoretical domain of information production, mediation, and management, both in areas of concentration and in lines of research. Furthermore, this growing approach needs to be accompanied by the intensification of the theoretical-methodological debate about the profession itself, especially about its “fundamentals”, with a view to structuring the postgraduate programs themselves.