Contry-level bibliometric indicators: Discussions and contributions to Science Policy

Contry-level bibliometric indicators have been proposed since the 1960s, driven by the emergence of multidisciplinary databases. Despite technical and coverage limitations, their theoretical and methodological foundations were already established, responding to the need to map scientific production at the country level. Initially concentrated in developed nations, these tools quickly spread globally with the adoption of science policy models and their evaluative frameworks. In the Global South, since the early 2000s, there has been increasing emphasis on developing autonomous information infrastructures. In Brazil, this shift is marked by the prominent role of Open Access. The bibliography under review establishes a theoretical framework built over two decades of research, with a thematic focus on the humanities and social sciences and international geographical coverage. The author’s scientific output analyzed in this volume advocates for the use of bibliometric indicators to interpret trends in national scientific production, while avoiding reliance on static or isolated metrics. The strategic role of national data sources—such as SciELO and the Lattes Platform—is highlighted as a necessary complement to renowned international databases like Web of Science and Scopus. The analysis is based on 25 publications authored or co-authored by the researcher—including book chapters, journal articles, and full conference papers—classifying indicators by type (production and citation) and context of application (science policy). The work presents key findings and methodological challenges encountered as data sources and measurement approaches evolved.