Overview of The Methodological Characteristics of Soybean Research in Brazil

Abstract

Objective: Analyze the methodological characteristics of research on soy in master's programs in agribusiness in Brazil.   Theoretical framework: Due to the economic-social importance that the soybean complex has for Brazil, studies carried out by researchers at postgraduate level in Agribusiness in the country are essential to subsidize improvements for the sector.   Methods: A bibliographical survey of dissertations from stricto sensu Postgraduate Programs in Agribusiness - academic modality was carried out.   Results and discussion: The results showed that in 49% of the dissertations, the research methods are not described, nor are the techniques used in data collection and analysis. Among the dissertations that explained the methodological procedures, more than half (57%) portrayed their research as exploratory. The qualitative approach was characterized by (48%) of the authors, (26%) of them defining the studies as quali-quanti. The interview technique was described in 48% of the works analyzed. More than one type of instrument was used in 22% of cases and the questionnaire presented the lowest proportion (13%). Most of the research carried out on soy focuses on the private sector (74%).   Implications of the research: Some characteristics and specificities should be analyzed in future studies, such as: verifying the types of work concentrated in specific areas, agronomy and economics, which appeared as priority in this research; and, analyze the veracity of the information presented by the authors regarding the approach to the data, as well as the data collection techniques, as inaccuracies were found in the reports of the analyzed works.