META-ANALYSIS AS A RESEARCH TOOL: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF BIBLIOMETRIC STUDIES IN ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: To present the meta-analysis technique as a strategy applied to bibliometric research, in order to unveil the state of the art of the international scientific production, its interactions as areas of knowledge, the collaboration among authors and institutions in the Business Administration area, based in the period from 1998 and 2017. Originality/value: In the initially applied exploratory research, it was observed a gap in the debate of using meta-analysis as a state of the art investigation resource in the Business Administration area. The meta-analysis used as a research instrument makes possible a strict association of several studies. Design/methodology/approach: It is a qual-quant research approach, of exploratory character, outlined through bibliographic research. As for the investigation mechanism, it was used meta-analysis as a systematic investigation. The development of the research was divided into two phases. The first, called macro-analysis, and the second, micro-analysis. Findings: Research results showed that the number of bibliometric studies published in the second decade of the studied period was significantly higher. The publication areas, within the scope of Administration, were also affected by important changes, comparing the analyzed periods, evidencing a growth in publications between 2008 and 2018 in the areas of planning and management. As practical applications, it is possible, from this study, to use the publications and analyses to better understand how, when and by whom the bibliometrics was made, that is, denser and deeper bibliometric studies, which can highlight trends in a certain study area.