The Brazilian law graduate studies map: an analysis through the Social Networks Analysis Method

Abstract

Objective

This research aims to answer how the graduate studies in Law network is structured in Brazil, as well as which programs of this network have the higher capacity to influence the others.

Methodology

The guideline used in this research is the “absorption of egresses of a program by the others”. This study has only contemplated the professors who are permanent members of the 94 stricto sensu graduate programs in law, that have been operating until 2016, and whose evaluation area is Law. The data have been collected from Sucupira platform and the method chosen was the Social Network Analysis (SNA), with the Ucinet 6.528 and NetDraw 2.141 software.

Results

The network of graduate studies in Law in Brazil proved to be irregular and unevenly distributed throughout the country: not too dense, strongly oriented to the South and Southeast areas of the country, and quite regionalized. The program which has the strongest capacity of influence is held by PUC-SP.

Conclusion

The structural characteristics of the network allow us to understand some of the factors that constrain the quality of Brazilian legal education as a whole, such as the lack of formation offered in some member states or the low exchange of talents among programs.

Graduate studies in Law; social network; endogeny; capacity to influence