This is a study carried out with 49 researcers from nine decentralized units of Embrapa, comprising two centers by basic theme, three ecorregional and four of research by product (23% of the decentralized units), from 1992 to 1997. The data collection was carried out by means of electronic questionnaires, with 75 replies (17% out of the total sent). The results showed an improvement in the contacts among the researchers, setting up a wide network of communication in the country and overseas. Although in a small scale, evaluation and publication of technico-scientific works were carried out by electronic means. The conclusion is that the use of information technologies had a positive influence on the scientific communication of the group studied, having a greater efficiency in production, evaluation and dissemination of knowledge and, therefore, better results in the field of research and development.
Scientific communication; Information technology; Information sources; Knowledge production; Referee; Knowledge diffusion
