Production and scientific collaboration in police training (1987-2011)

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the production and global scientific collaboration of research in police training from 1987 until 2011. Design/methodology/approach - Selecting databases, design of search strategy, download of bibliographic records, treatment of the bibliographic information, bibliometric analysis, identification of research groups and collaborative networks of institutions and countries has been the used methodology. Findings - Of all 1,928 papers reviewed by experts, 155 articles were related directly with police training with an average of 2.59 signatures per work, with 66.45 percent of articles signed in coauthorship. It is noted that in recent years there has been an increase in signatures and works. Articles published are distributed in journals of heterogeneous character associated to police training such as criminology, psychology, psychiatry, health or education. A significant amount of research is captained from a university scope, sometimes in collaboration with police institutions. Collaboration between members of the same institution and between institutions in the same country are predominant. Originality/value - To characterize the scientific production of the journals, authors, institutions and countries in the area of police training, as well as to identify the collaboration networks of authors, institutions and countries within the area.