Methodologies as milestones in the trajectory of the Social and Human Sciences in Collective Health

Abstract

This essay offers a critical reflection on the publication trajectory within the Social and Human Sciences in Health (SHSH), focusing specifically on the research methodologies employed. I conduct an non-systematic review of articles published between 1985 and 2025 across five Brazilian Collective Health journals. Bridging my editorial experience with insights from the relevant literature, I outline the primary methodologies identified and discuss how these choices reveal epistemic disputes and knowledge validation processes within the field. The text is structured around ideal-typical constructs, highlighting the most prominent features of each period. I conclude by raising several concerns regarding the future of scientific publishing and the need for a critical renewal of editorial practices in SHSH.