A bibliometric analysis of the global landscape on STEM education (2004-2021): towards global distribution, subject integration, and research trends
Purpose – This study aims to provide a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis of the literature in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education over the past 15 years, with a specific focus on global distribution and research trends. Design/methodology/appro...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Emerald Publishing
2022-12-01
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Series: | Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
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Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/APJIE-08-2022-0090/full/pdf |
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author | Zehui Zhan Wenyao Shen Zhichao Xu Shijing Niu Ge You |
author_facet | Zehui Zhan Wenyao Shen Zhichao Xu Shijing Niu Ge You |
author_sort | Zehui Zhan |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Purpose – This study aims to provide a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis of the literature in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education over the past 15 years, with a specific focus on global distribution and research trends. Design/methodology/approach – This study collected 1,718 documents from the Web of Science (WOS) database and analyzed their timeline distribution, geographical distribution, research topics, subject areas, learning stages and citation burst using a bibliometric approach with VOSviewer and Citespace. Findings – Results indicated that: overall, STEM education has increasingly gained scholarly attention and is developing diversely by emphasizing interdisciplinary, cross-domain and regional collaboration. In terms of global collaboration, a collaborative network with the USA in the center is gradually expanding to a global scope. In terms of research themes, four key topics can be outlined including educational equity, pedagogy, empirical effects and career development. Social, cultural and economic factors influence the way STEM education is implemented across different countries. The developed Western countries highlighted educational equity and disciplinary integration, while the developing countries tend to focus more on pedagogical practices. As for research trends, eastern countries are emphasizing humanistic leadership and cultural integration in STEM education; in terms of teachers’ professional development, teachers’ abilities of interdisciplinary integration, technology adoption and pedagogy application are of the greatest importance. With regards to pedagogy, the main focus is for developing students’ higher-order abilities. In terms of education equity, issues of gender and ethnicity were still the hottest topics, while the unbalanced development of STEM education across regions needs further research. Originality/value – This study provides a global landscape of STEM education along the timeline, which illustrates the yearly progressive development of STEM education and indicates the future trends. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:20:49Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-3a130425700145ce8f2a097acfef91fb |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2071-1395 2398-7812 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:20:49Z |
publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
publisher | Emerald Publishing |
record_format | Article |
series | Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
spelling | doaj.art-3a130425700145ce8f2a097acfef91fb2023-06-30T09:35:52ZengEmerald PublishingAsia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship2071-13952398-78122022-12-0116217120310.1108/APJIE-08-2022-0090A bibliometric analysis of the global landscape on STEM education (2004-2021): towards global distribution, subject integration, and research trendsZehui Zhan0Wenyao Shen1Zhichao Xu2Shijing Niu3Ge You4School of Information Technology in Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Information Technology in Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Literatures and Communications, Nanfang College Guangzhou, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Information Technology in Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Literatures and Communications, Nanfang College Guangzhou, Guangzhou, ChinaPurpose – This study aims to provide a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis of the literature in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education over the past 15 years, with a specific focus on global distribution and research trends. Design/methodology/approach – This study collected 1,718 documents from the Web of Science (WOS) database and analyzed their timeline distribution, geographical distribution, research topics, subject areas, learning stages and citation burst using a bibliometric approach with VOSviewer and Citespace. Findings – Results indicated that: overall, STEM education has increasingly gained scholarly attention and is developing diversely by emphasizing interdisciplinary, cross-domain and regional collaboration. In terms of global collaboration, a collaborative network with the USA in the center is gradually expanding to a global scope. In terms of research themes, four key topics can be outlined including educational equity, pedagogy, empirical effects and career development. Social, cultural and economic factors influence the way STEM education is implemented across different countries. The developed Western countries highlighted educational equity and disciplinary integration, while the developing countries tend to focus more on pedagogical practices. As for research trends, eastern countries are emphasizing humanistic leadership and cultural integration in STEM education; in terms of teachers’ professional development, teachers’ abilities of interdisciplinary integration, technology adoption and pedagogy application are of the greatest importance. With regards to pedagogy, the main focus is for developing students’ higher-order abilities. In terms of education equity, issues of gender and ethnicity were still the hottest topics, while the unbalanced development of STEM education across regions needs further research. Originality/value – This study provides a global landscape of STEM education along the timeline, which illustrates the yearly progressive development of STEM education and indicates the future trends.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/APJIE-08-2022-0090/full/pdfSTEM educationSTEAM educationBibliometricsVOSviewerCitespace |
spellingShingle | Zehui Zhan Wenyao Shen Zhichao Xu Shijing Niu Ge You A bibliometric analysis of the global landscape on STEM education (2004-2021): towards global distribution, subject integration, and research trends Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship STEM education STEAM education Bibliometrics VOSviewer Citespace |
title | A bibliometric analysis of the global landscape on STEM education (2004-2021): towards global distribution, subject integration, and research trends |
title_full | A bibliometric analysis of the global landscape on STEM education (2004-2021): towards global distribution, subject integration, and research trends |
title_fullStr | A bibliometric analysis of the global landscape on STEM education (2004-2021): towards global distribution, subject integration, and research trends |
title_full_unstemmed | A bibliometric analysis of the global landscape on STEM education (2004-2021): towards global distribution, subject integration, and research trends |
title_short | A bibliometric analysis of the global landscape on STEM education (2004-2021): towards global distribution, subject integration, and research trends |
title_sort | bibliometric analysis of the global landscape on stem education 2004 2021 towards global distribution subject integration and research trends |
topic | STEM education STEAM education Bibliometrics VOSviewer Citespace |
url | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/APJIE-08-2022-0090/full/pdf |
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