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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Main Authors: Zehui Zhan, Wenyao Shen, Zhichao Xu, Shijing Niu, Ge You
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2022-12-01
Series:Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Subjects:
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.
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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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