Research topics, author profiles, and collaboration networks in the top-ranked journal on educational technology over the past 40 years: a bibliometric analysis

• Published in: Journal of computers in education (the official journal of the Global Chinese Society for Computers in Education) Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 563 - 585
• Main Authors: Chen, Xieling, Yu, Guoxing, Cheng, Gary, Hao, Tianyong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bibliometrics; CAI; Citations; Classroom communication; Collaboration; Computer assisted instruction; Computer science; Computers; Computers and Education; Cooperation; Education; Educational Research; Educational Technology; English as a second language; Foreign language learning; Hirsch index; Keywords; Language; Learning; Learning environment; Learning strategies; Medical research; Natural language processing; Online instruction; Performance evaluation; R&D; Reading Comprehension; Research & development; Science education; Social networks; Systematic review; Teaching; Technology Acceptance Model; Topics; Trends; Visualization; Writers; Scientific collaboration; Keywords analysis; Educational research trend; Bibliometric analysis
• ISSN: 2197-9987; 2197-9995
• DOI: 10.1007/s40692-019-00149-1

Targeted at analyzing the research status and trends of the educational technology field, this study conducted a bibliometric analysis on research topics, author profiles, and collaboration networks using a top-ranked journal Computers & Education (ISSN: 0360-1315). Using the Web of Sciences database, we retrieved 3963 articles published by the journal during the period 1978–2018. The annual distribution of articles demonstrates a significant increase in the journal publications, especially from 2005 to 2011. The scientific collaboration between authors, institutions, and countries/regions has become increasingly close. The scientific collaboration rate between authors from the same institution, and from the same country/region, is relatively higher compared with those from different institutions and countries/regions. Keyword evolution analysis highlights some prevalent topics such as “interactive learning environment,” “teaching/learning strategies,” “pedagogical issue,” and “improving classroom teaching.” Findings of this study provide a comprehensive overview of the articles on educational technology over the past 40 years.