Knowledge mapping of vocational education and training research (2004–2020): a visual analysis based on CiteSpace

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 22348 - 15
• Main Authors: Tian, Yumi, Liu, Jiayun, Xu, Xin, Wu, Xueshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 15.12.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/477; 639/4077; Bibliometrics; Citation indexes; Continuing education; Education; Humanities and Social Sciences; Keywords; Knowledge; Labor market; multidisciplinary; Professions; Research institutions; Research methodology; Researchers; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Scientometrics; Social change; Sociology; Software; Training; Trends; Visualization; Vocational education
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49636-7

The study aims to analyze the leading researchers of vocational education and training from dimensions of individuals, institutions and countries. This article utilises the scientific information measurement software—CiteSpace—to conduct a scientometric analysis of 2,024 articles on vocational education and training from the Web of Science (W.o.S.). According to the research results, some useful conclusions can be drawn as follows: (1) vocational education and training research has become interdisciplinary and subject involved are “psychology”, “sociology”, “economics” and “pedagogy”; (2) the United States, the Netherlands and Australia make the majority of contributions and there are numerous collaborations among countries; (3) Univ Amsterdam, Univ Utrecht and Univ Melbourne were the main research institutions; (4) J Vocat Educ Train, Rev Educ Res, Thesis Elev, Econ Educ Rev and J Educ Work were the top 5 highly cited journals; (5) “Engagement”, “Program”, “Self-efficacy”, “High school”, “Predictor” and “Labor market” have become major research hotspots currently.