A bibliometric analysis of situational interest research

Abstract

AbstractInterest is a variable that assists students in acquiring knowledge and instructors in creating an encouraging classroom environment. Situational interest, on the other hand, is a type of interest that will assist students' interest to develop by organising environmental conditions. The research on situational interest has been ongoing for more than two decades, and the bibliometric information of this research has grown. The current research aims to examine trends and advances to assist researchers in understanding the perspective of situational interest research. The bibliometric analysis was conducted with Biblioshiny and VOSviewer. The current study analysed WoS data about the meta‐information of 573 published articles on situational interest. The results obtained from the WoS database reveal a growing interest in applying situational interest. Bradford's law results show that 195 articles published in 15 journals were in Zone 1. The result of Lotka's law explained that theoretical and observed research data fit. Education‐related keywords such as achievement, motivation, text, recall, comprehension, and other education‐related variables such as self‐efficacy and design, gender, college students, biology, and context have been placed under the basic theme that is most relevant and developing. It can be said that other results of the current study guide authors about situational interest research. Context and implicationsRationale for this studyThe studies on situational interest have increased over the last two decades, but there are few reviews of situational interest publications. This study has examined trends and advances in the studies to assist researchers in understanding the perspective of situational interest research with bibliometric analysis.Why the new findings matterThe findings have highlighted trends and advances in the scientific output of situational interest with bibliometric analysis.Implications for practitionersIn addition to revealing the trends and advances in situational interest research, the findings can help to focus more on some emerging research themes that can guide future situational interest researchers. According to findings, the recent research of situational interest focuses on cognitive load, motivation, achievement, and emerging technology such as augmented reality technology. The Four‐Phase Model of Interest Development is the most popular document among situational interest research to understand situational interest. The results show that researchers had an international collaboration from different countries and different institutions.