Bibliometric Analysis of Articles on Distance Education During the Last Two Decades

Abstract

In this study, research on distance education in the last twenty years has been analyzed according to years, keywords, countries, and institutions. The sample of the study consisted of 20,634 studies published on distance education in the last twenty years on Web of Science. Data were downloaded from the database by year. The data obtained were analyzed with WOSViewer. For some analyses, data were analyzed with Power BI version 2.11 software to reach meaningful results. The results were analyzed and compared separately for four quarters or periods of time: 2003-2007, 2008-2012, 2013-2017, and 2018-2023. As a result, most publications were made in 2021 and in the fourth quarter. "Distance learning, higher education, distance education, education, online education, blended learning, online teaching, pandemic, and covid-19" are the most used keywords according to the general distribution of research by keywords. The use of keywords differed by quartiles. The USA, China, England, Australia, and Spain were the countries with the highest number of distance education publications according to general distribution. The USA, England, Australia, Spain, and Saudi Arabia have conducted studies every quarter. The University of California System, N Research Partnership, University of London were the organizations with the highest number of publications during the time periods studied. It was found that only the Open University in the UK published distance education articles in three quarters.