Thematic Review of Studies on Distance Education Conducted Between 2020 and 2023

Abstract

This study aims to examine the articles published in the journals "Distance Education", "American Journal of Distance Education", and "The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning" between March 2020 and March 2023 within the field of distance education. Thus, an analysis of the primary topics and methodological trends in distance education during the intense period of the pandemic has been conducted. Thematic analyses previously conducted in this field were reviewed to create a data collection form, which was then used to evaluate 285 studies. The study revealed that the majority of articles were authored by two or three individuals, focusing predominantly on micro-level topics, with instructional design being the most studied area. Quantitative methods were predominantly favored as the primary research approach, and studies involving undergraduate students were the most prevalent. In terms of data collection methods, studies using existing scales/surveys alongside system records, grades, or other developed instruments ranked the highest. Descriptive and inferential analyses were identified as the most frequently used data analysis methods. The majority of articles examined had between 41 and 60 references. The study highlighted a concentration of research at the higher education level, suggesting the need for increased research at other educational levels.