Research Focus and Trends of “Design Thinking” in Education: A Bibliometric Analysis
Research Focus and Trends of “Design Thinking” in Education: A Bibliometric Analysis

Summary/Abstract: The growing interest in design thinking within education has drawn increasing attention from researchers. However, the extent of its focus and impact in the field remains unclear. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 276 documents indexed in the Web of Science database from 2005 to December 31, 2024, to assess past and present research and guide future studies. The bibliometrix package in R was used to analyze bibliographic data and visualize key findings. The results indicate a notable increase in publications, particularly since 2021. Various bibliometric indicators reveal the progression of design thinking research while identifying the most influential authors, publication sources, institutions, and countries. Additionally, co-citation and collaboration network analyses provide insights into the intellectual and social structures of the field. Further examination of research themes, identifying “design thinking”, “creativity”, and “project-based learning” as core and emerging areas. Analyzing thematic evolution over time, finding growing attention to “performance” and “self-efficacy” in recent years. Finally, factor analysis distinguishes between traditional theoretical frameworks and competency-based innovation education models, highlighting a paradigm shift from theory-driven research to application- and skills-based education. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamic evolution of design thinking in education, offering valuable insights for future research.

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