Bibliometric analysis of foreign language anxiety research: Growth dynamics and network analysis

Year 2025, Volume: 14 Issue: 4, 320 - 339, 31.10.2025

Oğuzhan Sevim , Ali Uzun , Seher Sevim

https://doi.org/10.19128/turje.1670343

Abstract

This study aims to determine the academic scope, growth dynamics, co-authorship networks, and most frequently used keywords in studies on foreign language anxiety (FLA) within the context of foreign language studies, as indexed in the WoS database. The literature review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, and 595 studies published in WoS between 1978 and 2024 were examined using bibliometric analysis methods. The analyses evaluated various bibliometric indicators, including the scope and growth trends of the literature, the most cited countries, academic collaborations in the FLA field, and keyword distribution. All processes were conducted using VOSviewer software, which is compatible with comprehensive bibliographic databases. The findings show that the FLA literature has grown significantly, especially between 2020 and 2024, with China contributing the most publications and the US standing out in citation impact. Additionally, Jean-Marc Dewaele was identified as the most influential author, and “foreign language anxiety” was the most frequently used keyword in the literature.

Keywords

Bibliometric analysis , Foreign language anxiety , Web of Science

Ethical Statement

Since published articles were used as the data source in this study, no ethics committee approval was required. However, the study was conducted in accordance with the PROSPERO (CRD420251010524) protocol.

Yabancı dil kaygısı araştırmalarının bibliyometrik analizi: Büyüme dinamikleri ve ağ analizi

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, WoS veri tabanında taranan yabancı dil araştırmaları kapsamında yabancı dil kaygısı temalı çalışmaların akademik kapsamı, büyüme dinamikleri, ortak yazarlık ağları ve en sık kullanılan anahtar kelimeleri belirlemek amaçlanmıştır. Bu doğrultuda literatür taraması PRISMA yönergelerine uygun şekilde yürütülmüş ve 1978–2024 yılları arasında WoS’ta yayımlanan 595 çalışma bibliyometrik analiz yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Analizlerde literatürün kapsamı ve büyüme eğilimleri, en çok atıf alan ülkeler, FLA alanındaki akademik iş birlikleri ve anahtar kelime dağılımı gibi farklı bibliyometrik göstergeler değerlendirilmiş; tüm süreçler geniş kapsamlı bibliyografik veri tabanlarıyla uyumlu VOSviewer yazılımı kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular, yabancı dil araştırmaları literatürünün özellikle 2020–2024 yılları arasında belirgin bir artış gösterdiğini, yayın sayısı bakımından en fazla katkıyı Çin’in sağladığını, atıf etkisi açısından ise ABD’nin öne çıktığını göstermektedir. Ayrıca Jean-Marc Dewaele en etkili yazar olarak belirlenmiş ve “yabancı dil kaygısı” ifadesinin literatürde en sık kullanılan anahtar kelime olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Keywords

Bibliyometrik analiz , Yabancı dil kaygısı , Web of Science

Ethical Statement

Bu araştırmada veri kaynağı olarak literatürde daha önce yayınlanmış çalışmalar kullanıldığı için etik kurul iznine ihtiyaç duyulmamıştır. Ancak çalışma PROSPERO (CRD420251010524) protokolüne uygun olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir.

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