Bibliometric Mapping of Intercultural Communication in Online Gaming Research

Öz

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of intercultural communication literature within online gaming research for the period 2016-2025. A total of 691 publications retrieved from the Web of Science database were examined in terms of publication trends, disciplinary distribution, geographic distribution, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) classification, and thematic structure. Network analyses conducted via VOSviewer visualized international collaboration patterns, author keyword co-occurrence networks, and temporal overlay views. Findings reveal that while the field is concentrated primarily in educational sciences and communication disciplines, it also exhibits a cross-disciplinary character encompassing both technical and social science perspectives simultaneously. Temporal keyword analysis shows that the literature has evolved from individually focused behavioural studies toward cultural comparison and intercultural communication research, and subsequently toward emerging themes such as e-sports and social cognition; yet rather than sharp periodical breaks, the field demonstrates a layered and cumulative pattern of development. Türkiye’s absence from the international collaboration network and the limited use of intercultural communication theories in online gaming research -largely confined to a descriptive level- are identified as key areas open to further development.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Intercultural communication
• digital culture
• new communication technologies
• bibliometric analysis
• online games

Çevrimiçi Oyun Araştırmalarında Kültürlerarası İletişimin Bibliyometrik Haritası

Öz

Bu çalışma, 2016-2025 döneminde çevrimiçi oyun araştırmalarında kültürlerarası iletişim literatürünün bibliyometrik analizini sunar. Web of Science veri tabanından elde edilen 691 yayının; yayın eğilimleri, disiplinler arası dağılımı, coğrafi dağılımı, Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Hedefleri (SDG) sınıflandırması ve tematik yapısı incelenmiştir. VOSviewer ile gerçekleştirilen ağ analizleri; uluslararası iş birliği örüntülerini, yazar anahtar kelimesi eş-kullanım ağlarını ve zamansal katman görünümü görselleştirmiştir. Bulgular, alanın eğitim bilimleri ve iletişim disiplinlerinde yoğunlaşmakla birlikte, teknik ve sosyal bilim perspektiflerini eşzamanlı olarak kapsayan bir çapraz alan niteliği taşıdığını ortaya koyar. Zamansal anahtar kelime analizi, literatürün bireysel oyuncu davranışı odaklı çalışmalardan kültürel karşılaştırma ve kültürlerarası iletişim araştırmalarına, ardından e-spor ve sosyal biliş gibi güncel sorunlara doğru evrildiğini gösterse de literatür keskin dönemsel kırılmalar yerine katmanlı ve kümülatif bir gelişim sergiler. Türkiye’nin uluslararası iş birliği ağında görünmez kalması ve kültürlerarası iletişim kuramlarının çevrimiçi oyun araştırmalarında yeterince yer bulamayarak sadece betimsel düzeyde kullanılması alanın gelişmeye açık yönleri olarak tespit edilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kültürlerarası iletişim
• dijital kültür
• yeni iletişim teknolojileri
• bibliyometrik analiz
• çevrimiçi oyunlar

Kaynakça

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