The development of virtual reality research in science education (2008–2024): A Web of Science–based bibliometric and descriptive content analysis

Öz

This study aims to reveal the development of virtual reality (VR) research in science education between 2008 and 2024. A total of 58 peer-reviewed articles, selected from the Web of Science Core Collection database in accordance with the PRISMA flow, were analyzed using bibliometric approaches (VOSviewer, CiteSpace, bibliometrix) and descriptive content analysis. The bibliometric findings indicate a marked increase in publications after 2015, with studies predominantly concentrated in the fields of biology and physics, while remaining limited in disciplines such as chemistry and earth sciences. Results of the descriptive content analysis reveal that research has mostly focused on fully immersive (HMD-based) applications; has been conducted with small- and medium-sized samples; and that the diversity of measurement tools has restricted generalizability. By examining the distributions of science disciplines, VR types, research purposes, and measurement approaches, the study identifies gaps in the literature and proposes priority directions for future research. The findings highlight the need for large-scale, theory-driven, and low-cost/accessible VR solutions to be evaluated in alignment with curricula, particularly in the contexts of chemistry, earth sciences, and teacher education.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Virtual reality
• science education
• bibliometric analysis
• descriptive content analysis

Etik Beyan

This study did not require ethics committee approval because it was based solely on bibliometric and descriptive content analyses of previously published, publicly available peer-reviewed articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection database. No human participants, personal data, interviews, surveys, observations, or experimental procedures were involved in the study. Therefore, ethics approval and informed consent were not applicable.

Fen eğitiminde sanal gerçeklik araştırmalarının gelişimi (2008–2024): Web of Science tabanlı bibliyometrik ve betimsel içerik analizi

Öz

Bu araştırmanın amacı, 2008–2024 yılları arasında fen eğitimi alanında gerçekleştirilen sanal gerçeklik (SG) araştırmalarının gelişimini ortaya koymaktır. Web of Science Core Collection veri tabanından PRISMA akışına uygun olarak seçilen toplam 58 hakemli makale, bibliyometrik analiz yaklaşımları (VOSviewer, CiteSpace, bibliometrix) ve betimsel içerik analizi kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Bibliyometrik bulgular, 2015 yılından sonra yayın sayısında belirgin bir artış yaşandığını, çalışmaların ağırlıklı olarak biyoloji ve fizik alanlarında yoğunlaştığını, kimya ve yer bilimleri gibi disiplinlerde ise sınırlı kaldığını göstermektedir. Betimsel içerik analizi sonuçları, araştırmaların çoğunlukla tam daldırımlı (başa takılan ekran [HMD] tabanlı) sanal gerçeklik uygulamalarına odaklandığını, küçük ve orta büyüklükteki örneklemlerle yürütüldüğünü ve ölçme araçlarının çeşitliliğine ilişkin sınırlılıkların bulguların genellenebilirliğini kısıtladığını ortaya koymaktadır. Araştırmada fen disiplinleri, sanal gerçeklik türleri, araştırma amaçları ve ölçme yaklaşımlarının dağılımları incelenerek alanyazındaki boşluklar belirlenmiş ve gelecekteki araştırmalar için öncelikli yönelimler önerilmiştir. Bulgular, özellikle kimya, yer bilimleri ve öğretmen eğitimi bağlamlarında, öğretim programlarıyla uyumlu, geniş ölçekli, kuramsal temellere dayanan ve düşük maliyetli/erişilebilir sanal gerçeklik çözümlerinin değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sanal gerçeklik
• fen eğitimi
• bibliyometrik analiz
• betimsel içerik analizi

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışma, Web of Science Core Collection veritabanında indekslenmiş, daha önce yayınlanmış, kamuya açık hakemli makalelerin bibliyometrik ve tanımlayıcı içerik analizlerine dayandığı için etik kurul onayına gerek duymamıştır. Çalışmada insan katılımcı, kişisel veri, görüşme, anket, gözlem veya deneysel prosedürler yer almamıştır. Bu nedenle, etik onay ve bilgilendirilmiş onam gerekli değildir.

Kaynakça

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