Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on Preschool Mathematics Education with VOSviewer

Abstract

Scientific research demonstrates that mathematical skills acquired in early childhood play a critical role in individuals' academic success in later education. This has increased the need for qualified scientific knowledge and systematic analyses of the literature to support mathematical development, particularly in the preschool period. In this context, this study examines 748 academic publications on the theme of preschool mathematics education, published in the Web of Science database between 2015 and 2025, using bibliometric analysis. The findings reveal that the number of publications in the relevant field has increased over time, providing a comprehensive view through structural variables such as publication types, countries, institutions, authors, journals, and most cited studies. Furthermore, conceptual trends, collaboration networks, and research focuses in the field were analyzed through keyword analysis and thematic clustering. According to the results obtained, this study aims to map academic trends in the field of preschool mathematics education and to provide researchers and relevant stakeholders with a holistic, systematic and guiding perspective on the current status of the literature and its development directions.

Keywords

• Mathematics
• early mathematics
• preschool
• bibliometric analysis

References

1. Adriaanse, L. S., & Rensleigh, C. (2011). Comparing Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar from an environmental sciences perspective. The South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 77(2), 169–178.
2. Aksu, G. & Güzeller, C. O. (2019). Analysis of scientific studies on item response theory by bibliometric analysis method. International Journal of Progressive Education, 15(2), 44-64. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijpe.2019.189.4
3. Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959–975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007
4. Barnett, W. S. (2011). Effectiveness of early educational intervention. Science, 333(6045), 975–978. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1204534
5. Barnett W. S., Friedman-Krauss A. H. (2016). State(s) of head start. Retrieved from http://nieer.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/HS_Full_Reduced.pdf
6. Blair, C., & Raver, C. C. (2015). School readiness and self-regulation: A developmental psychobiological approach. Annual Review of Psychology, 66, 711–731. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015221
7. Braak, D., Lenes, R., Purpura, D. J., Schmitt, S. A., & Størksen, I. (2022). Why do early mathematics skills predict later mathematics and reading achievement? The role of executive function. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 214, 105306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2021.105306
8. Claessens, A., & Engel, M. (2013). How important is where you start? Early mathematics knowledge and later school success. Teachers College Record, 115(6), 1–29.

9. Clements, D. H., & Sarama, J. (2009). Learning and teaching early math: The learning trajectories approach. Routledge.
10. Clements, DH & Sarama, J. (2011). Early Childhood Mathematics Intervention, Scıence 333(6045), 968-970.
11. Çelik, M. (2022). Erken Çocukluk Matematik Eğitimi Çalışmalarının Bibliyometrik Profili. Türkiye Bilimsel Araştırmalar Dergisi, 7(1), 55-71.
12. Dede, E., & Özdemir, E. (2022). Matematik Eğitiminde Fark Etme Becerisi Üzerine Yapılan Araştırmaların Bibliyometrik Analizi. Bayburt Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 17(36), 1547-1571. https://doi.org/10.35675/befdergi.1145811
13. Demir, S. B., & Çelik, S. (2020). Bibliyometrik analiz: Eğitim bilimleri alanındaki araştırma eğilimlerinin belirlenmesi. Journal of Higher Education and Science, 10(1), 34–45. https://doi.org/10.5961/jhes.2020.355
14. Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135–168. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750
15. Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Mukherjee, D., Pandey, N., & Lim, W. M. (2021). How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 133, 285–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070
16. Drijvers, P., Grauwin, S., & Trouche, L. (2020). When bibliometrics met mathematics education research: The caseof instrumental orchestration. ZDM-Mathematics Education, 52(7), 1455-1469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-020-01169-3
17. Ellegaard, O. & Wallin, J. A. (2015). The bibliometric analysis of scholarly production: How great is the impact? Scientometrics, 105(3), 1809–1831. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1645-z
18. Falagas, M. E., Pitsouni, E. I., Malietzis, G. A. & Pappas, G. (2008). Comparison of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar: strengths and weaknesses. The FASEB Journal, 22(2), 338–342. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.07-9492LSF
19. Ginsburg, H. P., Lee, J. S. & Boyd, J. S. (2008). Mathematics education for young children: What it is and how to promote it. Social Policy Report, 22(1), 3-23.
20. MacDonald, A., & Murphy, S. (2019). Mathematics education for children under four years of age: a systematic review of the literature. Early Years, 41(5), 522–539. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2019.1624507
21. Maričić, S. M. & Stamatović, J. D (2017). The effect of preschool mathematics education in development of geometry concepts in children EURASIA Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education, 13(9), 6175-6187.
22. Moral-Muñoz, J. A., Herrera-Viedma, E., Santisteban-Espejo, A., & Cobo, M. J. (2020). Software tools for conducting bibliometric analysis in science: An up-to-date review. Professional de la Información, 29(1), e290103. https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2020.ene.03
23. National Research Council. (2009). Mathematics learning in early childhood: Paths toward excellence and equity. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12519
24. Nguyen, T., Watts, T. W., Duncan, G. J., Clements, D. H., Sarama, J., & Wolfe, C. (2016). Which preschool mathematics competencies are most predictive of fifth grade achievement? Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 36, 550–560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2016.02.003
25. OECD (2017). Starting Strong 2017: Key OECD indicators on early childhood education and care. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264276116-en
26. Purpura, D. J., Schmitt, S. A., & Ganley, C. M. (2017). Foundations of mathematics and literacy: The role of executive functioning components. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 153, 15–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2016.08.010
27. Raynaud, M., et al. (2021). Publication dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic: an 18% decline in non–COVID-19 research output simulated from high-impact medical journals. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 21, Article 104. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-021-01404-9
28. Sarama, J., & Clements, D. H. (2021). Engaging young children in mathematics: Standards for early childhood mathematics education. Routledge.
29. Sarama, J., Lange, A. A., Clements, D. H., Wolfe, C.B.(2012). The impacts of an early mathematics curriculum on oral language and literacy, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 27(3), 489-502.
30. Schmitt, S. A., Purpura, D. J., & Elicker, J. G. (2017). Examining the relations between executive function, math, and literacy during the transition to kindergarten: A multi-analytic approach. Developmental Psychology, 53(4), 755–769. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000296
31. Thompson, D. F. (2018). Bibliometric analysis of pharmacology publications in the United States: A state-level evaluation. Journal of Scientometric Research, 7(3),167-172. https://doi.org/10.5530/jscires.7.3.27
32. UNESCO (2022). Right to pre-primary education: A global study. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
33. Van Nes, F. T. (2009). Young children's spatial structuring ability and emerging number sense. Utrecht University.
34. Yoshikawa, H., Weiland, C., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2013). Investing in our future: The evidence base on preschool education. Society for Research in Child Development and Foundation for Child Development. https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2405-9350.2013.tb00074.x
35. Zelazo, P. D. (2015). Executive function: Reflection, iterative reprocessing, complexity, and the developing brain. Developmental Review, 38, 55–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2015.07.001
36. Zigler, E., & Styfco, S. J. (2010). The Hidden History of Head Start. Oxford University Press.
37. Zupic, I., & Čater, T. (2015). Bibliometric methods in management and organization. Organizational Research Methods, 18(3), 429–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428114562629