A Bibliometric Analysis of Outdoor Education
A Bibliometric Analysis of Outdoor Education

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this study is to map the thematic landscape of studies on outdoor education. Our process focuses on the following research question: What are the emerging topics in studies on outdoor education? Bibliometric data retrieved from the WOS database, which consists of 555 scientific publications with the keyword "outdoor education” and indexed in SCI-Expended, SSCI, A&HCI, CPCI-S, CPCISSH, BKCI-S, BKCI-SSH or ESCI, was analysed using the descriptive analysis technique. Analysis of the results revealed that there are 10 different types of publications on outdoor education and the most frequently used type is scientific articles, with 365 examples. Keyword network mapping showed that “outdoor education, environmental education and outdoor learning” were terminologies that stood out the most. The analysis of the data was visualized by VOSviewer (Version 1.6.9) visual mapping program and presented with tables and density maps in the findings section. As a conclusion, the study puts forward the main concepts that require particular attention from the outdoor educators. In addition, we hope and expect that the thematic concepts, country distribution of articles and outlining the highly cited studies of this field will contribute to paving the way for future research and identifying the gaps in the literature. This study aims to pinpoint the leading and emerging topics within the outdoor education research field, which has great importance both for the theory and practice of outdoor education.

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