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Advances, Hotspots, and Trends in Outdoor Education Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Bobo Zong

    (School of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
    College of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Yifan Sun

    (School of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Linfeng Li

    (School of Physical Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

Abstract

Utilizing the Web of Science database as a retrieval source, this study employs CiteSpace software to conduct a visualization analysis of 8380 documents related to outdoor education published from 1994 to 2023. The findings reveal a phased increase in the volume of outdoor education research, with a shift in research themes from environmental governance to environmental education, ultimately concentrating on education for sustainable development that is characterized by significant temporal features. Initially dominated by publications from Europe and North America, the geographical distribution of research has gradually expanded globally. The core research theme centres around environmental education, with experiential education, outdoor learning, and education for sustainable development evolving concurrently. The network structure of research collaboration predominantly involves higher education institutions, with a noticeable shift from limited disciplinary research to interdisciplinary integration across multiple fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Bobo Zong & Yifan Sun & Linfeng Li, 2024. "Advances, Hotspots, and Trends in Outdoor Education Research: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:10034-:d:1523134
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    References listed on IDEAS

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