Mapping the Intellectual Landscape of Comparative and International Education: A Bibliometric Co-Citation Analysis

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the longstanding phenomenon of thematic dispersion within the field of Comparative and International Education (CIE), marked by a multitude of perspectives and the absence of a unified theoretical framework. By building upon and expanding existing bibliometric studies, this research leverages bibliometric analysis and information visualization techniques to provide a novel, data-driven mapping of CIE’s intellectual landscape.Focusing on the academic outputs of two leading journals—Comparative Education Review (CER) and Comparative Education (CE)— comprising approximately 2,800 articles published between 1957 and 2023, the study identifies connections between scholarly contributions that these articles have consistently drawn upon. Through the clusters unveiled by the bibliometric mapping, it seeks to identify key overarching themes, concepts, and methodological approaches that have shaped CIE during this period. Employing document co-citation analysis and utilizing VOSviewer software for visualization, the study constructs a bibliometric map that reveals patterns of engagement and thematic clusters within CIE. The analysis uncovers three clusters: (1) Classic Debates in Comparative Education, centered on policy borrowing, methodological evolution, and globalization; (2) Education as an Instrument of Social Reproduction and Domination, highlighting critical perspectives on how education perpetuates inequalities; and (3) From Neo-Institutionalism to World Culture Theory, illustrating the development of theoretical frameworks through consistent collaborative scholarship. By mapping these clusters, the study demonstrates the potential of bibliometric methods to complement traditional analyses, offering a holistic understanding of CIE’s complex terrain. It underscores the value of data-driven approaches in navigating the field’s inherent diversity, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of the landscape of Comparative and International Education.