The role of educational technology in social sciences: bibliometric analysis

Abstract

The educational development of the Social Sciences, with a particular focus on geography and history, provides fertile ground for incorporating technological advancements with practical applications to enhance educational processes and improve student interest and performance. With the interest in the use of educational technology in the social sciences, the objective of this study is to analyze the scientific production on this topic in Scopus using bibliometric techniques. It was applied the PRISMA statement, the final sample consists of 126 articles published in the first two decades of the 21st century, utilizing bibliometric analyses such as bibliographic coupling, co-authorship, co-citation, and co-occurrence. The results indicate a growing production but moderately, mainly in journals focused on both the social sciences and technology. European research stands out, with collaborative networks between the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, although Spain was the most prolific country. Within the Social Sciences, there is a predominance of studies in the field of geography, which is the subject with the most development across different educational stages (primary, secondary, and university). Resources such as video games or virtual and augmented reality are gaining increasing prominence in educational processes. In conclusion, the positive impact of technology on the educational development of the social sciences and the various lines of research that emerge in this knowledge field, conducive to innovation, should be highlighted.

Keywords:
Social Sciences; Technologies; Education; Bibliometric study