The science education research trends (SERT) in Indonesian secondary schools: a systematic review and bibliometrics study

Abstract

Indonesian researchers have published a substantial number of research articles on science education. However, there is no overarching sense of the science education research landscape in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to provide such an overarching sense with respect to science education research focused on Indonesian secondary schools between 2000 and 2020. Systematic review and bibliometrics methods were used to analyse 287 papers retrieved from Scopus. The study found that the publications have drastically increased since 2017 with only a few of them published in leading science education journals. International collaborations among Indonesian science educators have included many countries, such as Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, Thailand, and Canada. The most common research topics are critical thinking skills, problem-based learning, cooperative learning, HOTS, learning tools, blended learning, creative thinking skills, project-based learning, misconceptions, and lesson study, mostly researched through quantitative rather than qualitative methods. These findings are important for Indonesian science educators to assess their progress and identify areas for improvement to have a greater impact on the community. In the international context, these findings provide critical knowledge for global academics as they initiate and build international networks and collaborations to advance science education globally.