Three decades of interactive learning environments: a retrospective bibliometric network analysis

Interactive Learning Environments (ILE) is a leading international journal in the design and use of interactive learning environments. In this study we conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis spanning three decades to objectively examine the journal's impactful authors, citation patterns, collaboration networks and emerging trends. Additionally, keyword co-occurrence techniques are employed to scrutinize the journal's knowledge/intellectual structure. We use the Scopus database to analyze 995 articles published in the journal by 2298 authors representing 65 nations from 1990 to 2020. Results show that the most productive authors are Gwo Jen Hwang (57 articles), Timothy Teo (18 articles) and Yeuh Min Huang (11 articles). Results also show that the author collaboration network is sparse. Furthermore, results related to collaborative networks between institutions and countries reveal a global "North-South" schism between developed and developing nations. Finally, the multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) applied to obtain the ILE conceptual map reflects the depth and breadth of the journal's foci. Our analysis has far-reaching implications for aspiring researchers interested in the design and use of interactive learning environments research.