Interactive Augmented Reality in Informal Education: A Bibliometric Analysis (2009–2026)

This study investigates the development of learning research, educational technology advancement, and pedagogical evolution within the emerging field of interactive augmented reality (AR) research for informal education. Using a bibliometric and scientometric approach, the study examines the evolution of research activity, influential publication sources, collaboration patterns, and thematic developments within the global educational technology landscape. Drawing upon a Scopus-indexed dataset covering the period from 2009 to 2026, the analysis integrates bibliometric performance indicators, source analysis, citation patterns, and thematic evolution mapping to provide a comprehensive understanding of the field’s development. The findings reveal a sustained increase in publication output, accompanied by a concentration of research within a limited number of influential journals, highlighting the growing maturity of AR-related research in informal education. Citation patterns indicate that scholarly influence is largely shaped by dominant publication sources and highly cited studies, which play an important role in guiding subsequent research directions. Global contribution patterns further reveal geographical disparities in research productivity, with technologically advanced regions exerting substantial influence on the development of the field. Thematic evolution analysis demonstrates a gradual shift from technology-oriented exploration towards pedagogically driven applications, learner engagement, and learning effectiveness, reflecting the increasing emphasis on educational value and instructional design. By examining the field through the lens of educational technology development and learning research trends, this study contributes to the understanding of how emerging educational technology domains evolve, mature, and shape future learning design practices in informal education. The findings provide useful insights for researchers, educators, policymakers, and journal editors seeking to understand the structural development of interdisciplinary research fields.

Augmented Reality; Informal Education; Educational Technology; Bibliometric Analysis; Learning Design

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