Longitudinal analysis explores executive functions in early childhood, highlighting conceptual shifts and growing research trends.
Key Points
This study investigates the development and changes in executive functions in early childhood over nearly three decades.
Conducted a bibliometric analysis of 530 articles from SSCI, ESCI, and SCI Expanded.
Applied PRISMA for transparency in the screening process.
Employed co-occurrence and clustering analyses to identify thematic clusters in the EF field.
Identified four major thematic clusters: Skills and Early Learning, Family Influences, Behavioral Dimension, and Experimental and Intervention-Based Studies.
Noted a significant increase in EF research post-2015, shifting from deficit-oriented to developmental approaches.
Visual maps demonstrate conceptual transitions and intellectual growth in early childhood EF research.