Trends of e‐learning research from 2000 to 2008: Use of text mining and bibliometrics

Abstract This study investigated the longitudinal trends of e‐learning research using text mining techniques. Six hundred and eighty‐nine (689) refereed journal articles and proceedings were retrieved from the Science Citation Index/Social Science Citation Index database in the period from 2000 to 2008. All e‐learning publications were grouped into two domains with four groups/15 clusters based on abstract analysis. Three additional variables: subject areas, prolific countries and prolific journals were applied to data analysis and data interpretation. Conclusions include that e‐learning research is at the early majority stage and foci have shifted from issues of the effectiveness of e‐learning to teaching and learning practices. Educational studies and projects and e‐learning application in medical education and training are growing fields with the highest potential for future research. Approaches to e‐learning differ between leading countries and early adopter countries, and government policies play an important role in shaping the results.