Research trends and network approach of critical thinking skills in English Language Teaching – A bibliometric analysis implementing R studio

Critical thinking is often regarded as one of the vital skills in the 21st century. In recent years, it has become important to combine this skill with other skills such as language learning, creativity, problem-solving, decision making, and reflective thinking. As language and thoughts are intertwi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M.P. Arthi, S.N.S. Gandhimathi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025004608
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832573110892625920
author M.P. Arthi
S.N.S. Gandhimathi
author_facet M.P. Arthi
S.N.S. Gandhimathi
author_sort M.P. Arthi
collection DOAJ
description Critical thinking is often regarded as one of the vital skills in the 21st century. In recent years, it has become important to combine this skill with other skills such as language learning, creativity, problem-solving, decision making, and reflective thinking. As language and thoughts are intertwined and influence each other, incorporating thinking skills into English Language Teaching (ELT) can enhance academic and professional success. The prime objective of the current study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on Critical Thinking (CT) in ELT from 2012 to 2022 by focusing on publication and research trends such as influential authors, globally cited documents, pertinent journals, leading countries, and significant affiliations. The current study also sheds light on the co-occurrence of keywords and thematic evolution through bibliometric analysis, examining 238 articles from Scopus and Web of Science databases using R studio (Biblioshiny). This bibliometric analysis highlights Thinking Skills and Creativity as the most pertinent journal with high citation count and China being the most cited country in this field. It also accentuates the interconnection between higher-order thinking skills, self-regulation, critical thinking, and critical reading. The thematic evolution of CT shows a shift from collaborative learning and CT (2012–2019) to language teaching and CT (2020–2022). It emphasizes the importance and the rising prominence of CT skills in language teaching. Moreover, this review will guide scholars and academicians to identify future research directions in the field of CT.
format Article
id doaj-art-d7f0eece56f443689a4fe3d1f9de3b6d
institution Kabale University
issn 2405-8440
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Heliyon
spelling doaj-art-d7f0eece56f443689a4fe3d1f9de3b6d2025-02-02T05:28:56ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01112e42080Research trends and network approach of critical thinking skills in English Language Teaching – A bibliometric analysis implementing R studioM.P. Arthi0S.N.S. Gandhimathi1Department of English, School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, IndiaCorresponding author.; Department of English, School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, IndiaCritical thinking is often regarded as one of the vital skills in the 21st century. In recent years, it has become important to combine this skill with other skills such as language learning, creativity, problem-solving, decision making, and reflective thinking. As language and thoughts are intertwined and influence each other, incorporating thinking skills into English Language Teaching (ELT) can enhance academic and professional success. The prime objective of the current study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on Critical Thinking (CT) in ELT from 2012 to 2022 by focusing on publication and research trends such as influential authors, globally cited documents, pertinent journals, leading countries, and significant affiliations. The current study also sheds light on the co-occurrence of keywords and thematic evolution through bibliometric analysis, examining 238 articles from Scopus and Web of Science databases using R studio (Biblioshiny). This bibliometric analysis highlights Thinking Skills and Creativity as the most pertinent journal with high citation count and China being the most cited country in this field. It also accentuates the interconnection between higher-order thinking skills, self-regulation, critical thinking, and critical reading. The thematic evolution of CT shows a shift from collaborative learning and CT (2012–2019) to language teaching and CT (2020–2022). It emphasizes the importance and the rising prominence of CT skills in language teaching. Moreover, this review will guide scholars and academicians to identify future research directions in the field of CT.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025004608Critical thinkingEnglish language teachingBibliometric analysisR studioBiblioshiny
spellingShingle M.P. Arthi
S.N.S. Gandhimathi
Research trends and network approach of critical thinking skills in English Language Teaching – A bibliometric analysis implementing R studio
Heliyon
Critical thinking
English language teaching
Bibliometric analysis
R studio
Biblioshiny
title Research trends and network approach of critical thinking skills in English Language Teaching – A bibliometric analysis implementing R studio
title_full Research trends and network approach of critical thinking skills in English Language Teaching – A bibliometric analysis implementing R studio
title_fullStr Research trends and network approach of critical thinking skills in English Language Teaching – A bibliometric analysis implementing R studio
title_full_unstemmed Research trends and network approach of critical thinking skills in English Language Teaching – A bibliometric analysis implementing R studio
title_short Research trends and network approach of critical thinking skills in English Language Teaching – A bibliometric analysis implementing R studio
title_sort research trends and network approach of critical thinking skills in english language teaching a bibliometric analysis implementing r studio
topic Critical thinking
English language teaching
Bibliometric analysis
R studio
Biblioshiny
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025004608
work_keys_str_mv AT mparthi researchtrendsandnetworkapproachofcriticalthinkingskillsinenglishlanguageteachingabibliometricanalysisimplementingrstudio
AT snsgandhimathi researchtrendsandnetworkapproachofcriticalthinkingskillsinenglishlanguageteachingabibliometricanalysisimplementingrstudio