Research on the Science of Adult Learning: A Bibliometric Analysis

While learning is among the oldest and most widely-studied topics in the psychological sciences, equal attention has not been placed on all stages of human development. Specifically, while much is known about the Science of Learning in early life, comparatively less work has explored this topic during adulthood. Crucially, little is known about the extant body of research on the Science of Adult Learning, creating a gap in our understanding of publication trends, patterns of collaboration, and foundational themes in this area. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of all published research on the Science of Adult Learning. Searches were conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection. Performance analysis and science mapping were performed to identify historic publication trends, productivity and influence metrics, patterns of collaboration, and foundational themes in this area of research. Findings from this work can support researchers interested in gaining an understanding of foundational themes in the Science of Adult Learning, as well as those interested in identifying potential collaborators or influential journals for dissemination of research findings. Results can also support policymakers in the identification of influential experts who can inform decisions on research priorities in the Science of Adult Learning.