STEM TECHNOLOGY IN PRIMARY SCHOOL: A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW (2004–2024)

Abstract

STEM technology plays a vital role in developing creative thinking, inventive abilities, and practical skills in primary school students. Therefore, the early integration of STEM into the educational process is an effective tool for raising the younger generation's interest in science and technology.

In recent years, STEM-based education has received particular attention. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis to identify scientific progress in STEM technology in primary schools. The study covers scientific publications on the topic of "STEM in primary school" published in the Web of Science database between 2004 and 2024. The analysis included 4,013 articles, selected using the keywords "STEM education," "STEM in primary school," and "STEM schools."

The bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software, examining the following key indicators: publication dynamics by year, international scientific collaborations, co-authorship between authors and institutions, citations between authors, and keyword frequency. The data obtained using VOSviewer allowed us to visualize scientific connections and partnership networks.

The study results showed that the number of publications on STEM technologies has increased significantly, especially since 2020. The United States is recognized as the leading country in terms of publication volume, citation count, and author activity. The analysis provides a direction for future research in STEM. Specifically, priority areas include developing interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing teacher professional development, strengthening international scientific ties, and developing reliable methodological tools for assessing the effectiveness of STEM education.