Uncovering Themes and Trends of Achievement Gap Research Literature: A Natural Language Processing Approach

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Wednesday 9:45am
  In Poster Session: Division L Section 6 Social Policy, Inequality, and Student Outcomes: Poster Session

Abstract

This study employs BERTopic, an advanced topic modeling technique, to examine the thematic structure and evolution of achievement gap research. Drawing on 1,712 peer-reviewed articles from the Scopus database, it identifies 34 core topics, including international SES-based gaps, gender-based achievement gaps, racial/ethnicity disparities, immigrant students, and postsecondary achievement gaps. The analysis reveals several temporal trends, such as increasing attention to international SES-based gaps and a recent surge of interest in COVID-19 and rural-urban disparities. It also uncovers inter-topic relationships, notably the links among school finance, accountability policies, and segregation. By offering a comprehensive thematic analysis of the field, this study provides a conceptual map to guide future research and policy efforts aimed at promoting educational equity and closing achievement gaps.

Author

• Huang Wu, University of Missouri - Kansas City