Past, Present and Future of STEM Identity Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

• In Event: Science and STEM Identity Development and Formation

Abstract

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of STEM identity research based on peer-reviewed articles indexed in Web of Science and Scopus over the past three decades. We examined the field’s productivity and key contributors (i.e., authors, journals, publications, countries, institutions), as well as its conceptual, intellectual, and social structures. We also traced the thematic evolution and highlighted future directions for the field. Findings reveal a consistent growth in STEM identity scholarship. However, collaboration across authors, institutions, and countries remains limited, and many marginalized groups are underrepresented in the research. By mapping the field’s development, this analysis provides a strategic roadmap for advancing STEM identity research and underscores the importance of inclusive, interdisciplinary, and collaborative efforts.

Authors

• Tugce Karatas, Purdue University

• Andy Parra Martinez, Mississippi State University

• Nielsen Pereira, Purdue University/Gifted Education Research & Resource Institute