Counterfactual Reasoning and Cognitive Sciences: A Bibliometric Analysis

This bibliometric analysis follows the PRISMA criteria to systematically find and combine existing literature that connects counterfactual thinking to cognitive science. The Scopus database identified 1253 articles, out of which 256 were pertinent. The analysis demonstrates a substantial increase in academic publications in cognitive science related to counterfactual thinking since 1990, suggesting a heightened scholarly commitment and interest in this interdisciplinary field. The study emphasizes the global significance and impact of research endeavors investigating this subject. In addition, the growing corpus of literature recognizes counterfactual thinking as a critical component of cognitive processes. The review calls for more research into and inclusion of counterfactual thinking in cognitive science studies. It stresses the need for collaborations between different fields and new ways of doing things in order to fully understand the complex connection between cognitive processes and counterfactual thinking.