Mathematics problem-solving research in high school education: Trends and insights from the Scopus database (1983–2023)

Problem-solving competency is crucial for social development, especially in complex environments. In mathematics education, problem-solving enhances logic, creativity, and analytical skills, contributing to societal progress. This article identified quantitative information about important publications, authors, resources, and research trends on mathematics problem-solving in high school education using the bibliometric analysis method. The input data is a set of 334 publications from the Scopus database published over four decades from 1983 to 2023. The results show that this field has obtained increasing interest, particularly in the last five years, with the USA and Indonesia being the countries with the most publications and Santos-Trigo and Putri Rii being the most influential authors. Three research trends include problem-solving in teaching mathematics in high schools, especially in teaching geometry and algebra; developing problem-solving and computational thinking skills through STEM education, engineering education, and educational computing for students; and using information technology to solve mathematics problems. These results provide teachers and researchers with helpful information about solving mathematical problems in general education, thereby contributing to shaping and proposing effective research and educational strategies, new teaching methods, training programs, and appropriate educational policies.