Analysis of Digital Textbook Research Trends in Science Subjects Using Text Mining

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze the trends of digital textbook research conducted in conjunction with science subjects and derive important issues, topics, research trends. Methods The analysis of digital textbook research trends targeted 79 literatures related to the development, verification, and utilization of digital textbooks centered on science subjects published from 2009 to 2024. The data collected using the RISS were refined in detail using TEXTOM and Excel. The main keywords were identified, analyzed, and visualized using frequency analysis and network analysis. The clustering and connection centrality of keywords were confirmed using CONCOR analysis. Results As a result of the study, digital textbook research related to science subjects was actively published during the implementation promotion period (66 papers) during the digital textbook development process. The main keywords were ‘digital textbook’, ‘elementary school’, ‘science class’, ‘science’, ‘book-type textbook’, ‘2015 curriculum’, ‘academic achievement’, ‘elementary science’, ‘external representation’, and ‘science attitude’. Through CONCOR analysis and connection centrality analysis, it was confirmed that clusters were formed around ‘comparison of digital textbooks and book-type textbooks’, ‘development and use of science digital textbooks’, ‘digital literacy and self-efficacy’, and ‘use of digital textbooks as external representation’. Conclusions Based on the research results, the main research topics and trends of science digital textbooks were derived. Practical implications for future research and improvement directions of science digital textbooks were discussed.