Trendlines in research methodology and topics in teacher education: big data analysis of theses in Swedish teacher education between 2005 and 2023

The paper aims to map and analyse changes over time for the research methods used and topics of theses in Swedish teacher education between 2005 and 2023. The titles, abstracts, and keywords of 32,199 theses from 29 universities were analysed. The results indicated no large change in either methodological approach, methods used, or topic areas investigated depending on university. The trend lines show an extreme increase in qualitative, but not quantitative, approaches. Interviews were most prevalent with 47% of theses and for theses mentioning multiple methods, most involved interviews. In contrast, the use of surveys has decreased (from 25% to 10%), while document analysis, phenomenography and interventions have increased, although with just a few percentage points. With regard to topic areas, learning and instruction was the most prevalent, accounting for 26% of all theses. The topic areas special education, multiculturalism and citizenship, and relational pedagogy did also increase.