Research trends in socioscientific issues-oriented project-based learning in science education: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract This study aims to analyze the development, thematic trends, and contributions in Socioscientific Issues-Oriented Project-Based Learning (SSI-PjBL) research in science education from 2015 to 2024. A bibliometric approach was employed using the Bibliometrix software to examine publication trends, author collaboration, institutional networks, main keywords, and thematic evolution in the relevant literature. The results indicate that publications related to SSI-PjBL experienced an annual growth rate of 31.18%, reflecting increasing research interest in the integration of science education, project-based learning, and socioscientific issues. The United States, Indonesia, and China emerged as the most productive countries, with notable contributions from institutions such as Sriwijaya University and National Taiwan Normal University. In addition, keyword analysis and thematic evaluation highlight a shift from content-oriented approaches toward more contextualized learning orientations, with increasing attention to critical thinking, communication, and collaboration within the research literature. However, this study has limitations. The analysis is based solely on publications indexed in the Scopus database and relies on quantitative bibliometric techniques, which do not capture the conceptual depth or pedagogical implementation of SSI-PjBL. Future research may benefit from incorporating qualitative or mixed-method approaches and broader data sources to further explore the theoretical and practical development of SSI-PjBL in science education.