The development of virtual reality research in science education (2008–2024): A Web of Science–based bibliometric and descriptive content analysis

This study aims to reveal the development of virtual reality (VR) research in science education between 2008 and 2024. A total of 58 peer-reviewed articles, selected from the Web of Science Core Collection database in accordance with the PRISMA flow, were analyzed using bibliometric approaches (VOSviewer, CiteSpace, bibliometrix) and descriptive content analysis. The bibliometric findings indicate a marked increase in publications after 2015, with studies predominantly concentrated in the fields of biology and physics, while remaining limited in disciplines such as chemistry and earth sciences. Results of the descriptive content analysis reveal that research has mostly focused on fully immersive (HMD-based) applications; has been conducted with small- and medium-sized samples; and that the diversity of measurement tools has restricted generalizability. By examining the distributions of science disciplines, VR types, research purposes, and measurement approaches, the study identifies gaps in the literature and proposes priority directions for future research. The findings highlight the need for large-scale, theory-driven, and low-cost/accessible VR solutions to be evaluated in alignment with curricula, particularly in the contexts of chemistry, earth sciences, and teacher education.