BIBLIOMETRIC AND SCIENTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF GAMIFICATION RESEARCH: TRENDS, IMPACT, AND FUTURE DIRECTION

Gamification research has experienced significant growth in recent years, involving an increasing number of disciplines and application contexts. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric and scientometric analysis of publications on gamification, aiming to identify trends, influential authors, key institutions, and major research areas. By analyzing a large corpus of articles indexed in leading academic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ERIC, and Jstor), this study examines the evolutionary trajectories of gamification literature, highlighting the geographical distribution of scientific production and the role of different disciplinary fields. The results show a steady increase in the number of publications, with a particular acceleration after 2016. Research is dominated by contributions from Finland, Malaysia, and Australia. Methodologically, the study employs network analysis tools such as VOSviewer to map collaborations among authors and institutions and scientometric analysis confirms that, while the field is expanding, gamification research remains relatively concentrated in a few academic centers. This study provides a detailed overview of the current state of gamification research, identifying established areas and emerging opportunities for future development. The growing interest in topics such as self-determination theory, engagement, and educational applications suggests new interdisciplinary research perspectives. The findings offer valuable insights for academics and practitioners, helping to outline future directions for gamification development and its impact across various application domains.