Analysis of trends in language network analysis research in the field of special education: Focusing on domestic academic journals from 2007 to June 2022

Abstract

Objectives This study tried to explore the direction of language network analysis-related research in the field of special education in the future by analyzing the trends of studies using language network analysis methods in the field of special education in Korea.
 Methods For this purpose, 28 studies using language network analysis in the domestic special education field were analyzed from 2007 to June 2022. Based on previous research, the analysis criteria were set as ‘year of publication and published journal, research topic, analysis tool, visualization analysis method, and analysis index’.
 Results As a result of the study, it was found that the largest number of studies were conducted in ‘Special Education Rehabilitation Science Research’ and ‘Intellectual Disability Research’. was found to have been carried out. In addition, most of the research was conducted on the subject of research trend and knowledge structure analysis, and it was found that the majority of collected texts were articles published in academic journals. As a network analysis tool, ‘UCINET’ was used the most, and the most studies that visualized the results through a network map were the most. In all 28 papers to be analyzed, the centrality scale was used as an analysis index, and methods such as clustering and ego network analysis were also used.
 Conclusions These results have significance in providing a direction for conducting language network research in the field of special education in the future, and the need for continuous expansion of qualitatively more diverse topics, as well as network analysis tools, visualization presentation methods, and analysis suitable for research purposes and topics. The necessity of presenting the research results abundantly using indicators was suggested.