Examining Educational Research's Contribution to Civic Engagement in Public Decision Making: A Bibliometric Overview

Abstract

This research provides a complete bibliometric analysis of scholarly publications on civic engagement in public decision-making between 2014 and 2024. Using the PRISMA methodology, the study reduced a corpus of 208 papers to 136 for further examination. The study examines how educational research enables citizens to participate in public decision-making. The data demonstrate an increasing trend in research that focuses on incorporating civic engagement activities into educational curricula. One major finding emphasizes the positive impact of civic engagements initiatives on instilling civic duty and decision-making in pupils. This increases the chance of future community involvement and informed voting. The study also identifies a gap in research on effective strategies for reaching underserved communities. The findings can be used to create curricula that provides students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to actively shape their communities. Policymakers can use this knowledge to create educational initiatives that promote a culture of informed citizenship. Researchers acquire a platform for future research into bridging the equity gap in civic engagement education. Finally, this research emphasizes the critical importance of education in fostering a dynamic democracy. Keywords: educational research’s contribution, civic engagement, public decision making, bibliometric overview