Research article | Open Access
International Journal of Research in Teacher Education 2025, Vol. 16(4) 14-30
Ethical Dilemmas in Educational Sciences: A Bibliometric Analysis (1998–2025)
pp. 14 - 30 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijrte.2025.1408.02
Publish Date: January 08, 2026 | Single/Total View: 3/2 | Single/Total Download: 3/2
Abstract
Ethical dilemmas, situations where educators must choose between conflicting moral principles, are common in educational practice but remain underexplored systematically. This study aims to map the evolution, structure, and trends of ethical dilemma research in educational sciences from 1998 to 2025. Employing a descriptive bibliometric approach, the study analyzed 105 journal articles indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection. Data were processed using VOSviewer 1.6.20 to conduct citation, co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, and bibliographic coupling analyses, allowing for the visualization of scholarly networks, conceptual linkages, and research patterns. The findings reveal a steady growth in the number of publications, particularly after 2017, reflecting rising scholarly interest in ethical issues within teaching, leadership, and assessment. Highly cited works, such as Ehrich et al. (2011), have shaped the field, while emerging studies address digital ethics, social-emotional competencies, and AI-supported decision-making. The United States, Australia, and Finland are identified as leading contributors, and key journals include Teachers and Teaching and Journal of Moral Education. “Ethical dilemma” and “ethics” were the most frequently occurring keywords, indicating the field’s conceptual centrality. The study demonstrates that ethical dilemmas have become a significant and evolving research focus in educational sciences, characterized by interdisciplinary approaches and expanding thematic scope. Findings highlight the increasing complexity of ethical decision-making in education and underscore the need for continued scholarly exploration integrating cognitive, emotional, and contextual dimensions.
Keywords: bibliometric analysis, educational ethics, ethical dilemma, professional ethics, teacher decision-making
APA 7th edition
Satmaz, I. (2025). Ethical Dilemmas in Educational Sciences: A Bibliometric Analysis (1998–2025). International Journal of Research in Teacher Education, 16(4), 14-30. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijrte.2025.1408.02
Harvard
Satmaz, I. (2025). Ethical Dilemmas in Educational Sciences: A Bibliometric Analysis (1998–2025). International Journal of Research in Teacher Education, 16(4), pp. 14-30.
Chicago 16th edition
Satmaz, Ismail (2025). "Ethical Dilemmas in Educational Sciences: A Bibliometric Analysis (1998–2025)". International Journal of Research in Teacher Education 16 (4):14-30. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijrte.2025.1408.02
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