Mapping Global Research on Cognitive Style: A Bibliometric Analysis

Authors

  • Usman Usman Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
  • Irwan Akib Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
  • Sukmawati Sukmawati Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59175/pijed.v4i2.739

Keywords:

Bibliometric Analysis, Cognitive Styles, Global Mapping, VOSviewer Application

Abstract

Cognitive style refers to individual differences in how people perceive, process, and use information in learning and problem-solving. Understanding these differences is essential for designing effective and equitable instruction. However, no comprehensive bibliometric analysis has yet examined global research trends on cognitive style differences in educational contexts. This study aims to map the intellectual structure and development of research on cognitive styles from 2015 to 2024, identifying the most influential journals, authors, institutions, and countries, as well as emerging thematic trends. Data comprising 277 documents were retrieved from the Scopus database and analyzed using VOSviewer for co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence networks. The findings reveal a steady annual growth in publications, dominated by themes related to learning styles, metacognition, and adaptive learning. The United States and China emerged as the most productive countries, with Learning and Individual Differences as the leading journal. These results highlight the growing scholarly attention to cognitive styles and their implications for personalized learning and instructional innovation. The study contributes a comprehensive overview of the field, serving as a reference for future research, teacher professional development, and curriculum design aimed at improving learning equity and quality.

References

Albar, M., Masitoh, S., Kristanto, A., & Rajiman, W. (2025). Effect of Google Sites-assisted Flipped Classroom Discovery Learning Model and Cognitive Style on Mathematics Problem-Solving Skills and Student Learning Independence. Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 7(2), 236–249. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15462037

Beekman, T. L., & Seo, H.-S. (2023). Development and validation of a food-related analysis–holism scale (F-AHS). Journal of Food Science, 88, 205–226. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.16504

Bonavita, A., Bellagamba, M., Verde, P., Boccia, M., & Guariglia, C. (2023). The Effect of Cognitive Style on Individual Differences in Prismatic Adaptation: A Pilot Study. Brain Sciences, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13040641

Bousbia, N., Labat, J.-M., Rebai, I., & Balla, A. (2009). Indicators for deducting the learners’ learning styles: Case of the navigation typology indicator. Proceedings - 2009 9th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies, ICALT 2009, 385 – 389. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICALT.2009.220

Buzhinskaya, N. V, Vaseva, E. S., & Shkabara, I. E. (2022). Cognitive Style Of A Future It Specialist In A Teamwork Process. Obrazovanie i Nauka, 24(4), 79–111. https://doi.org/10.17853/1994-5639-2022-4-79-111

Chan, H.-S., Chu, H.-Y., & Lin, M.-T. (2023). Effect of Cognitive Style and Working Memory on Floral Design Ability. Horticulturae, 9(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9050595

Chen, S. Y., & Tseng, Y.-F. (2021). The impacts of scaffolding e-assessment English learning: a cognitive style perspective. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 34(8), 1105 – 1127. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2019.1661853

Hodgkinson, G. P., & Sadler-Smith, E. (2003). Complex or unitary? A critique and empirical re-assessment of the Allinson-Hayes Cognitive Style Index. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 76(2), 243 – 268. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317903765913722

Ibrahem, U. M., Alsaif, B. S., Alblaihed, M., Ahmed, S. S. I., Alshrif, H. A., Abdulkader, R. A., & Diab, H. M. (2022). Interaction between cognitive styles and genders when using virtual laboratories and its influence on students of health college’s laboratory skills and cognitive load during the Corona pandemic. Heliyon, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09213

Jayacyril, C. M., Kuttalam, M., Michael, A. R., Velnadar, R., & Parayitam, S. (2025). Unfolding the Relationship Between Entrepreneurs’ Cognitive Style and Performance: Experiential Learning as a Mediator and Responsibility and Risk-taking as Moderators. Journal of Entrepreneurship, 34(1), 33–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/09713557251326530

Jones, N. A. R., Webster, M., Newport, C., Templeton, C. N., Schuster, S., & Rendell, L. (2020). Cognitive styles: speed–accuracy trade-offs underlie individual differences in archerfish. Animal Behaviour, 160, 1 – 14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.11.019

Karimi Hajishoreh, N., & Hatami, J. (2022). The Role of Cognitive Style in Moral Judgment. Frontiers in Biomedical Technologies, 9, 13–16. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85173431891&partnerID=40&md5=99088de37a2bf0152a8b29c873ff4708

Lustyantie, N., Supriyati, Y., Isnan, F. N., Ramli, n., & Yudha, R. P. (2022). The Effect of Cognitive Style, Critical Thinking, And Digital Literature on Argumentative Writing Skills. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 22(1), 27–35. https://doi.org/10.12738/jestp.2022.1.0003

Mazza, V., Eccard, J. A., Zaccaroni, M., Jacob, J., & Dammhahn, M. (2018). The fast and the flexible: cognitive style drives individual variation in cognition in a small mammal. Animal Behaviour, 137, 119 – 132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.01.011

Mertayasa, I. N. E., Subawa, I. G. B., Agustini, K., & Wahyuni, D. S. (2021). Impact of cognitive styles on students’ psychomotoric abilities on multimedia course practicum. In K. M.W.A., A. K.Y.E., A. H., S. I.M.G., P. I.M., & M. I.M.D. (Eds.), Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1810, Issue 1). IOP Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1810/1/012056

Perlman, B., & Mor, N. (2022). Cognitive bias modification of inferential flexibility. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2022.104128

Sheehy, N., & O’Connor, R. C. (2014). Cognitive style and suicidal behaviour. In Suicide: Strategies and interventions for reduction and prevention. Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315820132-16

Solihah, S., Kartono, n., Mariani, S., & Dwijanto, u. (2023). Analysis of Students’ Mathematical Creative Thinking Process Based on Cognitive Style. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 23(17). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v23i17.6538

Stachoň, Z., Čeněk, J., Lacko, D., Krajňáková, L., Hanus, M., Lu, W.-L., Šašinková, A., Ugwitz, P., Shen, J., & Šašinka, Č. (2025). A comparison of performance using extrinsic and intrinsic bivariate cartographic visualizations with respect to cognitive style in experienced map users. Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 52(1), 55–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230406.2023.2264752

Wang, S.-L., Lin, J. J. H., & Su, P.-C. (2024). The roles of self-efficacy and cognitive styles in reading behaviors and reasoning performance: An eye movement perspective. Educational Technology and Society, 27(3), 165–184. https://doi.org/10.30191/ETS.202407_27(3).RP10

Wu, S.-Y., & Hou, H.-T. (2015). How cognitive styles affect the learning behaviors of online problem-solving based discussion activity: A lag sequential analysis. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 52(2), 277 – 298. https://doi.org/10.1177/0735633115571307

Yecan, E., & Çaǧiltay, K. (2006). Cognitive styles and students’ interaction with an instructional web-site: Tracing users through eye-gaze. Proceedings - Sixth International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies, ICALT 2006, 2006, 340 – 342. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34247178060&partnerID=40&md5=8cbbb33342b03bd33f285e4993e1d0ec

Yin, L., Shi, Z., Liu, M., & Chen, H. (2025). Effect of hit rate and cognitive style on Bayesian reasoning: evidence from eye movements. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1485283

Yunfei, G., Jiaqun, G., Mingyuan, W., Xiaoqi, J., & Li, L. (2023). Effect of cognitive style on time-based prospective memory. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 76(12), 2680–2689. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218231156022

Downloads

Published

2025-11-28

How to Cite

Usman, U., Akib, I., & Sukmawati, S. (2025). Mapping Global Research on Cognitive Style: A Bibliometric Analysis. PPSDP International Journal of Education, 4(2), 359–371. https://doi.org/10.59175/pijed.v4i2.739

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>