Research and Application of Chatbots in the Field of Education: A Bibliometric Analysis Using VOSviewer

ChatGPT has achieved remarkable success, leading to significant research attention on Chatbots in the field of education (CE) due to their immense potential and impact. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research directions in CE by conducting bibliometric and visualization analyses using VOSviewer software. A total of 575 CE-related publications were retrieved from the Web of Science database for analysis. The findings reveal a significant and rapid growth trend in CE research since 2018, with the United States leading in publication quantity (159 publications). The study explores productive institutions, author collaboration networks, highly cited literature, and influential authors in the CE-Chatbots domain. Six primary research directions emerged: E-learning and its impact on education, computer-supported collaborative learning in education, effective communication in online education, the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in education, chatbots for enhanced learning experiences, and language learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building upon these findings, the study proposes relevant recommendations in terms of student engagement, teacher involvement, optimization of the teaching process, and academic integrity.