Twenty five years of physics problem solving research: intellectual foundations, evolution, and emerging research foci (2001-2025)

Authors

  • Ilham Fajar Ramdhani Universitas Tanjungpura, Indonesia
  • Haratua Tiur Maria Silitonga Universitas Tanjungpura, Indonesia
  • Muhammad Musa Syarif Hidayatullah Universitas Tanjungpura, Indonesia
  • Judyanto Sirait Universitas Tanjungpura, Indonesia
  • Lilia Ellany Mohtar Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21831/jipi.v12i2.102287

Abstract

This study examines the evolution and current research focus of problem solving in physics education using bibliometric analysis of the Scopus database from 2001 to 2025. Following the PRISMA protocol, 195 documents were retained from an initial pool of 292 records after three-phase screening. Data were analyzed using Biblioshiny (Bibliometrix R package) to trace annual growth, contributor countries and institutions, citation impact, keyword evolution, and thematic mapping. Results show an annual growth rate of 13.29%, occurring in three distinct phases: 2001-2015 (4.87 documents/year), 2016-2020 (12 documents/year), and 2021-2025 (12.4 documents/year). The United States led both productivity and impact, contributing 78 documents (52.77% of total citations), while Indonesia ranked second with 20 documents concentrated in 2019-2025. Four intellectual foundations were identified: cognitive frameworks of student reasoning, problem representation and expert-novice comparison, structured assessment instruments, and direct instructional interventions. The thematic map positioned higher education, cognitive, and metacognitive processes as motor themes, while teachers' perspectives, learning transfer, and generative artificial intelligence emerged as underexplored areas. These findings offer research directions for strengthening international collaboration and technology integration in physics problem solving instruction.

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Published

2026-10-21

How to Cite

Ilham Fajar Ramdhani, Haratua Tiur Maria Silitonga, Muhammad Musa Syarif Hidayatullah, Judyanto Sirait, & Mohtar, L. E. (2026). Twenty five years of physics problem solving research: intellectual foundations, evolution, and emerging research foci (2001-2025). Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPA, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.21831/jipi.v12i2.102287

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2026): October 2026 (In Press)

Section

Physics Education

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