A bibliometric analysis of research on current status and trends of digital management on university sport
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze research trends, cooperative networks, and emerging topics in Digital Management in University Sport (DMUS) literature published between 2001 and 2024. Unlike previous descriptive bibliometric studies, this research explicitly addresses critical knowledge gaps by posing 2 guiding questions: who are the leading contributors to DMUS research at the author, institutional, and national levels, and how are international collaborations structured? how has DMUS research evolved thematically, and what emerging hotspots and frontiers can be identified? By answering these questions, the study seeks to provide both theoretical and practical contributions to the field. METHODS: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using data from the Web of Science Core Collection, SCOPUS, and EBSCOhost databases, encompassing 1161 articles. A 2-step screening process was applied to ensure relevance and rigor, and publications were analyzed across multiple languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, German, and Russian). VOSviewer (v1.6.20) and CiteSpace (v6.3.R1) were used with documented parameter settings to ensure methodological transparency and reproducibility. RESULTS: Publication Trends: Annual publications have consistently increased, categorized into 3 phases: initial (2001-2013), early development (2014-2018), and rapid growth (2019-2024). Cooperation Networks: Countries/Regions: The United States leads in publication volume, with strong collaborations observed among major publishing nations; Institutions: La Trobe University is the most prolific, followed by institutions in Australia, the UK, and South Korea; Authors: The top 5 authors contributed 17.73% of total publications. Co-occurrence Networks: Key research areas include early studies on reliability and social media, digital tools for health management, and responses to global challenges like COVID-19. Recent trends (2022-2024) emphasize quality of life improvements through digitalized sports programs. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the evolution and growing importance of DMUS research. From a theoretical perspective, it conceptualizes the trajectory of DMUS from exploratory adoption studies to evaluative and policy-oriented research. From a practical perspective, it provides evidence-based guidance for policymakers and university administrators to strengthen digital infrastructure, foster international collaboration, and implement digitalized sports programs that enhance student health and well-being. Future research should address underrepresented regions and employ longitudinal approaches to evaluate the sustained effects of digital sports management strategies.
Source: Medicine
Authors: Gang Xu, Qian Yang, Qiang Li, Hongli Yu
Language: English
Subfield: Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,950
Award: G1502513939
OpenAlex ID: W4417518540