Analysis of Attrition Studies Within the Computer Sciences

Abstract

Student attrition is a long-standing problem in Computer Science (CS), as in many other disciplines, and it has gained momentum in the academic sphere. This study employs bibliometric analysis to shed light on the research stream of student attrition within CS. Bibliometric analysis is a popular technique for evaluating published scientific articles when empirical contributions are producing voluminous research streams. We collected 1310 articles from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, published over a period of 22 years from 2000 to 2022, to analyze the most relevant publication venues in the study of attrition in CS. Further analysis revealed the most cited institutions, countries, key themes, and other conceptual information. Keywords, such as “retention,” “computer science education,” “gender,” “introductory programming,” and “student success” emerged as dominant themes in attrition studies. As researchers work intensively to reduce attrition within CS, these thematic areas may continue to shape the future direction of attrition studies. Our study provides a comprehensive overview of research hotspots, thematic areas, and future directions for attrition studies in CS. This outcome could be valuable for young and emerging scholars who are starting their careers and looking to identify research hotspots in this field of interest.

Keywords

• Bibliometric analysis
• scientific mapping
• computer science education
• student attrition
• retention
• at-risk students