TRENDS IN ADULT EDUCATION RESEARCH IN TURKIYE: A DESCRIPTIVE SYSTEMATIC MAPPING REVIEW OF GRADUATE THESES (2023–2026)

Abstract

This study presents a descriptive systematic mapping review of graduate theses produced in the field of adult education in Türkiye between 2023-2026. Data were collected from the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education (YÖKTEZ) and reviewed using a PRISMA-guided selection process. A total of 273 theses were chosen and analyzed using a coding form developed by the researchers. Thematic categories were formed through content analysis, and the study primarily employed a quantitative descriptive approach based on frequency and percentage distributions. The findings reveal that thesis production in adult education remained high and stable during the study period. The field remains concentrated in a limited number of institutions, and most theses were produced outside dedicated adult education programs, which reflects an increasingly interdisciplinary nature. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed at comparable rates, indicating a shift from the quantitative dominance reported in earlier reviews. Correlational designs, case studies, scales, and interviews were the most frequently used methodological tools. Thematically, lifelong learning dispositions, competencies, and attitudes constituted the dominant focus, followed by adult education programs and digital learning. However, theoretical studies, andragogy, and research involving marginalized groups remained limited. The study offers an updated overview of the field in Türkiye and points out important gaps for future research.

Keywords: Adult education, lifelong learning, graduate theses, systematic mapping review, descriptive analysis, Türkiye.

Ethics and Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that this study was conducted in accordance with ethical principles. Since the study is based exclusively on publicly accessible master's and doctoral theses retrieved from the National Thesis Center database, ethics committee approval was not required. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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