Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Persuasive Technology in the Past Decade: A Web of Science-Based Study

Abstract

In recent years, research in persuasion technology has matured and captured the attention of numerous experts and scholars. In this article, we analyze 1,714 papers from the Web of Science Core Collection database using CiteSpace software, systematically review the theoretical development, hot topics, and research frontiers of persuasion research, and propose future research directions. We summarize the contributions of three authors who have excelled in the field of persuasion and their significant achievements through the co- authorship knowledge graph. Additionally, we concentrate on four major areas of persuasive technology application: exercise and health, sustainability, education, and business, by filtering and categorizing keywords. We also identify research frontiers in persuasive technology through burst keyword analysis. We discovered that the foundational theory of persuasion is well-established and has been widely applied across various domains. Particularly, research in the domains of exercise and health has emerged as a significant area deserving of further investigation. Furthermore, recent developments in persuasion research have centered on exploring the influencing factors of persuasion, encompassing intrinsic aspects that represent user perspectives and extrinsic elements reflecting the impact of the Internet. Therefore, we encourage researchers to delve deeper into these aspects.

Keywords: Persuasive Technology, CiteSpace, Knowledge Graph, Bibliometric Analysis

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004423