Trends in Social Work Education and Research in Thailand: A Bibliometric Analysis

บทคัดย่อ (Abstract)

This study uses bibliometric analysis to explore trends in social work education and research in Thailand.
A dataset of 1,646 documents from Scopus (1999-2025) was analyzed with VOSviewer to identify co-authorship networks and keyword co-occurrence patterns. Results show a significant increase in publications, especially from 2021 to 2025 (36.82%), mainly driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and
the United Nations' sustainability goals (SDGs). Most publications appeared in health sciences and social sciences journals, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of social work research. Co-authorship analysis demonstrated the strongest collaboration with the USA, Australia, Japan, and Switzerland. Key topics include sustainability and SDGS, COVID-19 impacts, migrant workers, social welfare, HIV/AIDS, mental health, and social media. Keyword co-occurrence revealed twelve clusters, including emerging themes like machine learning, digital social work, and innovative integration. The findings suggest a shift from traditional qualitative methods to data-driven, technology enhanced, and evidence-based practices in social work research. This study provides valuable insights for policy making, curriculum development, and future research in social work education and practice in Thailand. It also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and digital technology integration to address complex social issues aligned with global sustainable development goals.