An Analysis of domestic research trends on artificial intelligence in early childhood education field

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze the trends of AI-related papers published in the field of early childhood education. Using the keywords ‘artificial intelligence’, ‘early childhood’, ‘education’, and ‘robot’ in combination, academic journal articles and dissertations published in Korea after 2023 were retrieved from RISS. Based on the selection criteria, the number of papers by year, research subjects, research methods, and topics were calculated, and the results were analyzed by subject. In 2023, 24 papers were published, and by June 2024, 15 papers had been published. The main research subjects were in-service teachers, followed by pre-service teachers, and children, with relatively fewer studies targeting parents. Studies on program and scale development, as well as theoretical reviews, were also published. Quantitative research was the most common research method, with survey research being the most frequently conducted among the quantitative studies. By topic, there were many studies on perceptions of artificial intelligence, followed by program application and theoretical reviews. The results were analyzed in detail by research topic. This study is significant in that it provides basic data for AI education in the educational field by examining trends in AI-related research in the field of early childhood education published since 2023, and offers insights on future research topics needed in the academic field.