Global Research Trends in Hand Codes (Sign Language) and Moral Values Education for Students with Hearing Impairment: A Bibliometric Analysis (2019–2024)
This study examines global research trends in hand codes (sign language) and moral values education for students with hearing impairment through a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 2019 and 2024. Although moral values education is central to inclusive education, students with hearing impairment continue to face barriers in accessing value-based learning due to communication constraints. To address the fragmented nature of existing scholarship, this study maps international collaboration patterns, dominant research themes, and author-level research communities shaping this interdisciplinary field. A total of 1,068 English-language journal articles in the Social Sciences and Psychology subject areas were analysed using VOSviewer. The analysis focuses on country-level co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence patterns, and author-level co-authorship structures as indicators of scholarly collaboration, thematic emphasis, and knowledge development. The findings reveal a research landscape dominated by high-income countries, particularly the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, which exhibit strong international collaboration and high scholarly visibility. Thematic analysis indicates that the literature is primarily concentrated on sign language–mediated communication, inclusive education, ethics, moral values, decision-making, and quality of life for individuals with hearing impairment. Author-level analysis further highlights distinct collaborative research communities integrating linguistic, educational, and ethical perspectives. Despite increasing research activity, the literature remains geographically uneven, with limited representation from low- and middle-income regions. This study provides a focused overview of global research trends and identifies critical gaps to inform future research, policy development, and ethically grounded educational practices for students with hearing impairment.