A systematic literature review on analytical thinking development in mathematics education: trends across time and countries

Source abstract

Introduction Analytical thinking, which involves deeply understanding and dissecting information, is crucial in today’s data-rich society. In education, it develops students’ ability to think deeply, deconstruct problems, and evaluate evidence to enhance academic performance and critical thinking skills. However, past research has not thoroughly examined the patterns of analytical thinking studies, particularly in terms of year and country classifications, which are essential for identifying research trends and gaps. Methods Hence, this study aims to classify studies on analytical thinking by year and country using Systematic Literature Review, because this data is useful for understanding research trends. By using a methodology according to PRISMA, the research process was divided into four key stages: searching, screening, analyzing, and summarizing. A total of 21 relevant articles were carefully selected and analyzed in depth through targeted searches on main databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Results The main findings reveal a clear trend of increasing research on analytical thinking in mathematics, with notable peaks in 2021, and Indonesia emerging as the leading contributor in this area. Discussion This finding has important implications for shaping educational policies and curriculum development, particularly in countries aiming to foster analytical thinking skills in students. Future research should broaden the scope by incorporating more disciplines and diverse theoretical frameworks, enhancing the application and impact of analytical thinking across fields.