CiteSpace-Based Visualization Analysis of Educational Leadership Research

As research on educational leadership continues to evolve, its significance becomes increasingly evident. This study analyzes the trajectory of educational leadership research from 1998 to 2023 using the Web of Science Core Collection and CiteSpace software. The findings reveal three distinct developmental phases: the exploratory stage (1998–2011), the growth stage (2012–2020) and the fallback stage (2021-2023). The research primarily centers on theoretical frameworks, leadership typologies, and development strategies. Looking ahead, with the deepening of global economic integration, future studies on educational leadership are expected to focus on its relationship with educational quality, future-oriented leadership models, leadership across different educational stages, and strategies for leadership enhancement.