Scoping Review Using VOSviewer on Research of Socio-Scientific Issues in Education
Winarti, D.W., Rosyada, M.N., Krisnawati, N.M. et al. Scoping Review Using VOSviewer on Research of Socio-Scientific Issues in Education. Can. J. Sci. Math. Techn. Educ. 26, 63 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42330-026-00490-5
Abstract
Socio-scientific issues (SSI) are complex real-world problems that gain lots of attention not only from researchers and policy makers but also educators considering the global challenges. Along with this increasing attention, various literature studies have been conducted, including those employing bibliometric approaches using VOSviewer, which have provided valuable insights into publication trends and research productivity. However, these studies still offer limited insight into the educational dimensions of SSI. To address this gap, this article seeks to map existing research on SSI in the field of education by providing a more comprehensive overview of the scope and breadth of the literature, particularly through an education-focused interpretation that captures the thematic structure, cross-contextual integration, and evolving global dimensions of SSI. VOSviewer was used as a tool to analyse the metadata from articles in the Scopus database. Four hundred and twenty articles written in English were gathered from the search process by using the keyword of “socioscientific issues”. The analysis results show various emerging topics in relation with socio-scientific issues. The development of integration of SSI in education is mostly found in science education and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education as well as in teacher training, particularly for science teachers. In addition, we also observe from the data analysis that sustainability and sustainable development, climate change, and social justice are those evolving SSIs.
Strategic leadership behaviours in Chinese schools: a Rasch model analysis.
Jiang, N., Deng, R., Perera, C. J., Sumintono, B., & Zainuddin, Z. (2026). Strategic leadership behaviours in Chinese schools: a Rasch model analysis. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2026.2659133
ABSTRACT
This study examines the strategic leadership behaviours of secondary school principals in China, where centralized governance and cultural traditions shape leadership practices. Drawing on a cross-sectional survey of 895 principals, this research adopts Pisapia’s theory of strategic leadership, which delineates five core leadership influence actions, transforming, managing, bonding, bridging, and bartering, to investigate how school leaders navigate complex educational challenges. Using the Strategic Leadership Questionnaire (SLQ) and applying the Rasch Measurement Model, this study provides a rigorous psychometric evaluation of these leadership behaviours. Findings reveal that transforming, bonding, and bartering emerge as the most dominant behaviours, highlighting the importance of proactive change, relationship-building, and negotiation in school leadership. Conversely, managing and bridging behaviours were less frequently observed, suggesting a shift away from traditional hierarchical administration towards adaptive leadership strategies emphasizing operational stability and stakeholder engagement. This study advances existing scholarship by addressing geographical and methodological gaps. While prior research in China has predominantly focused on instructional leadership, this study systematically measures strategic leadership behaviours through Rasch-based psychometric validation. The findings offer new insights into culturally responsive leadership practices and provide evidence-based recommendations to improve leadership assessments, thereby strengthening the global discourse on effective school leadership in diverse educational contexts.
Empowering early childhood educators to foster spatial and numeracy reasoning through play-based learning.
Winarti, D. W., Widjaja, W., Razi, F., Huzaimah, S., Prianggi, A., & Setyawan, I. A. (2025). Empowering early childhood educators to foster spatial and numeracy reasoning through play-based learning. Journal on Mathematics Education, 16(3), 871–888. https://doi.org/10.22342/jme.v16i3.pp871-888
Abstract
Despite the growing awareness of the importance of spatial reasoning in schooling years, there is a notable gap in research literature to promote spatial reasoning in early childhood education in Indonesia. This research aims to address this gap by building the capacity of Indonesian early childhood educators in designing play-based activities to support children’s spatial thinking and reasoning. Twenty early childhood education (ECE) educators coming from different area in Java, Indonesia participated in the study. The study employed design-based research methodology to examine the way in which research team and ECE educators work collaboratively to bring about innovative learning processes and changes in ECE’s practices. A key design principle of the study features play-based activities to promote children’s spatial reasoning skills in the early years were analyzed. This study finds that the professional learning program provides support for ECE educators in three areas, such as foster an understanding of key numeracy concept including one-to one correspondence and cardinality and how it is being implemented, offer insights about spatial ability and its constructs, and exposure to spatially rich play-based activities that could be adopted for ECE centers
Muhammadiyah Bugis-Makassar: Dispersal of Muslim Organizations in and from South Sulawesi
Halim, W., & Nubowo, A. (2025). Muhammadiyah Bugis-Makassar: Dispersal of Muslim Organizations in and from South Sulawesi, Indonesia . Studia Islamika, 32(2), 313–346. https://doi.org/10.36712/sdi.v32i2.4254
Abstract
This study examines the dispersal of Islamic authority within Muhammadiyah in South Sulawesi and how local cultural values influence Islamic reformism. It highlights the emergence of new organizations such as Darul Istiqamah, Hidayatullah, and Wahdah Islamiyah, founded by Muhammadiyah activists with distinct institutional paths. These organizations emerged through ideological shift, cultural entrepreneurship, and political opportunity. Bugis-Makassar values, particularly siri’ (shame and dignity) and pessé/paccé (solidarity), promote independent leadership and institutional creation over internal compromise. Drawing on political opportunity, resource mobilization, and sectarianization theories, the study shows that religious authority dispersal is shaped by local socio-cultural logics. The Darul Islam movement’s legacy further supports more rigid reformist visions. Rather than fragmentation, this process reflects culturally mediated adaptation and innovation. The concept of “Muhammadiyah Bugis-Makassar” illustrates how local cultural dynamics catalyze Islamic reform into networked activism, where regional values reshape organizational boundaries and influence broader Islamic movements. This framework offers insights into cultural mediation of Islamic reform trajectories across Indonesia.
KUPI Approach to Qur’an and Hadith Re-interpretation
Nurmila, N. (2025). KUPI Approach to Qur’an and Hadith Re-interpretation. African Journal of Gender and Religion, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.36615/vqcta754
Abstract
Critical theory argues that knowledge is not value free. It is influenced by the interest, context, and background of the knowledge producers. Many books of tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) have been written, primarily by men based on their experiences. These tafsirs are not free from male interest. As Farid Esack argues, classical tafsirs, mostly written by men, tend to be male-biased and discriminatory against women. Since the late 1990s, with the growing influence of global Muslim feminism, there have been increasing number of books in Indonesia that criticize the male-biased interpretations of the Qur’an and produce alternative readings from an equal gender perspective, such as those written by Nasaruddin Umar, Zaitunah Subhan, Nurjannah Ismail, Husein Muhammad, and many others. Recent works have been produced by Badriyah Fayumi, Nur Rofiah and Faqihuddin Abdul Kodir, the leading founders and organizers of the Congress of Indonesian Women Ulama (KUPI). This article explores three new methodologies of tafsir developed in the current Indonesian context by three scholars: Badriyah Fayumi’s reading of maʿrūf (religiously, reasonably, and socially acceptable), Nur Rofiah’s concept of women’s haqiqi (real) justice, and Faqihuddin Abdul Kodir hermeneutical approach of qirā’ah mubādalah (reciprocal reading). These new approaches to understanding Islamic sources were launched during KUPI II in 2022 to be KUPI’s methodology.
Critical Islamic educational leadership: investigating how Islamic pedagogic models shape leadership practices
Supriyono, Sumintono, B., & Hakim, L. N. (2025). Critical Islamic educational leadership: investigating how Islamic pedagogic models shape leadership practices. British Journal of Religious Education, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2025.2542225
ABSTRACT
Despite the growing scholarly interest in Islamic educational leadership across diverse global contexts, studies in this area are noted to lack a critical approach. Guided by a critical transformative paradigm, this study seeks to address the gap by exploring the potential of adopting certain Islamic pedagogic models in shaping leadership practices. This qualitative case study delves into two Islamic boarding schools with different education models in East Java, Indonesia. This research utilises documents, focus group discussions, interviews, and observations for data collection, subjecting the data to thematic analysis. The findings demonstrate that adopting different pedagogical models indicatively yields distinct leadership practices. The school with a moral disciplining model (ta’dib) generates strong patriarchal tendency, fostering an authoritative leadership style with an exclusive school culture and autocratic decision-making. Conversely, the school with a critical pedagogic model (tarbiyah) creates a balanced power dynamic, facilitated by critical thinking and critical dialogue between leader and followers, further supporting the transformative leadership practices with an inclusive school culture and deliberative decision-making. The findings indicate a reciprocal connection between education model and leadership, signifying the need to reform the school’s education system – by employing a critical pedagogic model – to enhance the critical transformative leadership practices.
The Basic Empathy Scale: Validation of Empathy Measurement of Pesantren Students in Indonesia
Rizkyanti, C.A., Hermansyah, E., & Wijayanti, Z. B. (2025). The Basic Empathy Scale: Validation of Empathy Measurement of Pesantren Students in Indonesia. Psikologika: Jurnal Pemikiran dan Penelitian Psikologi, 30(1), 1-24. https://journal.uii.ac.id/Psikologika/article/view/35976
Abstract
This study aimed to validate the Basic Empathy Scale (BES) using Rasch model to establish the reliability and validity of the instrument in measuring empathy. Participants in validation consisted of 200 students from Islamic Boarding Schools (Pesantren) in Java, Indonesia. This analysis was conducted using a quantitative method with Rasch model analysis by incorporating a Wright map, item fit analysis, a unidimensionality test, and Different Item Functioning (DIF). The results showed that the BES was reliable for measuring cognitive and affective empathy, confirming unidimensionality and item fit among participants. These findings implied that the BES was suitable for application among Islamic Boarding School students. DIF analysis further showed that some items might require revision to elicit more accurate results even though the instrument was considered valid and reliable.
Self-handicapping scale: evaluation of psychometric properties among Malaysian and Indonesian university students using Rasch rating scale model analysis
Sumintono, B., Law, M.Y. and Sitasari, N.W. (2025). Self-handicapping scale: evaluation of psychometric properties among Malaysian and Indonesian university students using Rasch rating scale model analysis. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-08-2024-0429
Abstract
Purpose – This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of SHS in Malaysian and Indonesian university students’ populations using the Rasch Rating Scale Model.
Design/methodology/approach – Specifically, the persons’ and items’ reliability and separation, rating scale’s functionality, unidimensionality, item targeting, item quality and item bias were evaluated using Winstep 4.8.1.0 on a sample of 318 Malaysian and 470 Indonesian university students.
Findings – Both samples show good unidimensional measures. In terms of certain psychometric attributes, the Indonesian and Malaysian samples have relatively similar qualities. The adoption of SHS in measuring the selfhandicapping tendency indicates the scale works well for both Indonesian and Malaysian samples. Practical implications – The findings allow researchers in Malaysia and Indonesia to confidently use the SHS to measure self-handicapping behaviours among university students. This will then enable the design and implementation of a comprehensive intervention programme aimed at reducing self-handicapping and improving the psychological well-being of these future change agents in both countries.
Originality/value – This instrument was first tested in the United States, but its psychometric properties have yet to be evaluated in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Keywords Self-handicapping, Self-handicapping scale, Psychometric properties, Rasch rating scale model, University students
Paper type Research paper
Academic Motivation Scale’s psychometric attribute: analysis using Rasch measurement model
Julianto, V., Sumintono, B., Almakhi, N.P.Z. et al. Academic Motivation Scale’s psychometric attribute: analysis using Rasch measurement model. (2025). Current Psychology 44, 114-124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-07142-7
Abstract
In an academic context, it is important to measure students’ academic motivation, which is closely related to learning improvement. One popular and widely used instrument to measure academic motivation is the 28-items Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) from Vallerand et al. (1989). This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Indonesian version of AMS using the Rasch model measurement approach. A total of 1,193 Indonesian secondary school students participated in the study, and their self-reports were used to check instrument quality, including reliability, validity at the instrument level as well as at the item level. The findings showed that AMS Indonesia has adequate psychometric properties. However, four unfavorable items in one construct detected that they came from other dimensions, the rating scale used needs to be shortened, and a few items need to be revised because they have different item functioning. Further testing and refinement of the scale should be conducted
Local Wisdom-Based Multicultural Education: Muhammadiyah Experience
Mu’ti, A., & Amirrachman, A. (2025). Local Wisdom-Based Multicultural Education: Muhammadiyah Experience. Intellectual Discourse, 33(Special Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.31436/id.v33iSpecial Issue 1.2241
Local Wisdom-Based Multicultural Education: Muhammadiyah Experience
Abstract
Local wisdom plays a role in helping to face every day challenges. Indonesia’s society is multicultural and has a variety of local wisdom. Local wisdom is a product of thoughts, views of life, behavior, habits, and other elements produced by certain communities that show the identity and uniqueness of that community. The diversity of local wisdom can be accessed and cultivated through education because education is a place for the nation's future generations to learn and be guided as citizens and leaders. Through its network of members spread across various parts of the country, Muhammadiyah has established a large number of educational institutions from early childhood to tertiary institutions spread across the archipelago. The motivation is the da'wah of Islam through educational institutions. At the same time, Muhammadiyah carries the spirit of inclusivity as it has organised education for all. It can be said that Muhammadiyah adjusts itself to the local wisdom by accepting students regardless of religious, ethnic, citizenship and economic background. This inclusivity of Muhammadiyah educational institutions is proven by the fact that it is mostly Christian students who attend many Muhammadiyah schools and universities in the eastern parts of Indonesia. The teachers play the most important role in ensuring that a democratic, peaceful and enriching schooling eco-system comes into existence. The training of the teachers and support staff can be perceived as emphasising on three major parts: awareness, knowledge, and skills.
Keywords: local wisdom, multicultural education, inclusivity, teachers