Transformation of public consciousness in the context of societal digitalization: A bibliometric study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47909/ijsmc.319

Keywords:

digitalization, public consciousness, Central Asia, social values, international collaboration, misinformation

Abstract

Objective. The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution, scientific structure, and thematic orientation of research on the transformation of public consciousness in the context of digitalization. The study placed particular emphasis on the emergent role of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in this domain.

Design/Methodology/Approach. A bibliometric study was conducted in Scopus using 1,885 documents (2008–2026), integrating performance, impact, productivity, and international collaboration analyses. The cognitive characterization process was executed through the implementation of science mapping in VOSviewer, encompassing the analysis of co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence networks.

Results/Discussion. Since 2018, an accelerated growth trend has been evident, accompanied by a polycentric collaboration structure led by the United States, China, and Saudi Arabia, and an increasing Kazakh presence. The thematic analysis identified five principal clusters; however, social values remained peripheral, indicating low theoretical cohesion.

Conclusions. The study identifies a rapidly expanding and highly interdisciplinary field, yet one characterized by a fragmented theoretical core and limited articulation between digitalization and social values. The consolidation of regional research agendas in Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan, engenders opportunities for the development of integrative theoretical frameworks and cross-cultural comparative studies that can deepen the understanding of how public consciousness is being reconfigured in digitalized societies.

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2025-12-20

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Mukanov, M., & Aitbayev, D. (2025). Transformation of public consciousness in the context of societal digitalization: A bibliometric study. Iberoamerican Journal of Science Measurement and Communication, 6(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.47909/ijsmc.319

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Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026)

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