Language Teaching Research Quarterly

The current study conducted a bibliometric review of studies that examine practicum experiences in preservice teacher education, and searches were performed in the Scopus database, retrieving publications between 2006 and 2024. VOSviewer was primarily used to analyze 145 peer-reviewed journal articles, examining trends in publications, most-cited articles, keywords, and thematic groups. The findings indicate an increase in interest in practicum research after 2021. The highest-ranked journal in terms of volume and citation impact was Teaching and Teacher Education. Among the most well-cited articles were those that embrace topics on professional identity development, reflective practice, diversity, mentorship, and international field experiences. Cluster analysis identified four main areas related to the practicum research: 1) the structure and evaluation, 2) reflective identity formation, 3) professional development, and 4) application to classes. The most significant contributors were the United States, Australia, and Canada, while the growing presence of publications from non-Western contexts suggests a continuously spreading trend of global involvement in practicum research. The findings are significant and relevant to guide research-based policy making and teacher educator efforts to enhance the quality and effectiveness of practicum courses in teacher education.