Bibliometric Analysis of Graduate Theses on Scale Development in The Field of Nursing in Türkiye

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study is to identify the general profile of the scientific studies in the field by carrying out a bibliometric analysis of the postgraduate theses written in the field of nursing in Turkey regarding the subject of the development of scales, to investigate the characteristics of the publications of the theses, and to determine the trends in the studies regarding the development of scales in the field of nursing academia.

Material and Methods: The research was designed to be carried out with a descriptive and bibliometric method, and the theses published between January 1, 2000, and January 30, 2026, were searched in the database of the Higher Education Council National Thesis Center with the keywords “scale” and “measuring instrument.” The population of the research consisted of 338 theses, and the theses written in Turkish, accessible for the research, and related to the subject of the development of scales in the field of nursing were used for the research with the purposive sampling method. The theses were examined in terms of the type, year, title of the advisor, type of the university, sample group, number of sub-factors, and number of items of the scale developed, and the data were analyzed with descriptive statistics methods.

Results: Among the theses studied, 52% were doctoral theses, and 48% were master's theses. Sixty-nine percent of the studies were conducted between 2021 and 2026. It was seen that a considerable increase has occurred in these studies in recent years. Among the advisors of these theses, 45% were professors, 32% were associate professors, and 23% were assistant professors. Eighty-four percent of these studies were conducted at state universities, and 16% were conducted at foundation universities. Among the sample groups in these studies, nurses (37%), patients (25%), and students (10%) were at the forefront. In most studies, sample groups consisted of 201-400 individuals (33%). It was determined that 63% of these scales consisted of 3-5 sub-factors, and 49% consisted of 21-40 items.

Discussion and Conclusion: The findings obtained in the present study indicate that scale development studies in the field of nursing science in Turkey have increased quantitatively, especially in recent years. Additionally, it has been seen that interest in methodological studies has increased. State universities are at the forefront in these studies. Research capacity should be increased at foundation universities. Bibliometric studies like the present one will guide researchers and graduate programs in scale development studies in nursing science.