Mapping the Research Landscape of Gender Dynamics in Public Administration Leadership: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Background: The increasing emphasis on gender inclusivity in public administration has generated a growing body of interdisciplinary scholarship, yet the global intellectual structure and collaboration patterns of this field remain fragmented. This study aims to map the knowledge landscape of gender dynamics in public administration leadership through a comprehensive bibliometric and network analysis.

Methods: Using the Scopus database, relevant publications were extracted and analyzed employing VOSviewer for co-authorship, country collaboration, and keyword co-occurrence mapping.

Results: Findings reveal that the United States serves as the central hub of scholarly production and international collaboration, with strong linkages to the United Kingdom, Canada, and emerging contributions from India, South Africa, and China. Keyword clustering indicates a multidisciplinary convergence dominated by themes such as “gender,” “leadership,” “qualitative research,” and “psychology,” alongside strong intersections with health, social behavior, and policy-oriented research. The prominence of terms like “young adult,” “cross-sectional study,” and “questionnaire” suggests a methodological leaning toward empirical and survey-based approaches.

Conclusion: The study contributes by providing a structured visualization of the field’s intellectual evolution, identifying key research clusters, geographic disparities, and methodological trends. These insights inform future research directions and policy discourse, particularly in advancing gender-responsive leadership frameworks in public administration.