Future time perspective: a review and bibliometric analysis

This article aimed at employing systematic analysis and bibliometric information to probe the emergence of the Future Time Perspective (FTP) study paradigm over the last fifty-five years. The scope and trajectory of the FTP field, common themes and future research lines across various clusters were mapped out to identify possible future research pathways that might significantly augment already knowledge and understanding established thus far. Authors have accomplished this by integrating bibliometric analysis with an extensive qualitative review of 648 articles published between 1956 and 2022. The content analysis and bibliometric analysis, aided by co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, and thematic and conceptual mapping, were taken to identify recent developments, potential prospects, impactful authors and prominent nations and organizations. While bibliometric analysis allowed us to map the evolving structure of the FTP literature, it also aided the content analysis of emerged clusters, enabling us to visualize literature changes over time, link knowledge to practice, and present future research prospects across the clusters. The five research clusters and future research viewpoints concerning each cluster emerged and was unearthed that, despite the multiplicity of studies, the FTP literature has evolved around some distinct themes with a fundamental set of authors hailing from the USA, Germany, Netherlands, China and Canada. The evidence indicates that FTP is a multifaceted construct emerging as a distinct and independent research discipline with many fruitful areas for further academic, social, industrial/organizational psychological, and behavioral inquiry. The authors are mindful that the current study demonstrates the overall progression and prominence of FTP literature by employing bibliometric and content analysis techniques. The outcomes of this study might be helpful for research scholars in persuading their research endeavors.