Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
South Africa Highly Cited Researchers Citation Education / Early Childhood Education in South Africa Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :1
Men
Masculinities
Fatherhood
Parenting and Early childhood development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,495
1,092
0.730
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
child health
neurodevelopment
early childhood development
Implementation science
Operational and
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,444
1,220
0.845
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
early childhood development
intervention implementation
adolescent development
public mental health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
523
419
0.801
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :4
Early Childhood Intervention
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
participation
engagement
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
499
433
0.868
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :5
pre-service teachers
science teaching
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
teaching
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
422
415
0.983
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
Early childhood intervention
assistive technology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
251
225
0.896
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
Early Childhood Caries
Biostatistics
Clinical Epidemiology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
216
191
0.884
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Early childhood
disability
participation
assistive technology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
179
96
0.536
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :9
Early Childhood Development
Educational management
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
171
161
0.942
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Early childhood development
speech-language pathology
mHealth
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
127
123
0.969
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
participatory pedagogies in early childhood education
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
105
93
0.886
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
Early Childhood Development
Play
Parenting
Family
Community Development and Occupational Therapy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
93
93
1.000
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
early childhood education
inquiry-based science education
birth-to-four
child participation and children's rights
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
85
44
0.518
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
Early childhood education
care and development
play-based learning
cognitive and critical thinking in the early years
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
77
63
0.818
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
Early Childhood Development
Care and Education
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
58
44
0.759
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Inclusive Education
Disability
Early Childhood
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
58
33
0.569
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :17
Pre-service teacher education
Science of learning
Academic Language
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
52
52
1.000
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
Inclusive Education
Supporting learners with reading problems in the foundation and intermediate phase
Inclusive education in
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
42
38
0.905
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
Early Childhood
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
34
33
0.971
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
Inclusion
Early Childhood Care and Education
Participatory Action Learning and Action Research
Inclusion
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
27
27
1.000
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
Early childhood Language Education and Digital Learning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25
21
0.840
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
Early Childhood education and Special needs education
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17
17
1.000
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
early childhood education
critical service-learning
action research
social justice praxis
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14
14
1.000
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12
10
0.833
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
Early childhood Education
curriculum studies
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10
9
0.900
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
536,583
2,619
18
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Tawanda Makusha
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,495
1,092
0.730
Men
Masculinities
Fatherhood
Parenting and Early childhood development
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
548,311
2,682
285
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Mphelekedzeni Caroline Mulaudzi|Mphele Mulaudzi, MC Mulaudzi, M Mulaudzi
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,444
1,220
0.845
child health
neurodevelopment
early childhood development
Implementation science
Operational and
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
900,344
4,838
565
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Jackie Stewart
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
523
419
0.801
early childhood development
intervention implementation
adolescent development
public mental health
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
918,508
4,948
500
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Alecia Samuels
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
499
433
0.868
Early Childhood Intervention
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
participation
engagement
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
986,437
5,507
156
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Thuthukile Jita
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
422
415
0.983
pre-service teachers
science teaching
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
teaching
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,198,831
7,342
704
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Karin Van Niekerk
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
251
225
0.896
Early childhood intervention
assistive technology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,262,350
7,911
259
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Faheema Kimmie
University of the Western Cape
Bellville, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
216
191
0.884
Early Childhood Caries
Biostatistics
Clinical Epidemiology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,343,208
8,618
795
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Kitty Uys|CJE Uys
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
179
96
0.536
Early childhood
disability
participation
assistive technology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,361,683
8,776
134
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Joyce Mathwasa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
171
161
0.942
Early Childhood Development
Educational management
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,488,082
9,946
882
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Maria Neethling Du Toit
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
127
123
0.969
Early childhood development
speech-language pathology
mHealth
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,566,270
10,632
196
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Naseema Shaik
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
105
93
0.886
participatory pedagogies in early childhood education
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,612,515
11,052
350
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Inge Sonn
University of the Western Cape
Bellville, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
93
93
1.000
Early Childhood Development
Play
Parenting
Family
Community Development and Occupational Therapy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,650,726
11,374
1,136
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Linda Bosman
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
85
44
0.518
early childhood education
inquiry-based science education
birth-to-four
child participation and children's rights
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,686,522
11,704
762
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Stef Esterhuizen
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
77
63
0.818
Early childhood education
care and development
play-based learning
cognitive and critical thinking in the early years
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,785,187
12,606
974
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Mzoli Mncanca
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
58
44
0.759
Early Childhood Development
Care and Education
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,785,999
12,616
975
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Gloria Ledwaba
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
58
33
0.569
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Inclusive Education
Disability
Early Childhood
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,817,433
12,938
1,120
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Dean Van Der Merwe
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
52
52
1.000
Pre-service teacher education
Science of learning
Academic Language
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,884,971
13,611
1,083
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Thembi Phala
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
42
38
0.905
Inclusive Education
Supporting learners with reading problems in the foundation and intermediate phase
Inclusive education in
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,943,610
14,160
942
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Benita Taylor
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
34
33
0.971
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
2,002,910
14,769
1,158
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Ashnie Mahadew
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
27
27
1.000
Inclusion
Early Childhood Care and Education
Participatory Action Learning and Action Research
Inclusion
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
2,025,090
14,991
483
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Blandina Manditereza
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25
21
0.840
Early childhood Language Education and Digital Learning
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
2,104,380
15,815
1,068
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Hantie Theron|JE Theron, H. Theron
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17
17
1.000
Early Childhood education and Special needs education
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
2,138,644
16,162
1,098
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Andri Schoonen
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14
14
1.000
early childhood education
critical service-learning
action research
social justice praxis
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
2,175,054
16,564
1,308
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Nadia Swanepoel
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12
10
0.833
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
2,203,043
16,865
83
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Metse Juliet Masalesa
University of Mpumalanga
Mbombela, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10
9
0.900
Early childhood Education
curriculum studies