Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
World Highly Cited Researchers Citation Social Sciences / Open and Distance Education 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
Open
distance and elearning
Global Burden of Diseases
Ecology and environmental conservatin
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
100,497
88,503
0.881
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
distance learning
e-learning
open scholarship
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
62,003
24,417
0.394
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
Self-directed online learning
open education
MOOCs
e-learning
emerging learning technologies
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
29,042
10,718
0.369
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :4
online learning
learning analytics
data literary
programming & problem solvling
community of inquiry framework
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,159
8,730
0.347
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :5
learning technologies
e-learning
online learning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,424
7,025
0.288
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
E - Learning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,691
13,626
0.628
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
e-Learning
Educational Technology
Engineering and Technology Education
Human Resource Development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,828
8,395
0.471
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Technology integration
distance education
online learning
blended learning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,603
8,788
0.499
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :9
Distance Education
Educational Technology
Open Education
Online Learning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,251
16,253
0.942
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Distance Education
Distance Learning
Message Design
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,400
14,722
0.898
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
Digital Learning
Online Learning
Educational Leadership
Educational Policy
Micro-credentials
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,094
8,416
0.523
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
online learning
distance education
online education
distance learning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,836
6,291
0.424
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
Reinforcement Learning
Online Learning
Machine Learning
Control
AI
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,595
11,176
0.766
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
eLearning
Distance Eduction
Open Educational Resources
Student Support
Educational Technology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,521
9,226
0.737
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
E-learning
Science education
Basic medical science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,365
8,720
0.705
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
Educational technology
teacher education
distance education
human computer interaction
learning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,060
7,400
0.669
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :17
e-learning
data mining
digital library
intelligent agent on the web
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10,711
5,261
0.491
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
Online learning
instructional design
social presence
identity
community
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
9,011
5,733
0.636
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
information technology
online learning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,894
2,537
0.285
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
eLearning
Tourism
eGovernment
Fashion
Heritage
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,815
4,640
0.526
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
e-learning
serious games
medical simulation
game-based learning
learning analytics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,779
3,654
0.416
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
emerging tech
Metaverse
AI in Education
cultural studies
XR and Immersive Learning
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,406
4,709
0.560
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
e-learning
teacher education
virtual schooling
change with digital technologies
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,279
3,035
0.367
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
Multitasking
Virtual Teams
Online Learning
Web usability
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,193
3,445
0.420
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
Mobile
electronic commerce
online learning
information systems
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,178
3,257
0.398
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
3,077
1
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Peter N. Keiyoro
University of Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
100,497
88,503
0.881
Open
distance and elearning
Global Burden of Diseases
Ecology and environmental conservatin
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
7,103
268
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Terry Anderson
Athabasca University
Athabasca, Canada
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
62,003
24,417
0.394
distance learning
e-learning
open scholarship
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
23,592
10,901
31
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Curtis J Bonk
Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
29,042
10,718
0.369
Self-directed online learning
open education
MOOCs
e-learning
emerging learning technologies
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
29,236
13,313
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Karen Swan
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,159
8,730
0.347
online learning
learning analytics
data literary
programming & problem solvling
community of inquiry framework
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
30,568
1,350
9
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Ron Oliver
Edith Cowan University
Joondalup, Australia
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,424
7,025
0.288
learning technologies
e-learning
online learning
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
36,168
44
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Ahmed Nour
El Shorouk Academy
Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,691
13,626
0.628
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
47,468
194
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Chi Cheng Chang
National Taiwan Normal University
Taipei City, Taiwan
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,828
8,395
0.471
e-Learning
Educational Technology
Engineering and Technology Education
Human Resource Development
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
48,282
2,101
22
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Robert M Bernard
Concordia University Montréal
Montréal, Canada
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,603
8,788
0.499
Technology integration
distance education
online learning
blended learning
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
49,656
163
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Aras Bozkurt
Anadolu University
Eskişehir, Türkiye
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,251
16,253
0.942
Distance Education
Educational Technology
Open Education
Online Learning
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
53,036
22,857
87
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Barbara Lockee
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,400
14,722
0.898
Distance Education
Distance Learning
Message Design
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
54,455
219
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Mark Brown
Dublin City University
Dublin, Ireland
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,094
8,416
0.523
Digital Learning
Online Learning
Educational Leadership
Educational Policy
Micro-credentials
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
60,608
25,737
28
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Peter Shea
University at Albany
Albany, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,836
6,291
0.424
online learning
distance education
online education
distance learning
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
61,930
26,233
357
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Mohammad Ghavamzadeh
Google Inc.
Kaliforniya, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,595
11,176
0.766
Reinforcement Learning
Online Learning
Machine Learning
Control
AI
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
75,412
837
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Ramesh Chander Sharma
Ambedkar University
New Delhi, India
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,521
9,226
0.737
eLearning
Distance Eduction
Open Educational Resources
Student Support
Educational Technology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
76,501
342
9
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Jyh Chong Liang
National Taiwan Normal University
Taipei City, Taiwan
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,365
8,720
0.705
E-learning
Science education
Basic medical science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
87,563
35,549
135
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Evrim Baran
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,060
7,400
0.669
Educational technology
teacher education
distance education
human computer interaction
learning
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
90,984
420
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Chih Ming Chen
National Chengchi University
Taipei City, Taiwan
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10,711
5,261
0.491
e-learning
data mining
digital library
intelligent agent on the web
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
110,893
43,633
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Patrick R Lowenthal
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
9,011
5,733
0.636
Online learning
instructional design
social presence
identity
community
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
112,521
44,219
102
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Joel Hartman
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,894
2,537
0.285
information technology
online learning
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
113,719
1,870
21
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Lorenzo Cantoni
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,815
4,640
0.526
eLearning
Tourism
eGovernment
Fashion
Heritage
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
114,244
2,748
145
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Baltasar Fernández Manjón|Baltasar Fernandez-Manjon, B. F. Manjon, Baltasar Fernández Manjón
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,779
3,654
0.416
e-learning
serious games
medical simulation
game-based learning
learning analytics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
119,980
46,741
67
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Minjuan Wang
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,406
4,709
0.560
emerging tech
Metaverse
AI in Education
cultural studies
XR and Immersive Learning
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
122,002
604
42
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Niki Davis
University of Canterbury
Christchurch, New Zealand
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,279
3,035
0.367
e-learning
teacher education
virtual schooling
change with digital technologies
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
123,438
47,857
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Raquel Benbunan Fich
CUNY Baruch College
New York City, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,193
3,445
0.420
Multitasking
Virtual Teams
Online Learning
Web usability
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
123,667
47,936
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
June Lu
University of Houston Victoria
Victoria, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,178
3,257
0.398
Mobile
electronic commerce
online learning
information systems