Mapping the Evolution of Public Trust Research in Digital Governance: A Bibliometric Analysis of Scopus Publications (2011-2026) Riska Sarofah, Fitriyani Yuliawati, Budi Nugraha, Adhy Andriwiguna, Triananda Genedin
Department of Political Sciences, Universitas Siliwangi
Abstract
Public trust has become a fundamental pillar in ensuring the effectiveness and legitimacy of digital governance initiatives. As governments increasingly adopt digital technologies to enhance public service delivery, transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement, scholarly interest in understanding trust within digital governance ecosystems has grown substantially. This study aims to map the intellectual structure, research evolution, and emerging trends of public trust research in the context of digital governance. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using 108 publications indexed in the Scopus database between 2011 and 2026. Biblioshiny and VOSviewer were employed to analyze publication growth, citation patterns, influential affiliations, collaboration networks, and thematic developments within the field. The findings reveal a gradual development of research from 2011 to 2021, followed by a significant acceleration after 2022. Publication output reached its highest level in 2025 with 34 articles, indicating increasing scholarly attention toward trust-related issues in digital governance. Citation analysis shows that studies published in 2021 achieved the highest average citation impact, reflecting the growing relevance of trust as a critical component of digital transformation in the public sector. The most productive affiliations include Riau Islamic University, Universitas Padjadjaran, West Ukrainian National University, and Zhejiang University, demonstrating the global and interdisciplinary nature of the field. Thematic trends indicate that research has evolved from traditional e-government and citizen trust issues toward broader discussions on digital governance, transparency, accountability, digital transformation, and trust-building mechanisms in technology-mediated public services. Emerging themes related to artificial intelligence, data governance, privacy, and digital public service innovation suggest promising directions for future research. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the evolution of public trust research and offering a roadmap for scholars and policymakers seeking to strengthen trust-centered digital governance practices.
Keywords: Public Trust- Digital Governance- E-Government- Digital Government- Transparency- Accountability- Digital Transformation
Topic: Responsible Governance in the Digital Era: Navigating Transparency, Accountability, and Public Trust (E-Governance- Digital Governance- Transparency- Accountability)
