HCI Research in the Middle East and North Africa: A Bibliometric and Socioeconomic Overview

The field of human-computer interaction (HCI) is a growing area of research. However, its ascendancy and evolution is not understood in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which is knocking on the doors of innovation and technological advancements. In our analysis, we present a bibliometric and socioeconomic overview of the progress of HCI research in the MENA region. Using a pool of 10 premier venues in the discipline, we extracted 549 papers. We show that authors from high-income MENA countries are the most prolific in terms of both research output and first authorship and that authors from upper-middle-income countries are more likely to publish their work in journals. The topical focus of conducted research was also observed to vary as per the socioeconomic category to which a country belonged to. The USA emerged as the standout collaborative partner of the MENA region, and there was an observed lack of intra-MENA associations. We conclude with the assertion that additional efforts are warranted to promote collaborations amongst the region. Our work is one of the first attempts to quantitatively chart the development of HCI in the MENA region using the socioeconomic level of a country as an important predictor.

Automated summary

Research in the field of HCI in the MENA region shows that authors from high-income countries have higher research output, while those from upper-middle-income countries are more likely to publish in journals. The thematic focus of research varies based on a country's socioeconomic category, with the USA being a prominent partner and a lack of intra-MENA collaborations observed. Efforts are needed to promote more collaborations within the region.