The purpose of this study was to examine research trends in dance education for elementary school students in an effort to determine the accurate state of elementary dance education, problems with it and the flow of research. After 161 papers were selected, the selected papers were analyzed in terms of year, research institution, type of education, research method, educational program and content, and statistical data on frequency and percentage were presented by using Excel. The findings of the study were as follows:
First, as a result of analyzing the papers by year, only one study (0.6%) was conducted in 1996 and 1998 respectively, which was the lowest frequency. There was a gradual increase in the number of studies in and after 2000, but only five(3.1%) and four(2.5%) studies were implemented in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Afterwards, 17 studies(1O.6%) were conducted in 2007, and a lot of studies had been conducted from then on.
Second, as a result of analyzing the studies by research institution, the number of theses was 156(96.9%), and that of dissertations was five (3.1%). The theses outnumbered the dissertations.
Third, as a result of analyzing the papers by type of education, nonacademic education was most widely covered, which 83 papers(51.6%) dealt with. 55 studies(34.2%) dealt with academic education, and 23 studies(14.3%) didn’t give any specific information the type of education or didn’t mention it at all.
Fourth, as a result of analyzing the papers by research method, research studies were most prevailing, which were conducted in 68 studies(42.2%). The second most common research method was experimental research(1)(survey), which was conducted in 66 studies (41%). The third most dominant research method was experimental research(2)(measuring physiological changes), which was carried out in 20 studies(l2.4%). Participant observation and in-depth interview were conducted in six studies(3.7%), and video feedback was used in one study(O.6%). The frequency of these methods was lower than that of research study and experimental research.
Fifth, as a result of analyzing the papers by educational program, the largest number of the studies that was 46(28.6%) didn’t mention the specific genre of the educational programs. The second most frequent programs were dance-for-all programs(40 studies, 24.S%) and creative dance programs (38, 23.6%). The other kinds of programs weren’t conducted a lot. Ballet programs were conducted in 10 studies(6.2%), and other programs that included motion development programs, imagery dance programs and multiple intelligence theory programs were used in nine studies(5.6%). Integrated art education programs were utilized in five studies(3.1%); Hanaro model of instructions in three studies(1.9%); and modern dance programs in one study (0.6%).
Sixth, as for analysis of the papers by content, which domain was examined in the studies that dealt with a single domain was analyzed. And it’s found that the affective domain was most examined(66 studies, 41%), followed by the social domain(24, 14.9%), the physical domain(18, 11.2%) and the cognitive domain(17, 10.6%). Which domains were examined in the studies that dealt with two domains or more was analyzed, and the affective and social domains were most examined(21, 13%), followed by the affective and physical domains(eight, 5%) and other domains(two, 1.2%).