Journal of Mathematics Instruction, Social Research and Opinion
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): June

Virtual Reality in Science Education: A Systematic Literature Review on Students’ Learning Motivation

Alifia Hasna Azzah Fillah (Semarang State University)
Arif Widiyatmoko (Semarang State University)
Novi Ratna Dewi (Semarang State University)
Sudarmin Sudarmin (Semarang State University)



Article Info

Publish Date
17 Jun 2026

Abstract

The growing use of Virtual Reality (VR) in science education has attracted considerable attention due to its potential to create immersive, interactive learning experiences. However, previous studies have mainly focused on cognitive outcomes, while research specifically examining students’ learning motivation remains fragmented. Therefore, this study aims to analyze publication trends, country contributions, mapping of academic fields, and the implementation of VR in science education related to students’ learning motivation. This study employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Data were collected from the Scopus database using Publish or Perish 8, covering publications from 2016 to 2026, and 25 selected articles were analyzed qualitatively. The findings indicate that research on VR in science education has increased significantly, particularly after 2020, with the United States, Taiwan, Spain, and China as the major contributors. The studies were dominated by Computer Science and Social Sciences, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of VR research. Furthermore, VR was found to enhance students’ learning motivation through immersive experiences, interactivity, engagement, and contextual visualization. However, excessive immersion may increase cognitive load if not supported by appropriate instructional design. Therefore, VR should be integrated with appropriate pedagogical strategies to create more engaging, student-centered science learning environments.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

misro

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Mathematics Social Sciences

Description

The Journal of Mathematics Instruction, Social Research and Opinion (MISRO) is a peer-reviewed scholarly online journal. The MISRO is published in March, July, and November three times a year. The MISRO is a non-profit journal whose publication is free of charge. The articles should be original, ...