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A Study on the Presence of Iranian Researchers in Academic Social Networks: A Case Study on the Faculty Members of Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Student of Medicine, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

2 PhD, Knowledge and Information Science, Central Library, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

3 Professor , Biostatistics, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Knowledge and Information Science, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Scientific social networks increase the speed of ‎data transfer through increasing the interaction among researchers in one hand, and result in their dynamism and identification and their scientific ‎productions on the other hand. With regard to the importance of the presence of researchers in such networks, the aim of this study was to investigate the presence and the use of such networks by the faculty members of Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.Methods: In this descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study, 154 faculty members were present at the university during May to September 2016. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were performed at a significant level of 0.050 to analyze the data.Results: 122 faculty members completed the questionnaire and returned it. 59.8% (73) of faculty members were members of at least one scientific social network. The relationship between membership in the Research Gate and academic rank was significant (P = 0.037); so that the membership of the academic degree of the instructor was less than the membership of assistant professors, associate professors, or professors. The most common reason for using scientific social networks was pursuing the activities of other researchers, and the most common reason for non-use was lack of time. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the lack of skills in information retrieval and academic rank (P = 0.004); so that a high percentage (38.5%) of the faculty members stated that they had insufficient skill in data retrieval.Conclusion: The use of scientific social networks will increase the visibility of scientific output, and consequently, increase the citation to the scientific production of the institute, which will lead to the promotion of university research.

Keywords

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Health Information Management
Volume 14, Issue 6 - Serial Number 6
December 2018
Pages 260-266
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