How Can Faculty Members Produce More Articles?

Abstract

Background: An important challenge for universities and research managers is to motivate faculty members to carry out research and increase the number of articles, which increases the university’s research ranking. The first stage in organizing research in the community is the achievement of a correct understanding of the capabilities and available facilities and realizing the weaknesses and strengths of research programs. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the barriers to research from the perspective of the faculty members of Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Khuzestan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed to determine the barriers to research from the perspective of the faculty members of Dezful University of Medical Sciences. The data collection tool was a questionnaire consisting of two personal information sections and a questionnaire containing 39 items in four domains. The SPSS software (version 21), independent t-test, and analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean age of the participants was 26.9 ± 7.43 years. Additionally, 25 (50%) and 25 (50%) subjects were male and female. Moreover, 34 (68%), 13 (23%), and 3 (6%) participants were working in the Medical School, Nursing School, and Paramedical School, respectively. Conclusions: From the perspective of the faculty members, there were several barriers to research activities, the most important of which was related to the individual domain and financial support for the researcher. Furthermore, the specification of the research process by eliminating cumbersome administrative rules and creating a balance between obligatory hours dedicated to research and education can be an effective stage in the process of performing research activities.