Journal of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Research is one of the important tools of decision making and planning which is one of the most basic foundations of community development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the motivational factors affecting research and its barriers from the perspective of faculty members and students at Jiroft University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 154 students and 33 faculty members of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Participants in the study were selected by  convenience sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire including (demographic information, internal and external motivation factors, and inhibitory factors) was used to collect information. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 at a significance level of p≤0.05.
Results: A total of 182 people participated in this study. Among students, 99 (64.3%) were female, 137 (89%) were single, and 42 (27.3%) were medical students. 113 (73.4%) of them had a bachelor's degree. 71 people (46.1%) had a history of participating in research workshops. Among the faculty members of the university, 54.5% were female and who 57.6% were assistant professors and 97% of the faculty members stated that they had participated in research workshops. 23.4% of students and 100% of faculty members had research experience. In both groups of students and faculty members, the interest in doing research with the frequency of 85.7 and 93%, respectively, obtained the highest score. In the external motivation of students and faculty members, respectively, the availability of appropriate research software in conducting research (83.8%) and providing healthy and deep knowledge (84.8%) had the highest frequency in research activities. Among the deterrents of students and faculty members, respectively, the ambiguity of the beginning of the research with a frequency of 67.5% and the weakness of teamwork with a frequency of 60.6% had the highest frequency.

Conclusion: According to the results, both faculty members and students were interested in conducting research activities but the ambiguity of the beginning of the research and the weakness of teamwork were the most common inhibitors. It is necessary for those involved in research domain to plan and take action to remove the existing obstacles while clarifying the research processes and supporting group research.