STUDENTS PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND ITS RELATED FACTORS AT MAZANDARAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Soibe Mohammadi, Azita Balaghafari, Seyedeh Fereshteh Rezanezhad, Hasan Siamian*,
Mohammad Vahedi

ABSTRACT

Background and Purpose: Research is a detailed and organized effort in finding the truth. The main mission of the universities of medical sciences is creating suitable circumstances for the production of knowledge in order to solve problems thereby improve public health. The purpose of this study is to determine condition of participation of students in research activities and its relevant factors at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2014-2015. Materials and methods: in this descriptive and cross-sectional study, the study subjects were all of students at the Faculty of Allied of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Stratified random sampling method was used for required data, and the 5-point Likert Scale Questionnaire designated (Very high, high, medium, low and very low) with scores of 1 to 5, respectively. Questionnaire included demographic information and information about the effecting factors on student participation in the research activities. Results: Respondents were 73.8% female and 26.2 % male. The Highest score of effective factors in student participation in research activities in terms of usefulness of acquiring research skills in later life with the mean and SD 3.75± 1.08 (coefficient of variation of .28) and with the lowest are administrative tedious official work, score of 2.52 ± 1.21 (coefficient of variation .44). Discussion: The proposal writing workshops, introduction to the English and Persian resources, practical application of scientific methods in statistics and research methods, as well as attending the lesson research methodology workshop, and coordinating education and research affairs, can help students actively participate in research activities.

Keywords: attitude, research, students.