Reasons for Faculty members’ Lack of Interest in Doing Research in the Field of Education from Their Own Perspective in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Evaluation of research barriers in any scientific field is of great significance and can reveal the field’s deficiencies and weaknesses. The aim of this study was to assess the reasons for faculty members’ lack of interest in doing research in the field of education from their own perspective in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on all faculty members of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. The participants were selected through the census method(165). Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire through which faculty members declared their opinions about educational research problems based on a four-point Likert scale from completely disagree to completely agree (1 to 4). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests, and Chi-square test. Results: Out of 165 distributed questionnaires, 137 were completed (83% response rate). The most frequent problem declared by faculty members was the tendency to do research in their own fields. Associate professors complained more than assistant professors and instructors about being busy and having no time for educational research (p=0.017). Also Clinical faculty members complained more than non-clinical faculty members about being busy and having no time for educational research (p=0.009). Conclusion: Results showed a necessity in Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences to make arrangements for planning and running workshops of research in education, and to consider special benefits for faculty members in order to carry out research in the field of education.