An Investigation of Facultie's Views on the Contextual Barriers Affecting Research Activities at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

The main purpose of this study was defining the contextual barriers of research activities in universities. A survey-descriptive method was applied in this research. The statistical population included faculties of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Sample size determination was done by stratified random. Research tool was designed by researcher which its reliability was confirmed by kronbach alpha (α =92.8%) respectively. The findings showed that based on correspondent's views all educational, cultural, political, and strategic barriers are interfering in research activities at the universities. Also, although a significant difference was observed among facultie's views and their gender, academic position, and administrative responsibility, but no significant difference was observed between the facultie's experiences and discipline. Overall it seems that educational reform, institutionalizing the scientific culture in society, avoiding dominant the political approaches over of scientific approaches and paying attention to the main goals and priorities in the policymaking are the major needs in higher education that should be tackled seriously.