Content Analysis of Scientific Articles in Agricultural Extension and Education Science in Iran (2009-2013)

Scientific journals are considered as an effective tool for scientific communication and are important indices for scientific development. Content analysis of scientific journals will help planners to improve the researches quality and fill the research gaps. The purpose of this study was content analysis of scientific articles in the field of agricultural extension and education science in Iran from 2009 till 2013. In this descriptive study، the content of 781 published articles in six journals with Scientific-Research grade from Ministry of Science، Research and Technology، were analyzed. In this study، indices such as number of publications، gender، and education level of authors، paradigm and research methodology، sampling and data collection methods، statistical procedure and software and subject areas (scopes) were considered. Data analysis was done by SPSS and Excel using descriptive statistical methods. Results showed، 781 selected articles were written by 2168 authorsand have had 19991 citations، Iranian Journal of Agricultural Extension and Education and Journal of Agricultural Education Administration Research were published the highest number of extension articles. Based on the results، descriptive-correlation and survey research methods were the two most common research methods، also the multivariate regression statistical method was the most common statistical procedure used in the published articles. Subject areas based on their title، abstract، keywords and the body text of articles were categorized in three main areas and 18 sub-categories. The agricultural extension system papers had the highest contribution among three main areas.