Knowledge Sharing; Missing Link in the Scientific Communities

Changes in epistemological paradigms results to transition of "The power of knowledge" to knowledge sharing paradigm. Knowledge sharing in universities and institutes of higher education is of high significance, for the teaching staff and students are situated in a competitive process of creation and production of knowledge and its ultimate sharing. The objective of the present quantitative study is to develop a paradigmatic model for knowledge sharing in scientific communities. The data collection was through interview and using targeted sampling and theoretical saturation criterion. The sample constituted of fifteen faculty members of the Tabriz University. The findings of the paper show the seven important factors for knowledge sharing in viewpoint of the faculty members: between religious approach and practice; feeling of power through imprisonment of knowledge; weakness in academic social capital; fear of copying; undesirability of university services; and lack of motivate elements. The key concept or central category in this research is the concept of “imprisonment of knowledge”. What can be inferred from the remarks of the participants indicates that the faculty members in universities through imprisonment of knowledge and scientific domination and becoming outstanding in their fields try to obtain credit, respect and most importantly power.