Presenting a futures research model to improve the quality of research activities in Islamic Azad universities of Mazandaran province

The purpose of this study is to present a futures research model to improve the quality of research activities in Islamic Azad universities of Mazandaran province. The research method was descriptive-survey using a mixed approach. The statistical population in the qualitative phase of the study consisted of 20 faculty members of Islamic Azad universities of Mazandaran province. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population included 700 unit managers and deputies, managers and deputies of faculties, and managers of departments of Islamic Azad universities of Mazandaran province. In the qualitative phase, using purposive sampling method and taking into account the saturation law, 10 participants were selected. In the quantitative phase, 248 participants were selected as the sample using the stratified random sampling method based on the Cochran's formula. The results showed that futures research has two dimensions (organizational and functional) and 12 components, the effect of all of which on futures research was confirmed. Among the dimensions of futures research, the organizational dimension with a factor load of 0.962 had the greatest impact while the functional dimension with a factor load of 0.950 had the least impact. Research activities were found to have seven components, and the effect of all of them on research activities was confirmed. Among the components of research activities, technology cores with a factor load of 0.783 had the greatest impact while the component of publishing articles with a factor load of 0.701 had the least effect. Also, futures studies had a significant effect on the promotion of research activities, and the proposed model had a good fit.