Examining the Model of Social Responsibility of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting in Strengthening the Convergence of Ethnic Groups in Sistan and Baluchistan Province

This study, through mixed exploratory method, seeks to explain the model of social responsibility of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting(IRIB) in order to strengthen the convergence of ethnic groups in Sistan and Baluchestan(S&B) province. The data collection tool was semi-structured in-depth  interviews with 15 experts aware of the research topic including academic experts, managers of the  IRIB, and the leaders of the ethnic groups of the province who were all selected through theoretical sampling and targeted and Snowball techniques. The initial model was obtained in the form of data-based theory through content analysis method used in analyzing the collected data. Then the model was modified and approved by the experts through Delphi method. Confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis using SPSS and PLS software were used on the information obtained from the questionnaires distributed among 242 heads of the ethnic groups and tribes in S&B province to test the model,The findings of the study are: 121 key concepts, 34 categories, and 13 main categories which were compiled in the form of the central category (social responsibility of the IRIB in strengthening the convergence of ethnic groups in S&B province), causal conditions (observance of citizenship rights, a tendency to the truth, responsibility and professionalism), underlying conditions (internal and external media environment), intervening conditions (environmental challenges and organizational constraints), strategies (ethnic strategies and organizational strategies), and implications (strengthening the convergence of the ethnic groups in S&B province and promoting IRIB accountability) in the conceptual grounded theories model.