Developing a Conceptual Framework for the Scientific Social Networks using Metasynthesis Method

Scientific social networks play an important role in creating, organizing, storing, sharing, disseminating, and using information and knowledge among scientific communities and accelerate and facilitate the processes of information and knowledge management and communication among them. So the purpose of this research was to identify the dimensions and components of scientific social networks and to present its conceptual framework. This applied research has used a metasynthesis approach and library methods. A total of 50 sources out of 325 sources were selected for the meta-study and 170 codes, 25 concepts and 8 categories extracted. To analyze the data, seven step-by-step methods of Sandelowski and Barroso have been used. The findings showed that the components of scientific social networks, including: Management (science development, information management and knowledge management); Technology (information systems, scientific social websites, social networks); Culture (scientific behavior, scientific view, environmental and social factors); Communications (communication types and tools); Learning (education, content and cooperation); Personal characteristics (expert, skill, interest and motivation); Scientific performance (product, evaluation, assessment and scientific levels), and Legal issues (copyright and security) affect each other and scientific social networks. The proposed conceptual framework can be used for design, evaluation of success, assessment of status, prediction and pathology of scientific social networks in the scientific societies and centers.