Elgamri Alya, Mohammed Zeinab, El-Rhazi Karima, Shahrouri Manal, Ahram Mamoun, Al-Abbas Al-Mubarak, Silverman Henry
University of Khartoum.
Beni-Suef University.
Res Sq. 2023 Jul 14:rs.3.rs-3129329. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3129329/v1.
Studies have shown an underrepresentation of researchers from lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the research literature compared with their counterparts in high-income countries. We aimed to explore Arab researchers' challenges regarding conducting and publishing research in peer-reviewed journals.
We used a descriptive qualitative study design of semi-structured in-depth interviews. Using purposive sampling, we recruited participants from four Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated to English if the original language was Arabic or French. We analyzed the transcripts using reflexive thematic analysis. Several authors independently coded the transcripts and agreed on the identified codes, themes, and subthemes.
We performed 17 interviews: three from Egypt, six from Jordan, four from Morocco, and four from Sudan. Our participants' comments were divided into three broad categories with associated themes and subthemes. The first regards the conduct of research (themes of inadequate quality of research, insufficient research resources, and nonsuppurative research environment). The second category involves the publishing process (themes of poor scientific writing skills and difficulties navigating the publishing and peer-reviewed system). The third regards international collaborations and the final category recommends methods to address the challenges. Our recommendations include: enhancing the institutional research culture, increasing funding mechanisms, establishing mentoring programs and workshops on research methodology and scientific writing, and increasing the representation of LMICs on the editorial staff.
Identifying the challenges of Arab researchers in publishing original and quality research would guide programs tailored and targeted toward Arab scholars' needs.
研究表明，与高收入国家的研究人员相比，中低收入国家（LMICs）的研究人员在研究文献中的代表性不足。我们旨在探讨阿拉伯研究人员在同行评审期刊上开展研究和发表论文方面面临的挑战。
我们采用了半结构化深度访谈的描述性定性研究设计。通过目的抽样，我们从中东和北非的四个阿拉伯国家招募了参与者。所有访谈均进行了录音、转录，如果原始语言是阿拉伯语或法语，则翻译成英语。我们使用反思性主题分析对转录本进行了分析。几位作者独立对转录本进行编码，并就确定的代码、主题和子主题达成一致。
我们进行了17次访谈：3次来自埃及，6次来自约旦，4次来自摩洛哥，4次来自苏丹。我们参与者的评论分为三大类，伴有相关主题和子主题。第一类涉及研究的开展（研究质量不足、研究资源不足和非化脓性研究环境等主题）。第二类涉及发表过程（科学写作技能差以及在发表和同行评审系统中遇到困难等主题）。第三类涉及国际合作，最后一类推荐应对挑战的方法。我们的建议包括：加强机构研究文化、增加资助机制、建立研究方法和科学写作方面的指导计划和研讨会，以及增加中低收入国家在编辑人员中的代表性。
识别阿拉伯研究人员在发表原创性和高质量研究方面的挑战，将指导针对阿拉伯学者需求量身定制和有针对性的计划。
