Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the rate of using online social networks by researchers of Middle East countries and purpose of them to join these networks.
Methodology: The study approach was survey-comparative performed by non-percent stratified randomized sampling. The statistical population consisted of all researchers of Middle East countries; then, according to the sample, we sent the questionnaire to 728 of them. This questionnaire was researcher-made and so, 444 of the researchers replied it. Reliability of the questionnaire was tested by the Cronbach's alpha method and the result was 0.79. We used descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, Chi-squared test, and One-way ANOVA to answer the research questions.
Finding: Scholars of Kuwait, United Arabic Emirates, and Qatar had the most rate of using interconnected online social networks. Also, researchers of Bahrain, the United Arabic Emirates, and Syria showed the highest rate of presence in social networks. Visibility, increased citation, and sharing of articles by researchers of Middle East countries have been the major goals of using scientific social networks.
Conclusion: Totally, it can be inferred that the rate of using scientific social networks by researchers of Middle East countries is not satisfactory and these networks have still not found their deserved place among these researchers.
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