English abstract
The study aims to examine the use of professional social networks among faculty members of social and humanity colleges at SQU in instruction, research and scientific communication. In addition, it aims to identify the Barriers that prevent them from using these professional social networks. The study used a mixed approach which combined qualitative and quantitative methods. The questionnaire tool was used for quantitative data collection from the study population which consisted of 386 faculty members. The interview was used as a secondary tool to collect detailed data that helped in interpreting the questionnaire results. The SPSS system was used to analyze the 192 questionnaires that were collected from the population of the study. The qualitative data were analyzed using the ATLAS.ti software. The study revealed the following results:
1- 68.2% of the studied faculty members use professional social networks. 2- Faculty members give a lot of attention to the activation and use of professional social networks in instruction, research and academic communication with other faculty members and students. 3- Administrative and professional difficulties constitute obstacles in the way of using professional social networks by the users of this category of social networks. On the other hand, technical and technological difficulties prevent the nonuser's category from using professional social networks. 4- The results showed significant statistical differences at the level of (a=0.05) in the college variable. The differences between the College of Economics and Political Science and the College of Education were in favor of the latter. The results also revealed an interaction between the college variable and the academic rank variable; the F score was (2.62), which is statistically significant at (a=0.05). The study proposed a number of recommendations to help in increasing the use of professional social networks among faculty members. Mainly, SQU administration needs to raise awareness about professional social networks among faculty members and to encourage them to use these networks by highlighting their importance in facilitating education, research and academic communication.
