Factors associated with the scientific production of academicians in Social Sciences at UNISON

Abstract

Universities have established themselves as knowledge-generating institutions to such a degree that, in Mexico and Latin America, they are the main spaces to develop research and those who contribute the most to the country’s scientific production. In the context of higher education, research serves as the mission of the university along with teaching and extension of knowledge, becoming an indicator of educational quality measured through the scientific production reported by its researchers. The foregoing has made the universities deploy actions to favor and promote research in their academics. Despite this, disciplinary areas in universities, such as the social sciences, show a lag in scientific activity and its indicators. In relation to the above, the present study aims to investigate the individual factors that favor the scientific production of academics in the Social Sciences division at the Universidad de  Sonora. The study develops a quantitative, non-experimental methodology, having 40 researchers recognized by the SNI as its sample. The results glimpse new practices in scientific production in this area, the epistemological relevance of research training, as well as the challenges it still faces.