Status of Research in The Arab World - Term Paper Example

Status of Research in The Arab World Research in the Arab World is challenging due to the socio-economic and political factors. Socially, religious beliefs and language barrier is a big hurdle to studying trends in the area of research. Moreover, gender issues also bar researchers from having data collection from both the genders in an inclusive manner. At the same time, low level of education contributes to communication challenge and lack of personnel. On the other hand, economic factors such as lack of funding are a challenge to researchers. Besides, the region lacks facilities and infrastructure that makes low funded research very cumbersome. Politically, the sporadic wars in the area have rendered most of the places insecure with politically unstable governments. However, analysts have come up with ways of circumventing the situation by adopting various approaches of research. The paper elaborates challenges facing research in the Arab world and how they are overcome. Social Challenges in Research in the Arab World Socially, the Arab world has a low level of literacy and high rates of unemployment amongst the graduates in the region. Low levels of education in the place makes it difficult for the research institutes to make big strides, as sourcing labor from other nations is expensive, (Mansour & Al-Shamrani, 2015). At the same time, it is difficult to formulate a research method and topic in such a conditions. Even with well-formulated research methods of analysis, language barrier becomes a challenge towards the execution of the research, (Mansour & Al-Shamrani, 2015). Additionally, recruitment of participants for the studies is not easy due to differences in religious beliefs that hinder women from participating. Moreover the religious believes also teach a dogma that is not easy to penetrate and extract information from the societies, (Mansour & Al-Shamrani, 2015). Initiative that Curbs the Challenges Training the volunteers and prospective personnel who can aid in the research is commendable, to overcome illiteracy,(Mansour & Al-Shamrani, 2015). This involves introducing the data collectors to research methods and explicitly teaching them the approach for the particular research. Besides, communication barrier can be solved by employing multilingual personnel who would assist in data collection as well as the interpretation, (Mansour & Al-Shamrani, 2015). The interpreter should also help in the mediation to have female participants be allowed to take part in the research. However, such strategies are not fully achievable hence; a researcher will need a longer period for the study. Economic Challenges The Arab World lacks support from institutions, governments, and nongovernmental organizations that can fund research work, (Plackett, 2016). Additionally, even the research that began before wars broke in the region suffered due to lack of funds as financers viewed it as risky thus withdrew. Also, the lack of facilities and infrastructure hinders the establishment of research, (Plackett, 2016). The reason for infrastructural concern is that some research requires the installation of geographical positioning systems, a fete that is lacking in the region. The lack of proper infrastructures such as a telecommunication network and internet hinders studies that are dependent on technology, (Plackett, 2016). Apparently, social science studies require communication with participants, a condition that is not possible without proper infrastructure. Initiative that Curbs the Economic Challenges Lack of telecommunication network installation has been solved by the use of APNs and signal enhancers, (Plackett, 2016). However, the researcher such technologies require human resource which is a challenge. Also, to solve the problem of the lack of funds needs a fund drive from the target and prospective financing institutions, (Plackett, 2016). Presenting a strong proposal would enable the target financers to decide on the level of funding they would allocate a particular research, (Plackett, 2016). For instance, studies on the impacts of war and business opportunities due to the peace found in a specific region. Therefore, fundraising and acquisition of facilities and infrastructure are achievable by approaching the government, companies and other institutions that would seem to benefit directly from the project. Political Challenges The revolution in the Arab world has seen most of the governments and systems collapse and failed to resuscitate. Besides, it is difficult for the research to run their programs in an environment that is insecure both for their human resource and investments. The inability of the government of the day and the nongovernmental institutions to convince their financers of the return on investment has seen most studies stop and those in the pipeline halt. Therefore, political instability, lack of security, and assurance of return on investment are challenges towards research work. Initiative that Curbs the Political Challenges The political situation is overcome by signing agreements and treaties with the warring pacts. This would allow for medical and humanitarian studies and research thus benefit the local community. When a pact is achieved, the researcher can incorporate other forms of analyses in the original research that enables them to kill two birds with a stone. At the same time, researchers can operate from the safe regions into the unsafe ones under the protection of universal forces such as the UN. Therefore, the formation of pacts and treaties will enable the researchers to operate in the hot spots. Opportunities for Research funding in the Arab world In the Arab world, the young researchers 24-35 years old are encouraged to take part in the studies in the region. The participants in the region are supported by fund drives such as the ICT Fund of the UAE. Moreover, the governments of the Arab nations encourage the local researchers to take part in the studies to ensure that the GDP is retainable in the place. ICT fund in particular aims at bringing to use the ideas of the locals in the communication industry to ensure it grows, (BETHA, 2017). University students in the Arab world have access to the fund at least for most of a viable project presented to the UAE government, (BETHA, 2017). However, the elderly researchers, 45 years and above lack the amount of support accorded to their juniors. As a result, most of the opportunities available are granted to the younger generation who bring in new ideas in various fields. In conclusion, the challenges researchers pass through in the Arab world include those that are political and socio-economic. Political factors are based on security, political stability, and assurance on return on investment. Social factors include language barrier, religious beliefs, and low literacy levels amongst others. On the economic front, lack of funding is the main issue but it is accompanied by lack of infrastructure and facilities. The conditions are tamable. References BETHA. 2017. RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT: "Enabling practical and applicable innovation that delivers results." Accessed online at https://goo.gl/qJmBHT Lages, C., Pfajfar, G. and Shoham, A. (2015) Challenges in conducting and publishing research on the Middle East and Africa in leading journals. International Marketing Review, 32 (1). Pp. 52­77. ISSN 0265­1335 Access online at  https://doi.org/10.1108/IMR­12­2014­0374  Mansour, N & Al-Shamrani, S. 2015. Science Education in the Arab Gulf States: Visions, Sociocultural Contexts, and Challenges. Sense Publishers. Boston-USA. 4th Edition Plackett, B. (08 Aug 2016). Young Researchers’ Funding Struggles Magnified in the Arab World. Access online at https://goo.gl/pZ5mYj Read More