Investigation of Research Service Quality of Physical Education Departments in the Islamic Azad University

Enhancing the quality of research services is regarded as a remarkably strategic matter for modern universities. Thus, the universities that excel in this regard will be equipped with a sustained competitive advantage.The current study aimed to evaluate the quality of the research services provided by the physical education departments of the Islamic Azad University, and the Kerman branch was selected as the research site.The current study was applied in terms of purpose and was classified as a survey in terms of data collection. The population consisted of the post-graduate students of the department of physical education in the Islamic Azad University, Kerman (N=۱۷۳). Then, ۹۱ students (۷۰ master’s and ۲۱ Ph.D. students) were selected as the sample using stratified random sampling. The instruments included the ServQual Questionnaire to assess the gap between the quality of service (α=۰.۹۱۵) and Kano’s questionnaire (α=۰.۸۴۴) to identify the research needs of the students. Data analysis was conducted by a non-parametric test (i.e., the Wilcoxon’s test) at p<۰.۰۵) using SPSS۲۲. Moreover, the technique of the highest frequency in Kano’s questionnaire was applied to classify the students’ needs into three groups (i.e., basic, functional, and motivational). In addition, their prioritization was performed by the (Iquality existed in all aspects of the ServQual model. In addition, the classification of the needs according to Kano’s model resulted in ۷ basic needs, ۴ functional needs, and ۴ motivational needs.The authorities of physical education departments should consider the negative gap of the service quality in providing their services and take any necessary step towards enhancing the present condition.

کلیدواژه ها:

quality ، Research service ، Physical education ، ServQual ، Islamic Azad University