Designing and implementing a social network for Laboratory researchers in health

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Today, academic social networks facilitate research processes while improving collaboration between researchers to increase research resources' efficiency and effectiveness. Objective: This study aimed to design and implement a social network of laboratory researchers in the field of health. Methods and Materials: This applied study, which had four main objectives, was conducted in 2020 using different research methods. Using a review study, comparative study, and interview with researchers, the first goal is to obtain the site's requirements. In the second goal, using the Delphi technique, drawing the Scheme of this site was determined, and after determining the different infrastructures and the Scheme of the site, this social network was created. The site's usability was checked using the users' opinions and using different software; the site's technical condition was examined in the third step. This site's various functions were examined using social network analysis, interview, and Web QEM methods for the final purpose. Results: The needs of the designed social network were classified into seven categories and included communication platforms (18 items), user management (8 items), citation management (10 items), navigation and guidance (16 items), and maintenance, security, and privacy (18 items) and intelligence features (24 items) and general features (15 items). According to the evaluation, this software's useability in all dimensions was 60 to 80%; The weakest dimension was the ease of use (60%). The most vital dimension was related to social network capabilities (71%). Conclusion: According to the views of stakeholders, this social network has good usability. Using various techniques and tools, it was determined that this social network technically follows the desired standards. The performance of this social network was also evaluated as desirable from the perspective of experts.