Introduction: The activities of the scientific association in the academic space as a multi-level phenomenon has an extensive theoretical literature in the form of individual actions to interactions in organizational structures as well as organizational structure independent of individuals. The purpose of this study is to investigate the functions and dysfunctions of student scientific associations at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.
Method: The research is applied in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of approach. The research method used to analyze and interpret the findings is thematic analysis and also descriptive-explanatory analysis. According to the careful analysis of the performance and conditions of the scientific associations of the university and to extract its strengths and weaknesses, in-depth interviews were designed with the cultural director, students of the scientific associations and the administrative expert of the scientific association of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (24 interviews). In interpreting interviews with experts, the main purpose is to analyze and compare the content of experts' knowledge. Coding was done manually with tabulation. A total of 290 codes were extracted from the interview texts, of which 129 are related to the positive functions (advantages and strengths) and 161 are to the malfunctions (issues and problems (of the scientific associations.
Finding: The findings of the present study are discussed separately in three sections: benefits, problems and solutions to the problems of the scientific community. These findings showed that gaining dignities are always among the most important social privileges that stimulate individual and collective action that provide a form of volunteer participation and activity. There are many issues regarding the student scientific associations stemming from poor communication, poor structural supervision, poor management of officials, legal ambiguities and the personal interest of the members that have resulted in serious disregard for them.
Conclusion: By examining the history of scientific associations, the type of student activity has shifted from cultural and social concerns to individual concerns; So that Students' top priorities are to further evaluate the benefits of working according to self-interest, regardless of its overall goals and structural plans in scientific associations. The solutions offered are generally stated to solve the problems of the organization and the by-laws. Attention has been paid to the type and level of interaction and internal and external relations, such as creating interaction between the cultural director, the vice chancellor of the faculty and students, using cyberspace in advertisements and information, creating a communication channel to transfer experiences of previous groups, etc. The main concern of many interviewees is financial issues; the solution to this problem is the tendency to financial self-sufficiency through the provision of financial sponsors, holding internal and external university programs, preparing a financial contract with the university and selling scientific research achievements.