Technical communication: A study on knowledge, attitude, and skill among Banaras Hindu University students

Authors

  • Kalyan Ghadei Professor, Department of Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Science, BHU Varanasi
  • Sushree Purabi Panigrahi Research Scholar, Department of Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Science, BHU Varanasi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/jes.2023.39.2.4

Keywords:

Technical Writing, Research skill, Soft Skill, Paper Publications, Knowledge, Attitudes, Communication

Abstract

The best way to write a scientific paper is to know about technical communication.  This type of communication is crucial but the skill is not common among many young  faculties and research scholars.Realizing this problem among university students, the  Department of agricultural extension made a massive campaign to educate young  faculties and PhD scholars on research writing through the IoE project, of Banaras  Hindu University. In this project, different workshops were conducted to enhance  the knowledge and skill of technical writing among the scholars. In the first phase,  workshops were conducted inthe Faculty of Visual Arts, Department of German  Studies, Department of Home science, Department of Geology, Department  of Extension Education,Faculty of Ayurveda, and Institute of Science through  collaboration with experienced instructor and of scientific writing on technical  communication. Seven days’ workshop were conducted in every Faculties.Data were  collected through questionnaire before starting of the workshop and after completion  of the workshops.Approximately 210 scholars attended the research paper writing in  the whole workshop. Conducted during 2021-2022 Subjects covered in the training  was on research paper writing, descriptive data analysis using MS-EXCEL&SPSS  software, academic writing and publication, communication skills, capacity building  in scientific writing & communication skills.By administering self-evaluation  questionnaires immediately before and after each session, students’ confidence, skill  and familiarity with the research writing skills were evaluated. It was found that the  workshop was effective in enhancing the participants’ knowledge, abilities, and self assurance regarding specific technical writing skills in their respective disciplines.  We conclude that a brief, structured workshop can enhance the confidence and  knowledge of bachelor’s, master’s, and research students, thereby better preparing  them for the writing challenges they face in their professional life. This paper  elaborates the change in their knowledge, attitude and skills towards confidence,  research writing and academic publications.  

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adib, A., Zhu, W.-P., & Ahmad, M. O. (2022). From technical writing course assignments to publications: A process review. 2022 IEEE Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (CCECE), 342–347. https://doi.org/10.1109/CCECE49351.2022.9918368

Alaraj, M. (2022). An investigation into technical writing difficulties, causes and solutions. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 28(1), 220–235. https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v28i1.5919

Back, A. L., Arnold, R. M., Baile, W. F., Fryer-Edwards, K. A., Alexander, S. C., Barley, G. E., Gooley, T. A., & Tulsky, J. A. (2007). [Incomplete reference details missing].

Back, A. L., Arnold, R. M., Tulsky, J. A., Baile, W. F., & Fryer-Edwards, K. A. (2003). Teaching communication skills to medical oncology fellows. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21(12), 2433–2436.

Baile, W. F., Kudelka, A. P., Beale, E. A., Glober, G. A., Myers, E. G., Greisinger, A. J., Bast, R. C. Jr., Goldstein, M. G., Novack, D., & Lenzi, R. (1999). [Incomplete reference details missing].

Baile, W. F., Lenzi, R., Parker, P. A., Buckman, R., & Cohen, L. (2002). Oncologists’ attitudes toward and practices in giving bad news: An exploratory study. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 20(8), 2189–2196.

Beckman, H. B., & Frankel, R. M. (2003). Training practitioners to communicate effectively in cancer care: It is the relationship that counts. Patient Education and Counseling, 50(1), 85–89.

Bird, J., & Cohen-Cole, S. A. (1990). The three function model of the medical interview: An educational device. In M. S. Hale (Ed.), Methods in teaching consultation liaison psychiatry (pp. 65–88).

Calub, C. (2021). Improving technical writing skills in the teaching profession. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27201.07520

McGrail, M. R., Rickard, C. M., & Jones, R. (2006). Publish or perish: A systematic review of interventions to increase academic publication rates. Higher Education Research & Development, 25(1), 19–35.

Costantini, M., Morasso, G., Montella, M., Borgia, P., Cecioni, R., Beccaro, M., Sguazzotti, E., & Bruzzi, P. (2006). Efficacy of communication skills training for giving bad news and discussing transitions to palliative care. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167(5), 453–460.

Ferdousi, B. (2022). Acceptance of technology and academic writing: Analyze in perspective of theoretical models. Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 20(5), 94–117. https://doi.org/10.54808/JSCI.20.05.94

Gustafsson, H., & Ferrareto, R. (2021). Interdisciplinary approach to the teaching of technical writing in two technological institutes in Brazil and Norway. Revista Brasileira da Educação Profissional e Tecnológica, 1, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.15628/rbept.2021.11943

Isradi, M., Sari, Y., Rifai, A., Rosyid, A., Hamid, A., & Prasetijo, J. (2022). Mendeley management reference application and scientific writing strategy. The Spirit of Society Journal, 6(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.29138/scj.v6i1.2002

Corli, O., Apolone, G., Pizzuto, M., Cesaris, L., Cozzolino, A., Orsi, L., & Enterri, L. (2009). Illness awareness in terminal cancer patients: An Italian study. Palliative Medicine, 23(4), 354–359.

Khouya, M. (2020). Certificate of excellence “Technical writing skills.” https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.17113.54888

Marshall, D. (2022). Types of technical writing.

Reardon, T., Powell, T., Arnett, J., Logan, M., & Race, C. (2019). Open technical communication.

Safranj, J., Katic, M., & Zivlak, J. (2020). Classification in scientific and technical writing. In Proceedings of GRID 2020 (pp. 1–6). https://doi.org/10.24867/GRID-2020-p52

Safranj, J., Bogdanović, V., & Bulatović, V. (2022). Paragraph development in scientific and technical writing. In Proceedings of GRID 2022 (pp. 593–598). https://doi.org/10.24867/GRID-2022-p65

Takeuchi, M., Pamalla, S., & Roy, D. (2022). Designing a professional e-portfolio to promote 3D printing-based entrepreneurial thinking as a case study: A technical writing project. SHS Web of Conferences, 139, 02007. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202213902007

Wortman-Wunder, E., & Wefes, I. (2020). Scientific writing workshop improves confidence in critical writing skills among trainees in the biomedical sciences. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v21i1.1843

Mowbray, S., & Halse, C. (2010). The purpose of the PhD: Theorising the skills acquired by students. Higher Education Research & Development, 29(6), 653–664.

Morales, E. E., & Trotman, F. K. (2004). Promoting academic resilience in multicultural America: Factors affecting student success (Vol. 29). Peter Lang.

Published

2025-09-30

How to Cite

Ghadei, K., & Purabi Panigrahi, S. (2025). Technical communication: A study on knowledge, attitude, and skill among Banaras Hindu University students. Journal of Extension Systems, 39(2), 20-28. https://doi.org/10.48165/jes.2023.39.2.4