Analyzing communication apprehension of engineering students of Pakistan for workplace environment

Abstract

Communication apprehension is present in academic and non academic settings that affect oral presentation performance of engineering students. The purpose of this research was to explore communication apprehension prevailing among engineering students of Pakistan. Ten (10) engineering students from two engineering universities of Pakistan participated in this study. Purposive sampling method was used since respondents were selected on specific criteria of only final year engineering students. All presentations were video recorded to capture communication apprehension related barriers that influenced effective oral presentation performance of engineering students. Data were analyzed qualitatively using oral presentation assessment rubric based on four communication apprehension traits such as oral communication skill, credibility or confidence, gestures or purposeful use of body and appearance nervous mannerism. Three assessors assessed these presentations to overcome researcher bias. The results of the study revealed that communication apprehension affected oral communication skill and credibility or confidence of engineering students. In addition, due to communication apprehension they faced nervousness during oral presentation performance. The findings of the study can be used as a guideline to overcome communication apprehension of engineering students to prepare them productive engineers for modern industry.