research title about communication skills

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178 Communication Research Topics For Your Paper

Imagine what the world would be without communication! How would we get along? I guess there would be no sense in existing after all. That is just a tiny snippet of how important communication is in everyday life. Exchanging information is a key component of coexistence as it creates order and a sense of satisfaction in the end.

However, communication as a discipline cuts across all other niches in the academic world. Students from an Engineering course would also take up communication as a unit of study. Students delve into the transmission, representation, reception, and decoding of information communicated to a greater extent.

Situations When You May Need To Write A Communication Paper

Various scenarios call for a communication paper either as an assignment or a research project in college. The communication papers needed for every situation vary in format and outline. Here are some of the cases when communication papers are necessary:

When writing a resume or cover letter In presentations and reports Internal or external communication in a company Writing a thesis statement

When writing communication papers in these different scenarios, students can develop the following aspects:

Understand the various communication phenomena Ability to direct communication messages towards accomplishing individual and organizational goals Understand various types of communication such as rhetoric, interpersonal or organizational

Such an assignment is peculiar because it deals with students’ communication processes. Therefore, the student can easily relate a communication assignment to the real-world environment.

You will have to conduct extensive digging before writing your paper like any other research project. In writing a communication research paper, you will benefit from the importance of communication in general, such as building better relationships and finding the right solutions to various problems.

It takes a lot of time to create a high-quality writing, so you have all the right to ask dissertation writers for hire to help.

Guidelines On Structure And Step By Step Tips On Writing

To have an award-winning communication paper, you need to understand that structure is always at the heart of it all. A great communication paper follows the structure below:

Solid intro : Begin by presenting a captivating introduction by highlighting the facts, questions, or problems that you will explore in the body. The reader should find more than a million reasons to proceed with your essay by reading the first two lines. A strong thesis statement is also necessary for the introduction. An insightful literature review : It shows the theoretical basis of your research project, thus giving it validity. An in-depth literature review will give room for exploration and further research. Main body : This is where we expect to find all your findings, methodological steps, concepts, analyses, and the outcome. Discussion and conclusion : Depending on your professor’s instructions, you can divide this into two parts or put it as one. In either case, this section will consist of the strengths and weaknesses of your research and any future development or improvements. You could also compare the results found in your research with what other authors have discovered.

Provided you have all your facts at hand, a communication research paper will be the easiest you will ever handle in college. Nonetheless, you can order a custom paper from various online writing experts.

If you want to make an impression with your communication research paper, here are some tips to consider:

Select a thought-provoking and captivating research topic Have a working outline with all the arguments and examples/evidence in place Ensure that you exhaust reading all the possible research materials on your topic Such papers are always in the first person except in unique cases

You can review some of the samples on our essay writer to familiarize yourself with the structure and outline of a communication research paper.

Let’s now explore 178 of the hottest communication research topics to ace your project:

World-Class Communication Research Topics For College Students

Understanding the historical research methods in communication
Discuss the relationship between technology, media, and culture
Evaluate the various revolutions in human communication
Discuss the developments made in the invention of human speech and language
The role of image-making, cinema, and media entertainment in communication
How to overcome communication barriers among students
Steps in encouraging participation in meetings
How employees contribute to the information flow in organizations
How to evaluate a report based on its findings
Sources of error during nonverbal communication
How the media can match the channels of communication to their audience
Ensuring audience attention during a presentation
The impact of graphics in communication strategies
How to interpret non-verbal signals
Developing communication methods that match a given purpose

Possible Topics For Communication Research

How to develop realistic communication strategies
Discuss the economics of finance in communication processes
How exposure to radio and TV impacts communication
How to manage controversial issues in communication
Why speaking with confidence is still difficult for many people
The effectiveness of communicating with words and body language
Why defining your purpose is key in any communication process
Why explanatory communication is more difficult than informative communication
The place of communication in long-distance relationships
Communication strategies that influence people
How to use communication effectively for conflict resolution
Developing your self-esteem for effective communication
Effects of redundancy in communication processes
The place of responsibility in developing communication messages
How to acquire effective communication skills in college

Latest Communication Topic For Research

The role of persuasive dialogue in negotiations
Why everyone must learn proper expression strategies
Effects of emoji and other characters in enhancing textual conversations
The role of propaganda in shaping communication tones
Evaluate the unique political language used in America versus Africa
The continuing impact of the internet on interpersonal communication
How images are enhancing communication
Discuss the effects of gender victimization on communication
Evaluate the development of modern digital communication
How to effectively communicate during a war or crisis
How hacking is transforming communication of encrypted messages
Effects of stereotyping in developing communication messages
Is virtual reality ruining effective communication?
Evaluate language as a barrier in communicating messages
The role of empathy in communicating to victims of a disaster

Top-Notch Communication Research Paper Topics

The role of diplomacy in fostering better relations among countries
Why aided communication may not achieve the intended purpose
Effects of using a translator in the communication of critical messages
Evaluate the development of audio-visual devices for communication
The dangers of failing to notice barriers to communication
How stigma and prejudice impact effective communication
Discuss the impact of having a common language in a country
How social classes affect communication messages
Factors that hinder communication between fighting political sides
How to develop strong communication skills in a marketplace
Why opinions may prevent one from seeing the true picture
Discuss the role of fantasy and exaggeration in communication
Differences between oral and verbal messages in conveying information
The role of attitude and mood in enhancing effective message delivery
How the media sets the communication pattern of a given society

Highly Rated Mass Communication Research Topics

Discuss the essence of social media among PR practitioners
The role of mass media in rebranding a nation
Challenges to media freedom and their impact on proper communication
Discuss the effects of news commercialization and their credibility
How TV advertisements impact children and their development
Compare and contrast between animation and real-people adverts in mass media
How the internet affects professionalization in news media
How mass media messages contribute to the development of religion in Africa
Evaluate the radio listenership patterns between men and women
How does mass media contribute to an emerging democracy
Discuss how the media enlightens the public on issues of concern
The role of mass media in communicating development messages
Why mass media is critical before, during, and after elections
Assess the influence of community radio in remote areas
How mass media contributes to national integration

Good Communication Research Topics

What determines consumer preference patterns in the 21 st century?
Effective communication strategies for creating awareness against drug abuse
Prospects and challenges of local dialects in communication
Evaluate the influence of television on public opinion
Discuss the growing cyberactivism in the digital age
How social media is contributing to misleading information
Challenges facing teachers when communicating to pre-school students
Discuss the impact of information overload on the credibility of information
Evaluate communication patterns among the youth in the US
Assess the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on communication patterns
How public perception influences communication strategies
Explain how mothers learn to communicate with and understand their babies at such a tender age
The role of music in shaping communication models
How to overcome the challenge of top-down communication in companies
Management of information on online media for effective use

Business Communication Research Paper Topics

Discuss the increasing role of influencers on brand marketing
Why company blogs are essential in attracting new clients
Evaluate the differences between face to face and virtual business meetings
The growing popularity of social media in business marketing
Why every company should have a partner relations department
Dealing with complaints in a relaxed and useful manner
Why online project management is the future of business
Discuss why it is necessary to have company retreats
Explore the role of digital document sharing in speeding up business communication
Effects of relying on online communication at the expense of physical meetings
The role of effective business management in the performance of an organization
How staff motivation improve the overall working environment
Discuss the place of corporate social responsibility in a company
Effective ways of handling crisis in a large company
Explain why trust is important in any business partnerships

Intercultural Communication Research Topics

Discuss how Muslims interact with Christians at a social level
Evaluate the reception of instructions from a man to a woman
How Americans interact with Africans at the basic level
Discuss how an American Democrat would associate with a Chinese politician
Discuss the impact of marginalization in developing communication messages
How migration and immigration affect communication patterns
Effects of social stereotyping in communication
How do Western communication models differ from those of Africa?
Impact of discriminatory communication messages
How to organize an effective intergroup come-together
How the media represents various groups in its communication
Effects of the growing intercultural norms
The role of language attitudes in inhibiting effective communication
Evaluate how ethnographic perspectives affect communication messages
Why it is difficult to solve intercultural conflicts

Additional Interpersonal Communication Topics For Research Paper

The role of interpersonal communication in team member satisfaction
How collaboration and teamwork enhances business success
Discuss how interpersonal communication enhances problem-solving skills
The role of trust in interpersonal communication
Effects of confusion, negativity, and conflicts on interpersonal communication
How to deal with workplace miscommunication effectively
The role of personalizing information
How to improve internal communication channels in a company
Discuss the role of interests in communication patterns
Challenges when implementing modern communication solutions
Evaluate how jargon and inattention make internal communication difficult
The role of feedback in interpreting messages correctly
Discuss the influence of environmental factors in communication
Why miscommunication may result in a disconnect among a group of people
Discuss the role of skills and knowledge in effective communication among leaders

Interesting Communication Research Topics

How can effective interpersonal communication be a catalyst for action
Why a focused and intentional approach is necessary for effective communication
Discuss why online dating is not successful in most cases
Evaluate the role of non-verbal communication and customer satisfaction
Why is it important to have a list of communication networks?
Effects of lack of personal contact when it comes to communication
Discuss the various forms of human interactions and their influence on communication
The role of clear communication during an organizational change process
Why online communication is not as effective as physical meetings
Evaluate the roles and issues involved in a nurse-patient communication
The role of TV shows in determining how people relate to each other in the society
Effects of the digital divide in communication paradigms
The relationship between quality leadership and effective communication
Why is email still not yet an effective communication medium?
Effects of integrating marketing communication

General Communication Studies Research Topics

Discuss the differences in body language between male and female
The role of communication in familiarizing with someone
How online gaming communication affects one’s interpersonal communication
Why a leader without proper communication skills may not succeed
The role of communication in achieving an organization’s vision
How mobile phone conversations are turning around interpersonal communication
Discuss the role of different personality types in communication
Is there a difference between language and communication?
Discuss how communication in the military is different from that in a normal setting
Compare and contrast between written and spoken forms of communication
Why family communication is critical for a peaceful coexistence
Shortcomings to understanding foreign languages
Discuss the effectiveness of web-based communication

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300+ Communication Research Topics

Communication is an essential aspect of our everyday lives. It is the backbone of human interaction and the foundation of relationships, both personal and professional. As technology continues to advance, the ways in which we communicate are constantly evolving, and with it, new research topics emerge. Communication research spans a wide range of disciplines, including psychology , sociology , linguistics, and anthropology , among others. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most fascinating and relevant communication research topics that are shaping our understanding of human interaction in the modern age.

Communication Research Topics

Communication Research Topics are as follows:

The effectiveness of nonverbal communication in virtual interactions
Cross-cultural communication in multinational corporations
The role of social media in shaping public opinion
The impact of technology on interpersonal communication skills
The influence of language barriers on intercultural communication
Gender differences in communication styles
The effect of communication on workplace culture
The role of communication in conflict resolution
The impact of communication technology on long-distance relationships
Communication strategies for virtual teams
The effects of communication on employee motivation
The role of communication in leadership
The impact of communication on consumer behavior
The role of communication in healthcare
The effects of communication on public relations
The impact of communication on customer satisfaction
The role of communication in organizational change
The effect of communication on employee turnover
The impact of communication on job satisfaction
The role of communication in team building
The effects of communication on organizational performance
The impact of communication on decision-making processes
The role of communication in crisis management
The effect of communication on organizational culture
The impact of communication on sales performance
The role of communication in cross-functional teams
The effects of communication on knowledge sharing
The impact of communication on customer loyalty
The role of communication in innovation
The effect of communication on supply chain management
The impact of communication on project management
The role of communication in talent management
The effects of communication on employee engagement
The impact of communication on stakeholder engagement
The role of communication in organizational learning
The effect of communication on team performance
The impact of communication on organizational trust
The role of communication in change management
The effects of communication on organizational agility
The impact of communication on organizational creativity
The role of communication in knowledge management
The effect of communication on brand reputation
The impact of communication on employee well-being
The role of communication in corporate social responsibility
The effects of communication on customer experience
The impact of communication on organizational ethics
The role of communication in performance management
The effect of communication on talent retention
The impact of communication on organizational identity
The role of communication in customer retention.
The role of communication in sustainable development
The effects of communication on political campaigns
The impact of communication on public policy-making
The role of communication in disaster management
The effects of communication on environmental activism
The impact of communication on public health campaigns
The role of communication in social movements
The effects of communication on intergroup relations
The impact of communication on cultural identity
The role of communication in multicultural societies
The effects of communication on media literacy
The impact of communication on civic engagement
The role of communication in social capital formation
The effects of communication on online communities
The impact of communication on democracy
The role of communication in public opinion formation
The effects of communication on conspiracy theories
The impact of communication on media bias
The role of communication in international relations
The effects of communication on peacebuilding
The impact of communication on diplomacy
The role of communication in conflict transformation
The effects of communication on human rights advocacy
The impact of communication on transitional justice
The role of communication in gender equality
The effects of communication on sexual health education
The impact of communication on youth empowerment
The role of communication in rural development
The effects of communication on poverty reduction
The impact of communication on economic growth
The role of communication in cultural diplomacy
The effects of communication on virtual reality
The impact of communication on artificial intelligence
The role of communication in e-commerce
The effects of communication on online privacy
The impact of communication on cybersecurity
The role of communication in online education
The effects of communication on online activism
The impact of communication on social media addiction
The role of communication in mental health awareness
The effects of communication on healthcare disparities
The impact of communication on health policy
The role of communication in crisis communication
The effects of communication on risk perception
The impact of communication on disaster preparedness
The role of communication in community development
The effects of communication on community resilience
The impact of communication on community participation
The role of communication in public safety
The effects of communication on public transportation planning.
The role of communication in mental health treatment and recovery
The role of communication in digital transformation
The role of communication in artificial intelligence ethics
The role of communication in promoting mental health
The role of communication in building trust in virtual teams
The role of communication in corporate crisis management
The effects of communication on intercultural marriage satisfaction
The impact of communication on peacekeeping missions
The role of communication in human resource management
The effects of communication on emotional labor in the workplace
The impact of communication on healthcare provider-patient relationships
The role of communication in social entrepreneurship
The effects of communication on virtual trust building
The impact of communication on environmental education
The role of communication in cultural preservation
The effects of communication on online learning engagement
The impact of communication on social media platform regulations
The role of communication in organizational change management
The effects of communication on virtual reality gaming experiences
The impact of communication on urban resilience
The role of communication in feminist movements
The effects of communication on disaster response coordination
The impact of communication on social support networks
The role of communication in intergenerational caregiving
The effects of communication on online privacy policies comprehension
The impact of communication on indigenous language revitalization
The role of communication in intercultural conflict resolution
The effects of communication on political polarization in social media
The impact of communication on digital literacy
The role of communication in online community management
The effects of communication on virtual team communication satisfaction
The impact of communication on sustainable transportation practices
The role of communication in multicultural counseling
The effects of communication on e-commerce return policies
The impact of communication on sustainable agriculture practices
The role of communication in social media influencer marketing
The effects of communication on intercultural collaboration in the workplace
The impact of communication on online safety education
The role of communication in social enterprise management
The effects of communication on virtual team conflict management
The impact of communication on public perception of scientific research
The role of communication in public-private partnerships
The effects of communication on ethical decision-making in the workplace
The impact of communication on online civic engagement
The role of communication in sustainable tourism development
The effects of communication on online engagement in political campaigns
The impact of communication on cross-cultural adaptation
The role of communication in virtual reality tourism
The effects of communication on online privacy protection behaviors
The impact of communication on sustainable waste management practices
The role of communication in sustainable urban development
The effects of communication on intercultural sensitivity in healthcare
The impact of communication on environmental activism mobilization
The role of communication in conflict-sensitive journalism
The effects of communication on virtual team decision-making.
The effects of communication on online consumer behavior
The impact of communication on community resilience in disaster recovery
The role of communication in climate change communication campaigns
The effects of communication on intergenerational communication in the workplace
The impact of communication on patient satisfaction in virtual healthcare delivery
The effects of communication on political participation of marginalized groups
The impact of communication on workplace communication satisfaction
The role of communication in virtual event marketing
The effects of communication on online privacy perceptions
The impact of communication on workplace stress and burnout
The role of communication in promoting social responsibility in the workplace
The effects of communication on consumer perceptions of brand personality
The impact of communication on healthcare provider-patient communication
The role of communication in promoting ethical behavior in the workplace
The effects of communication on online self-disclosure
The impact of communication on intercultural business negotiations
The role of communication in promoting cultural diversity in the workplace
The effects of communication on intergenerational family communication
The impact of communication on online privacy protection behavior
The role of communication in promoting social justice in the workplace
The effects of communication on social media influencer marketing
The impact of communication on intercultural adaptation
The role of communication in promoting sustainable consumption behavior
The effects of communication on online information seeking behavior
The impact of communication on consumer trust in online reviews
The role of communication in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding
The effects of communication on intercultural friendship formation
The impact of communication on workplace conflict resolution
The role of communication in promoting cross-cultural communication in international business
The effects of communication on online trust in e-commerce
The impact of communication on intercultural empathy development
The role of communication in promoting environmental sustainability behavior
The effects of communication on intercultural communication competence in healthcare
The impact of communication on employee engagement in the workplace
The role of communication in promoting cross-generational communication in families
The effects of communication on social media addiction among adolescents
The impact of communication on cross-cultural virtual teamwork
The role of communication in promoting ethical consumption behavior
The effects of communication on online privacy concerns
The impact of communication on intercultural negotiation in international business
The role of communication in promoting cultural humility in healthcare
The effects of communication on social media influencer authenticity perception
The impact of communication on intercultural trust development
The role of communication in promoting sustainable tourism behavior
The effects of communication on online privacy awareness and education
The impact of communication on cross-generational conflict resolution in families
The role of communication in promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding
The effects of communication on cross-cultural communication competence in education.
The effects of communication on workplace productivity
The role of communication in interfaith dialogue
The effects of communication on online privacy and security
The impact of communication on virtual reality gaming
The role of communication in online sports fandom
The effects of communication on digital advertising effectiveness
The impact of communication on virtual reality marketing
The role of communication in community resilience to natural disasters
The effects of communication on citizen journalism
The impact of communication on social media influencer marketing
The effects of communication on intercultural communication competence
The impact of communication on virtual reality training
The role of communication in promoting physical health
The effects of communication on social media use and addiction
The impact of communication on social media engagement
The role of communication in promoting sustainable fashion
The impact of communication on virtual reality tourism
The role of communication in promoting intercultural understanding
The effects of communication on media framing and bias
The impact of communication on social media analytics and metrics
The role of communication in promoting gender equality in the workplace
The effects of communication on online censorship and freedom of speech
The impact of communication on virtual reality art and design
The role of communication in promoting intergenerational understanding
The effects of communication on media ownership and control
The impact of communication on virtual reality education
The role of communication in promoting sustainable transportation
The effects of communication on virtual reality entertainment
The impact of communication on virtual reality shopping
The role of communication in promoting sustainable agriculture
The effects of communication on virtual reality real estate
The impact of communication on virtual reality healthcare
The role of communication in promoting sustainable urban development
The effects of communication on virtual reality architecture and engineering
The impact of communication on virtual reality sports training
The role of communication in promoting sustainable food systems
The effects of communication on online political polarization
The impact of communication on virtual reality socialization
The role of communication in promoting sustainable tourism
The effects of communication on virtual reality fashion and beauty
The impact of communication on virtual reality mental health therapy
The role of communication in promoting sustainable energy consumption
The effects of communication on virtual reality music and entertainment
The impact of communication on virtual reality healthcare training
The role of communication in promoting sustainable waste management
The effects of communication on virtual reality journalism and news reporting.
The effects of communication on social influence
The impact of communication on public trust
The role of communication in virtual reality therapy
The effects of communication on intercultural empathy
The impact of communication on workplace diversity and inclusion
The role of communication in online reputation management
The effects of communication on e-commerce customer reviews
The impact of communication on virtual team performance
The role of communication in international business negotiations
The effects of communication on social justice movements
The impact of communication on corporate social responsibility practices
The role of communication in virtual leadership
The effects of communication on social media activism
The impact of communication on online hate speech
The role of communication in conflict prevention
The effects of communication on global citizenship
The impact of communication on gender-based violence prevention
The role of communication in disaster risk reduction
The effects of communication on online misinformation
The impact of communication on mental health stigma reduction
The role of communication in virtual healthcare delivery
The effects of communication on brand loyalty
The impact of communication on consumer trust
The role of communication in political polarization
The effects of communication on civic education
The impact of communication on intercultural competence development
The role of communication in environmental conservation
The effects of communication on sustainable tourism practices
The impact of communication on urban planning
The role of communication in disaster recovery
The effects of communication on digital privacy advocacy
The impact of communication on public health policy-making
The role of communication in global governance
The effects of communication on intergenerational communication
The impact of communication on organizational innovation
The role of communication in virtual event planning
The effects of communication on virtual networking
The impact of communication on language revitalization efforts
The role of communication in community policing
The effects of communication on virtual team building
The impact of communication on online education effectiveness
The role of communication in food security efforts
The effects of communication on intercultural education
The impact of communication on media ownership and control
The role of communication in entrepreneurship
The effects of communication on the digital divide
The impact of communication on sustainable energy practices
The role of communication in political campaigns for women candidates
The effects of communication on diversity and inclusion in media representation.
The effects of communication on innovation adoption
The impact of communication on remote work
The role of communication in online customer service
The effects of communication on online brand communities
The impact of communication on online brand reputation
The role of communication in online political campaigning
The effects of communication on political polarization
The role of communication in social media marketing
The impact of communication on online product reviews
The role of communication in online trust building
The impact of communication on online data security
The role of communication in online content moderation
The effects of communication on online information overload
The impact of communication on online news consumption
The effects of communication on online student engagement
The impact of communication on online learning outcomes
The role of communication in online teamwork
The effects of communication on online collaboration
The impact of communication on online project success
The role of communication in online conflict resolution
The effects of communication on online negotiation outcomes
The impact of communication on online group decision-making
The role of communication in online leadership
The effects of communication on online employee performance
The impact of communication on online team trust
The role of communication in online customer support
The effects of communication on online customer satisfaction
The impact of communication on online sales conversion
The role of communication in online brand loyalty
The effects of communication on online reputation management
The impact of communication on online influencer marketing
The role of communication in online crisis management
The effects of communication on online brand recovery
The impact of communication on online customer loyalty
The role of communication in online customer retention
The effects of communication on online service quality
The impact of communication on online customer experience
The role of communication in online brand equity
The effects of communication on online brand identity
The impact of communication on online brand differentiation
The role of communication in online brand awareness
The effects of communication on online customer engagement
The impact of communication on online word-of-mouth
The role of communication in online social influence
The effects of communication on online user-generated content.
The effects of communication on cultural assimilation and integration
The impact of communication on digital marketing
The role of communication in ethical decision-making
The effects of communication on intergenerational relationships
The role of communication in global supply chains
The effects of communication on cultural tourism
The impact of communication on political polarization
The role of communication in language acquisition
The effects of communication on healthcare decision-making
The impact of communication on public transportation ridership
The role of communication in crisis management for tourism destinations
The effects of communication on international trade relations
The impact of communication on green consumerism
The role of communication in organizational transparency and accountability
The effects of communication on public perception of science and technology
The impact of communication on financial literacy and decision-making
The effects of communication on intergenerational wealth transfer
The impact of communication on food culture and consumption
The role of communication in emergency preparedness and response
The effects of communication on alternative energy adoption
The impact of communication on entrepreneurship and innovation
The role of communication in international development
The effects of communication on the gig economy
The impact of communication on consumer behavior in the sharing economy
The role of communication in sports marketing
The impact of communication on media convergence
The role of communication in art and cultural preservation
The effects of communication on social entrepreneurship
The impact of communication on global health disparities
The role of communication in international humanitarian aid
The effects of communication on refugee integration and resettlement
The impact of communication on sustainable urban planning
The role of communication in environmental conservation and activism
The effects of communication on global security and terrorism
The impact of communication on climate change policy and action
The role of communication in animal welfare advocacy
The effects of communication on the politics of immigration
The role of communication in international diplomacy and negotiation
The effects of communication on the psychology of decision-making
The impact of communication on organizational knowledge management
The role of communication in disaster recovery and resilience
The effects of communication on healthcare technology adoption
The impact of communication on cybersecurity policy and regulation
The role of communication in sustainable fashion and textiles
The effects of communication on human trafficking prevention and intervention.
The role of communication in international disaster relief
The effects of communication on social media addiction
The impact of communication on virtual mentoring
The role of communication in sustainable fashion industry practices
The effects of communication on intercultural communication apprehension
The impact of communication on political polarization in traditional media
The effects of communication on social media mental health awareness campaigns
The impact of communication on sustainable water management practices
The role of communication in multicultural education
The effects of communication on virtual team creativity
The impact of communication on global health campaigns
The role of communication in ethical marketing practices
The effects of communication on virtual collaboration satisfaction
The impact of communication on sustainable forestry practices
The role of communication in immigrant integration
The effects of communication on virtual team feedback and evaluation
The impact of communication on environmental activism strategies
The effects of communication on virtual team leadership
The impact of communication on sustainable seafood industry practices
The role of communication in conflict resolution in online communities
The effects of communication on virtual team trust and cohesion
The impact of communication on urban mobility practices
The role of communication in cultural heritage preservation
The effects of communication on virtual team decision-making processes
The impact of communication on sustainable mining practices
The role of communication in peacebuilding and reconciliation
The effects of communication on virtual team conflict resolution
The impact of communication on sustainable renewable energy practices
The role of communication in virtual reality education
The effects of communication on virtual team member satisfaction
The impact of communication on sustainable packaging practices
The role of communication in intercultural adaptation
The effects of communication on virtual team project management
The impact of communication on environmental consumerism
The role of communication in cross-cultural negotiation
The effects of communication on virtual team member motivation
The impact of communication on sustainable tourism marketing strategies
The role of communication in social entrepreneurship ecosystems
The effects of communication on virtual team member commitment
The impact of communication on sustainable food supply chain practices
The role of communication in global health diplomacy
The effects of communication on virtual team member diversity
The impact of communication on sustainable mining industry practices
The role of communication in refugee integration
The effects of communication on virtual team information sharing
The impact of communication on sustainable transportation infrastructure
The role of communication in sustainable seafood industry marketing
The effects of communication on virtual team conflict prevention.
The role of communication in promoting interfaith dialogue
The effects of communication on online hate speech countermeasures
The impact of communication on sustainable fashion practices
The role of communication in peacebuilding
The effects of communication on intercultural adaptation in study abroad programs
The impact of communication on intergenerational relationships
The role of communication in virtual mentorship
The effects of communication on ethical consumption behaviors
The impact of communication on environmental activism communication strategies
The role of communication in disaster preparedness
The effects of communication on mental health literacy
The role of communication in building resilience in marginalized communities
The impact of communication on online identity formation
The role of communication in sustainability reporting
The effects of communication on cross-cultural communication apprehension
The impact of communication on intercultural marketing effectiveness
The effects of communication on virtual learning outcomes
The impact of communication on corporate social responsibility reporting
The role of communication in building trust in online dating
The effects of communication on online activism mobilization
The role of communication in international conflict resolution
The effects of communication on online consumer reviews
The impact of communication on multicultural team performance
The role of communication in sustainable urban mobility
The effects of communication on intercultural adaptation in international business
The impact of communication on virtual reality education effectiveness
The role of communication in social entrepreneurship funding
The effects of communication on online engagement in civic education
The impact of communication on sustainable tourism marketing
The role of communication in building resilience in disaster-affected communities
The effects of communication on virtual team trust
The impact of communication on online mental health interventions
The role of communication in multicultural team conflict resolution
The effects of communication on virtual team creativity in crisis situations
The impact of communication on sustainable waste reduction practices
The role of communication in intercultural negotiation
The effects of communication on online privacy invasion perceptions
The impact of communication on sustainable energy consumption behaviors
The role of communication in building social capital in marginalized communities
The effects of communication on virtual team communication effectiveness
The impact of communication on sustainable forest management practices
The role of communication in promoting diversity in the workplace
The effects of communication on virtual team psychological safety
The impact of communication on multicultural team decision-making
The role of communication in promoting sustainable tourism practices in developing countries
The effects of communication on online civic participation.
The role of communication in organizational culture
The effects of communication on intercultural negotiation outcomes
The impact of communication on mental health treatment adherence
The role of communication in sustainable fashion practices
The effects of communication on online customer service satisfaction
The impact of communication on interfaith dialogue
The role of communication in virtual customer experience management
The effects of communication on gender representation in media
The impact of communication on human rights advocacy
The role of communication in urban planning for climate change adaptation
The effects of communication on virtual team performance in crisis situations
The role of communication in ethical decision-making in healthcare
The effects of communication on online brand authenticity perception
The impact of communication on social support for caregivers
The role of communication in sustainable tourism marketing
The impact of communication on virtual reality therapy for phobias
The role of communication in virtual team trust repair
The effects of communication on intergenerational workplace conflict resolution
The role of communication in online reputation repair
The effects of communication on gender-based violence reporting
The impact of communication on rural healthcare access
The role of communication in sustainable supply chain management
The effects of communication on intercultural learning in study abroad programs
The impact of communication on virtual reality tourism experiences
The role of communication in sustainable energy marketing
The impact of communication on interfaith conflict resolution
The role of communication in environmental justice movements
The role of communication in intercultural team leadership
The effects of communication on online brand trustworthiness
The impact of communication on social media activism mobilization
The role of communication in virtual customer relationship management
The effects of communication on intergenerational mentorship
The impact of communication on sustainable transportation marketing
The role of communication in sustainable urban design
The effects of communication on virtual team knowledge sharing
The impact of communication on social media user privacy perceptions
The role of communication in conflict resolution in healthcare
The effects of communication on intercultural communication competence in business
The impact of communication on sustainable food practices
The role of communication in sustainable tourism planning
The effects of communication on virtual team motivation
The impact of communication on interfaith dialogue and reconciliation
The role of communication in online brand advocacy
The effects of communication on gender representation in leadership.

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Muhammad Hassan

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Research Topics & Ideas: Communication

50 Topic Ideas To Kickstart Your Research

Research topics and ideas about communication and comms strategy

If you’re just starting out exploring communication-related topics for your dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research by providing a hearty list of research topics and ideas related to communication and comms strategy, including examples from recent studies.

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . These topic ideas provided here are intentionally broad and generic , so keep in mind that you will need to develop them further. Nevertheless, they should inspire some ideas for your project.

To develop a suitable research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan to fill that gap. If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Communication-Related Research Topics

Analyzing the effectiveness of crisis communication strategies in the airline industry post-accidents.
The role of social media in shaping corporate brand identity in the fashion industry.
Investigating the impact of internal communication on employee engagement in remote work environments.
The effectiveness of influencer marketing in health and wellness brands.
Analyzing the impact of virtual reality in enhancing audience engagement in museums and galleries.
The role of communication in change management within large healthcare organizations.
Investigating the use of digital storytelling in non-profit fundraising campaigns.
The impact of corporate social responsibility communication on consumer perceptions in the fast-food industry.
Analyzing the effectiveness of environmental communication strategies in promoting sustainable practices among businesses.
The role of intercultural communication in the success of international mergers and acquisitions.
Investigating the impact of communication style on leadership effectiveness in tech startups.
The effectiveness of targeted advertising in political campaigns.
Analyzing the role of public relations in managing celebrity image crises.
The impact of mobile communication technologies on marketing strategies in retail.
Investigating the use of employee advocacy on social media as a branding tool.
The role of communication in enhancing customer service experiences in the hospitality industry.
Analyzing the impact of user-generated content on brand loyalty in the automotive industry.
The effectiveness of communication strategies in addressing gender diversity in the workplace.
Investigating the role of strategic communication in corporate restructuring processes.
The impact of language barriers on global marketing and advertising strategies.
Analyzing the effectiveness of communication platforms in remote team collaboration.
The role of multimedia content in enhancing online engagement for educational institutions.
Investigating the impact of communication strategies on patient adherence in healthcare.
The effectiveness of internal crisis communication in financial institutions during economic downturns.
Analyzing the role of corporate storytelling in enhancing brand identity.

Communication Research Ideas (Continued)

The impact of social media algorithms on news dissemination and public opinion.
Investigating the role of communication in customer retention strategies in the telecom industry.
The effectiveness of green marketing communication in promoting eco-friendly products.
Analyzing the impact of augmented reality in interactive marketing campaigns.
The role of communication in managing stakeholder relationships in construction projects.
Investigating the impact of cultural differences on international public relations practices.
The effectiveness of video marketing in consumer engagement on social media platforms.
Analyzing the role of communication in employee wellness programs.
The impact of digital communication tools on enhancing B2B sales strategies.
Investigating the effectiveness of podcasting as a marketing tool for small businesses.
The role of communication in facilitating organizational change in public sector organizations.
Analyzing the impact of artificial intelligence on personalized customer communication.
The effectiveness of integrated marketing communications in luxury brand management.
Investigating the use of virtual events for community building in online gaming.
The role of strategic communication in environmental advocacy.
Analyzing the impact of communication technologies on remote learning and education.
The effectiveness of grassroots communication campaigns in social movements.
Investigating the role of communication in project management success in the IT industry.
The impact of communication style on negotiation outcomes in international trade.
Analyzing the effectiveness of brand messaging in sustainable fashion.
The role of visual communication in enhancing brand presence on social media.
Investigating the impact of public speaking skills on leadership effectiveness.
The effectiveness of communication strategies in health promotion and disease prevention.
Analyzing the role of communication in the adoption of new technologies in traditional industries.
The impact of cross-cultural communication on global marketing and branding strategies.

Recent Communication-Related Studies

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual studies in the communication space to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of recent studies to help refine your thinking. These are actual studies, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

Studying Linguistic Means of Expression of PR Campaigns Aimed at Combating the Pandemic in the Digital Age: A Multimodal Approach (Minyar-Belorucheva & Sergienko, 2022)
Educating communication sciences and disorders students to use evidence-based practice literature: A collaboration between a library liaison and a CSD professor (Day & Flynn, 2022)
The Teaching and Learning of Communication Skills in Social Work Education (Reith-Hall & Montgomery, 2022)
Communication skills training for improving the communicative abilities of student social workers (Reith-Hall & Montgomery, 2023)
The Case for Addressing Emotional Resilience in Graduate Student Training (Malandraki, 2022)
Role of Communication Skills: A Review (Saxena et al., 2022)
Future Challenges of Post-third Wave Communication Studies Covid-19 Pandemic: Media Practitioner Perspective (Santoso, 2022)
Effective communication management in a public health crisis: lessons learned about COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of health communication executives (Voges et al., 2023)
Transdisciplinary engaged learning (Griffith, 2023) The mediating effect of mindfulness and self-compassion on leaders’ communication competence and job satisfaction (Salazar, 2022)
Communication Skills across Engineering Curriculum: A Case Study (Kakepoto et al., 2022)
Communication Skills among University Students (Ansari et al., 2022).
The Management of Communication Skills Development in Literature High Secondary Education from the Student’s Point of View (Hung et al., 2022).
A study about recognition of middle school and high school students on teacher’s communication skills (Chang et al., 2022)
Communication pedagogy in public affairs programs: Insights from a study of MPA and MPP curricula (Manoharan & Rangarajan, 2022)
Health communication needs for COVID-19 prevention and control among college students (Zhang et al., 2023)
The strategic value of “chaos” in the South African context for the training of communication students (De Wet, 2022)
Underrepresentation of Students From Diverse Backgrounds Entering Communication Sciences and Disorders Programs: An Investigation Into the University Student Perspective (Richburg, 2022)
Communicating Science, Technology, and Environmental Issues: A Case Study of an Intercultural Learning Experience (van Kempen et al., 2022)

As you can see, these research topics are a lot more focused than the generic topic ideas we presented earlier. So, for you to develop a high-quality research topic, you’ll need to get specific and laser-focused on a specific context with specific variables of interest. In the video below, we explore some other important things you’ll need to consider when crafting your research topic.

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If you’re still unsure about how to find a quality research topic, check out our Research Topic Kickstarter service, which is the perfect starting point for developing a unique, well-justified research topic.

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The Top 10 Most Interesting Communication Research Topics

Communication students usually face two problems when it comes to research. The first is identifying compelling communication research topics. The second is crafting appropriate communication research questions that are specific and relevant.

Fortunately, choosing communication research paper topics doesn’t have to be challenging. This article outlines all you need to know about selecting the right topics for your research. It also lists 10 interesting examples of communication research topics you can consider for your essay or thesis.

Find your bootcamp match

What makes a strong communication research topic.

Simplicity is what makes a strong communication research topic. Your research topic should contain relevant content that gives readers a general insight into what you intend to study. However, it must be concise and free from unnecessary jargon or wordy sentences.

As a communication researcher, you must also tackle relevant subjects. Your research should contribute to existing knowledge in your field by corroborating previously known facts or drawing attention to new insights.

Tips for Choosing a Communication Research Topic

Find out your school’s requirements. Some schools have curriculum requirements that may streamline your communication research topic ideas. For example, your department may have a specified word count for research papers. Such a condition would prevent you from selecting a topic that would require a lengthy write-up.
Read industry-related surveys. If you want your research to address a specific industry pain point, industry-related surveys can help you choose a suitable topic. Some communication and media firms release their survey findings to the public. You can explore these surveys to identify the direction your research should take.
Visit an academic journal. Journals like The International Journal of Communication and Journal of Health Communication can provide you with inspiration for choosing your communication topic. These reliable sources cover many subjects and contain ideas that can steer you on the right path.
Attend conferences. Conferences are a credible source to learn about the future of communication research. This knowledge can be beneficial for choosing a topic that would attract much interest. You can visit online sources like conferenceindex.org to find a list of upcoming communication conferences.
Avoid over-researched topics. There is already a wealth of research available on many communication topics. As much as you can, it’s best to avoid over-researched topics. Choose topics that allow you to provide unique information rather than rehashing previously published ideas.

What’s the Difference Between a Research Topic and a Research Question?

A research topic highlights the researcher’s area of focus during research. Research questions are usually narrow enough to allow the researcher to focus on a particular sub-topic within their field. However, they are also extensive enough to allow for exploration of the chosen subject from various angles.

Research questions, on the other hand, are more succinct. They are usually derived from the chosen research topic and leave no room for ambiguity. Research questions show the purpose of the study. They clearly define the parameters being studied. They may also provide insight into the research methods employed.

How to Create Strong Communication Research Questions

Strong communication research questions must focus on addressing a particular issue. Also, they must be presented objectively. Your research question should not reflect bias or attempt to tilt the reader’s mind toward a particular direction.

2. The Influence of Public Relations in Building Thriving Businesses

Most highly ranked companies place a premium on maintaining their brand image through external communication. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for public relations specialists are expected to increase by 11 percent between 2020 and 2030. An examination into the impact of public relations in building a reputable business would make a great research topic.

3. Critical Approaches for Dealing With Fake News

Due to the prominent role of bloggers in contemporary society, there is a shortage of legitimate sources for information. This challenge has brought about a need to provide credible reporting and establish proper communication channels. Your research could provide a critical approach for examining the spread of fake news and suggest effective methods for building reliable communication networks.

4. Practical Communication Skills for the Development of Intimate Relationships

Interpersonal dialogue is one of the most intriguing aspects of communication. Several studies have been carried out on effective dialogue as a tool for building strong personal relationships. However, there is still a wide knowledge gap on the subject. You could carry out communication studies on practical communication skills that can facilitate the growth of relationships.

5. Email as an Effective Business Communication Tool

All emerging tech businesses use email as a corporate communication tool, according to Statista. Despite this, some still have concerns about the adverse effects of email on business-to-business communication. You could carry out research to determine the positive or negative influences of email and instant messaging on the overall work culture of organizations.

6. The Evolution of Horizontal and Downward Communication in the Business Environment

Workplace culture has changed massively in the 21st century with the advent of Zoom meetings and other non-traditional discussion channels. Your research could examine the history of communication in organizations. It could also highlight the changes in downward and horizontal communication practices in leading global businesses.

7. Regular Social Media Communication and Its Impact on Human Behavior

Social media has become a vital part of our personal life. Unfortunately, regular social media use has been linked to vices like substance abuse and several mental health challenges. A study of the effect of social networks on the attitude of viewers would make a very relevant topic for a communication research paper.

8. Techniques for Improving Virtual Communication

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a sharp increase in the use of virtual dialogue globally. Various companies have experimented with different techniques to improve the experience of virtual communication technology. Your research could compare these strategies and, if possible, offer some communication tips for virtual environments.

9. The Relationship Between Organizational Communication and Workplace Culture

Communication is one of the vital factors that affect employee performance and workplace culture. Different companies have devised effective communication strategies to eliminate organizational uncertainty. You can study these various communication processes and show how they influence employee behavior in the workplace.

10. The Growth of Instant Messaging and Its Effect on Modern Society

No one can deny that instant messaging apps have become a ubiquitous phenomenon. Presently, Whatsapp has a total of 2 billion active monthly users , according to Statista. For your research paper, you could explore the impact of this mass adoption of instant messaging apps on our overall quality of everyday life.

Communication Research Questions

What are the most effective public health communication methods for patient-centered communication?
What is the importance of non-verbal interpersonal communication in developing professional relationships?
What is the role of mass media in improving international relations?
What are the most effective communication styles for social marketing?
What is the role of social media platforms in promoting intercultural dialogue?

Choosing the Right Communication Research Topic

Although it is essential to learn different research methods , your research won’t have much impact without choosing a strong topic. So, selecting an excellent research topic is the first step in writing a noteworthy research paper on communication.

Also, selecting the right communication research paper topic can help you identify which communication discipline is right for you. If you are wondering what you can do with your communications degree , a research paper is a perfect way to get a feel of various areas of interest before you graduate.

Communication Research Topics FAQ

Qualitative questions are open-ended and aim to explore a thought or subject matter through qualitative methods. For example, with qualitative research, rather than comparing data sets, the goal is to gather and interpret data to generate a hypothesis.

Quantitative research questions usually seek to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between two or more data sets. Unlike qualitative research, quantitative research aims to confirm or test the accuracy of a hypothesis.

A thesis statement is a brief overview of the main point of a research paper. Your thesis statement should be short, straightforward, and inform the reader of what your paper is all about.

Yes, online communication master’s degree programs also involve research work. So, if you are considering getting an online master’s in communication , you must be ready to write a research paper as one of the major requirements for graduating.

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

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Fostering Graduate Students’ Interpersonal Communication Skills via Online Group Interactions

Published: 15 October 2022
Volume 32 , pages 931–950, ( 2023 )

Cite this article

Shahaf Rocker Yoel ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9562-7935 1 ,
Effrat Akiri ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6934-4096 2 &
Yehudit Judy Dori ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7775-5872 1 , 3

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This paper presents a study that examines the effect of a graduate course titled “Selected topics in interpersonal communication skills” on the students’ interpersonal communication skills as part of their 21 st century skills. Subject to the COVID-19 constraints, the course was taught online in the winter semester of 2021 to 46 students, who practiced in four groups. The students, who were studying at the Technion a science and technology research university for a research-oriented graduate degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) subject, attended synchronous bi-weekly 1-h lectures and 1-h practice sessions. The two research questions were as follows: (1) Did the interpersonal communication skills of the participants change following their participation in the course, and if so, how? (2) What was the effect of online learning on the students' interpersonal communication skills of (a) written and oral communication, (b) peer evaluation and feedback, and (c) self-reflection? Research tools included students’ self-presentations, questionnaires, peer assessments, and reflections during the course. Analyzing the data quantitatively and qualitatively, we found that the graduate students improved their interpersonal communication skills and benefited from exposure to a variety of knowledge and research fields, contributing to a sense of pride in their university affiliation. The students suggested adding a practical component on providing constructive feedback and rendering the course mandatory to all the graduate students in the university. The contribution of this research is the creation and favorable assessment of an online course that develops interpersonal communication skills among graduate students from a variety of STEM faculties.

Forum posts, communication patterns, and relational structures: A multi-level view of discussions in online courses

Graduate students’ antecedents to meaningful and constructive discussions: developing potential collaborative online interactions.

Peer-Led Team Learning

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

Introduction

This paper presents a study examining the effect of a specially designed graduate course on the students’ interpersonal communication skills as part of their 21 st century skills. There is a need to adapt the skills that students develop during higher education studies beyond the core professional skills (Duderstadt, 2008 ). To qualify graduates as competent employees, 21 st century skills must also be developed (Gover & Huray, 2007 ; Marbach-Ad et al., 2015 ). Indeed, developed countries emphasize adapting science and engineering education to the needs of the 21 st century employment world, as employers claim that some of the graduates do not have the skills required by advanced industries. Yet, there are not enough courses in the curricula to encourage the development of communication and teamwork skills, as a result, students do not get enough experience in these skills prior to their graduation (Lavi et al., 2021 ; Oosthuizen et al., 2021 ; Wilson et al., 2018 ).

Interpersonal skills in general and interpersonal communication skills in particular have been defined as vital by leading organizations of engineers and scientists in the world, as well as by a variety of engineering education forums (ABET, 2019 ; Bentur et al., 2019 ; NGSS Lead States, 2013 ). Studies have found a link between teaching methods and the development of different skills. Motivation and academic achievement have also been found to be related to teaching methods (Barak & Dori, 2009 ) or serve for developing 21 st century skills (Lavi et al., 2021 ), as well as providing students’ psychological needs, efficacy, and communication (Talmi et al., 2018 ). Teaching and learning methods that include collaborations and interactions between students and lecturers in a constructive learning environment predicted the development of decision making, creativity, and problem solving (Mintz et al., 2018 ). A course for engineering students for skills development in academia, which combined professional content alongside emphasis on skills development, promoted the students’ confidence, communication, and self-exposure in front of people. A semester-long course proved to be better than participation in a few short workshops in terms of continuous development of the skills (Lopes et al., 2015 ).

The management of our institute, the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, has recognized the need to adapt to the challenges in the changing world by developing students’ 21 st century skills (Frenkel et al., 2009 ). Findings of a research on our institute graduates (Lavi et al., 2021 ) and ensuing management discussions raised the need to develop a course that encourages the development of interpersonal communication skills for research graduate students. In the winter 2021 semester, the experimental, elective course “Selected topics in interpersonal communication skills” was launched for the first time. Subject to the COVID-19 constraints, the course was taught synchronously online via the Zoom platform to 46 students, who practiced in four groups of about 12 each. Course assignments included preparing a short presentation titled “Who am I and what is my research?”. Each student presented their research in the small practice group and was provided with oral and written peer feedback. The students also practiced giving an “elevator pitch”—a brief, spontaneous, persuasive, self-presentation speech, aimed to spark interest in the research one is engaged in. Finally, each student wrote reflections during the course and at its end.

The aim of the study that accompanied the course was to examine the contribution of the course to the development of 21 st century skills of the graduate students studying for a research postgraduate degree. The structure and content of the course were adapted to the findings of (Lavi et al., 2021 ), whose research included about 1500 graduates and final year graduate students. These findings showed that interpersonal skills were developed the least, while general thinking skills and thinking skills from science and engineering centers developed at a much higher level.

Theoretical Background

We start by presenting multidisciplinary courses in higher education, followed by discussing 21 st century skills and how they are taught in higher education. Within the 21 st century skills, we focus on interpersonal and communication skills. Given the nature of the course, we close this section with a discussion on online teaching and learning during COVID-19.

Multidisciplinary Courses in Higher Education

While STEM studies in general and engineering studies in particular emphasize teaching of field-specific technical abilities, engineers in industry need non-technical abilities along multidisciplinary engineering perspectives (Marbach-Ad et al., 2019 ). Larsen and colleagues ( 2017 ), who devised a multidisciplinary course to help engineering students improve their non-technical skills, showed that the non-technical abilities students had gained from this course were extremely useful for a large portion of their professional lives following graduation. In a study involving engineering students from five majors—biology, computer science, environmental, materials, and mechanical engineering—researchers investigated an interdisciplinary course (Qattawi et al., 2021 ). The multidisciplinary teams in this course scored higher mean values in terms of team contribution and abilities than the single-disciplinary teams. As judged by industry experts, students who took the multidisciplinary course, regardless of their major, created engineering solutions that outperformed their monodisciplinary counterparts in terms of overall originality, utility, analysis, proof of concept, and communication abilities (Hotaling et al., 2012 ).

The Students Advancing through Involvement in Research Program at Lamar University, USA, takes a multidisciplinary approach to recruiting, retaining, and transitioning students to careers in STEM. The students in the program, who work in teams, develop a sense of connection and solidarity, as well as friendships that often last long after the program has ended. Students in each area can advance further as a group than they might have advanced alone, and they gain significant experience in teamwork and leadership, which are both highly marketable abilities in the STEM workforce (Doerschuk et al., 2016 ).

21 st Century Skills in Higher Education

Educators must acknowledge that the world outside the academia has changed. As graduated engineers need to master 21 st century skills, it is essential that policymakers have a solid understanding of what these skills are, how these skills can be taught effectively, and what educational technologies are available to teach them effectively. Kivunja ( 2014 ) referred to the 4Cs skills: (1) critical thinking and problem solving, (2) communication, (3) collaboration, and (4) creativity and innovation. Institutions are beginning to require training and professional development to ensure that educators they employ are familiar with the 4Cs and can effectively teach and assess these skills among their students. Moreover, there is a need to educate the general public about the importance of 21 st century skills (Kivunja, 2014 ).

In a study regarding critical 21 st century STEM competences at the workplace, five domains were identified as management skills: (1) problem-solving, (2) social communication, (3) technology and engineering, (4) system and time, and (5) resource and knowledge (Jang, 2016 ). The findings of the study suggest that current STEM education programs may provide insufficient preparation for students’ future employment needs and essential workplace skills. Engineering education should include a variety of learning experiences that help students build deep conceptual knowledge, apply professional skills, and participate in a variety of real-world engineering projects. However, engineering curricula and teaching techniques are frequently not aligned with these goals (Litzinger et al., 2011 ).

Interpersonal Communication Skills

Communication skills, which include listening, speaking, reading, and writing, are defined as the process by which people exchange ideas, emotions, and feelings in understandable ways (Hamilton, 2014 ). Khan and Colleagues ( 2017 ) described communication skills as the ability to convey messages clearly and concisely, transmit messages based on a common understanding between contexts and intended audiences. A successful communication process entails offering messages clearly and unambiguously. Dean and East ( 2019 ) noted that in the 21 st century general thinking capabilities and analytical-technical skills are no longer sufficient. Interpersonal skills are most important in today’s job market, where these skills are required to cope with challenges posed by growing system complexities. The students—the future employees—must think creatively so they can produce new ideas, solve problems and address challenges (Sahin et al., 2015 ).

Combining interpersonal skill and communication skill (Hargie, 2021 ), interpersonal communication is a complicated situated social process in which persons who have established a communicative relationship exchange messages to develop shared meanings and fulfill social goals (Burleson, 2010 ; Camilli & Hira, 2019 ). Interpersonal communication is the ability to communicate effectively at an interpersonal level. In this paper, we use the term interpersonal communication skill since it is an essential skill that contributes to success in personal and professional contexts (Hardjati & Febrianita, 2019 ; Hissey, 2000 ; Matteson et al., 2016 ; Zhao, 2019 ). Interpersonal communication processes cannot just happen; they are a process in which participants discuss their roles, apply verbal (oral) and non-verbal (body language) communication, and use text and visualization as means of written communication.

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), an organization that certifies college and university programs in STEM domains with focus on engineering, has defined a set of interpersonal skills that includes teamwork, communication, professionalism, lifelong learning, and time management (Shuman et al., 2005 ). Engineering students improved their interpersonal skills, which sustained over time after they were exposed to several skills that included giving and requesting feedback, coping with criticism, speaking in public, working in teams, solving problems, making decisions, and settling conflicts (Lopes et al., 2015 ).

Communication skills in all their forms, such as oral, written, listening, and interdisciplinary ones, are required for any engineer who wishes to practice their profession effectively (Riemer, 2007 ). Oral communication is the ability to express thoughts and ideas, and to demonstrate speaking skills in front of an audience. Writing complex memos, letters, and technical reports effectively and efficiently is known as written communication (Casner-Lotto & Barrington, 2006 ). It is critical for science students to study a communication curriculum that emphasizes written communication skills, such as spelling, grammar, audience analysis, clarity, concision, and correctness (Gray et al., 2005 ).

Online Teaching and Learning During COVID-19

The global COVID-19 epidemic has posed substantial challenges for higher education institutions around the world, driving an unexpected, urgent need to change university courses from face-to-face to online using digital technology. Teachers were encouraged to instantly try new teaching methods by creating effective learning settings and using online tools. Universities need to invest in their faculty’s professional development so that they are up-to-date on effective pedagogical methods that include the use of online technologies (Rapanta et al., 2020 ). Research at California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA, examined the challenges in an online course during the pandemic. The participants were faculty and students from six engineering departments. The findings revealed obstacles that have negative impact on online engineering education: logistical and technical constraints, privacy and security concerns, learning problems, and lack of training. Recommendations for educational stakeholders on how to close the gap in tools and technology and improve online engineering education were suggested (Asgari et al., 2021 ). Another study investigated the characteristics that are required for technology-mediated courses to meet their pedagogical goals. Differences between subjects that build technical and interpersonal skills in a technology-mediated environment were also investigated. Findings suggest that a teacher’s digital competency is a critical factor in determining the effectiveness of meeting their course’s pedagogical objectives. Furthermore, when changing a course to being technology-mediated, the transaction of interpersonal skill subjects is better than the transaction of the technical skill subjects (Joia & Lorenzo, 2021 ).

This section contains a description of the research setting, participants, tools, data collection, and analysis which uses a converged mixed methods approach that includes both qualitative and quantitative data collection (Creswell & Creswell, 2017 ).

Research Goal and Research Questions

The research goal was to examine the contribution of the course “Selected topics in interpersonal communication skills,” which was taught online during the COVID-19 lockdown, aiming to develop or improve postgraduate research students’ 21 st century skills, focusing on their interpersonal communication skills. The course was held at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, an academic institution in the northern part of Israel. The two research questions were as follows:

Did the interpersonal communication skills of the participants change following their participation in the course, and if so, how?

What was the effect of online learning on the students’ interpersonal communication skills of the following:

Written and oral communication

Peer evaluation and feedback

Self-reflection?

These research questions will be answered from both the perspective of students about their own perceptions and the perspective of their peers.

Research Setting and Participants

The study examined the graduate experimental course taught in winter 2021, which was titled “Selected topics in interpersonal communication skills.” Due to the COVID-19 epidemic constraints, the course was conducted synchronously during the 13 weeks of the semester, with bi-weekly 1-h lecture sessions and weekly 1-h synchronous practice. Online teaching utilized ZOOM Footnote 1 and Moodle. Footnote 2 Zoom is a software program developed by Zoom Video Communications for video meetings, which has become highly popular as an online meeting platform since the beginning of the pandemic. Moodle is a learning management platform, used as an online learning platform in schools, universities, and other sectors. The course timetable, content, and structure are presented in Table 1 .

Participants included 46 graduate students, of whom nine were female and nine male master’s students, and 16 female and 12 male doctoral students from various faculties (see Table 2 ). All 46 students participated in the online synchronous lecture sessions, while the hands-on practice took place in four parallel groups of 11–12 students, each led by a teaching assistant. All four teaching assistants were experienced and well-prepared to guide their students in practicing the targeted 21 st century skills.

Before the course started, the students had filled an expectation questionnaire. During the hands-on practice sessions, each student had three oral assignments to present: (1) a 3-min self-presentation research introduction, titled “Who am I and what is my research about?”; (2) an abstract of their research; and (3) a short, spontaneous “elevator pitch.” Following these sessions, a final product was submitted which included the student’s improved presentation and research abstract, along with a written reflection. Each week, two students gave their 3-min self-presentation or presented their abstract, and the group discussed the presented product. Each student then gave their written and oral feedback to their peers.

Research Tools

The research included four tools for collecting qualitative and quantitative data:

Opening questionnaire—All 46 students filled in a questionnaire regarding their expectations from the course. The questionnaire included demographic data, questions regarding their research topic, and the following open questions: (1) Why do you want to take this course? (2) What are your expectations from participating in this course? and (3) What is important for us to know in order to support you in the course?

Peer feedback—Students gave each other 912 feedback items during the course, half of which related to the presentations and the other half—to the abstracts. Submitted via Google forms, the feedback included the following open-ended questions: (1) Does the abstract include all the necessary parts? If not, what is missing? (2) Offer a point to preserve. (3) Suggest a possible improvement. (4) Was a visual representation used in the abstract? Did it contribute to understanding? There were also three closed questions on a 1–5 Likert scale relating to the students’ understanding, learning something new, and generating interest in the research.

Self-reflections—each student completed two reflections, one following the self-presentation and another following the discussion of the abstract. In total, 92 reflections were collected.

Teaching survey—24 responses were received to the standard institutional survey questionnaire, which students are requested to fill in at the end of the semester for each course. The survey included closed statements on a scale of 1–5 and open-ended questions.

We analyzed the qualitative data from the open-ended questions, feedback items, and reflections in three stages. In the first stage, we collected all the data from the open-ended questions and reflections in the questionnaires, as well as the feedbacks submitted via the Moodle platform. In the second stage, we divided the data into 2622 statements, each containing data from one subject. Finally, in the third stage, we identified the relevant theme and category for each statement. Within each main theme, we identified several categories that were mentioned by the students in their statements. Based on the literature, we divided the statements into four main themes: visual, content, emotional, and diversity (Akiri et al., 2020 ; Dangur et al., 2014 ; Dori & Sasson, 2008 ). In each theme, we searched for a category that was discussed in the literature. In the process of categorization, three science and engineering educators (the authors), who are highly experienced in conducting thematic analysis, took part in analyzing jointly in-depth 270 statements (about 10%) of the statements. This process was carried out to ensure the study’s validity and reliability, until 90% of consensus was reached.

Figures 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 present the four main themes, their categories, and an example of a statement for each category. Figure 1 presents the visual theme, which relates to statements on visual aspects of the presentations and abstracts. The categories in the visual theme are pictures and charts, fonts and title, colors, overload, paragraphs, and animation.

The visual theme, its categories, and an example of a statement for each category

The content theme, its categories, and an example of a statement for each category

The emotional theme, its categories, and an example of a statement for each category

The diversity theme, its categories, and an example of a statement for each category

Figure 2 presents the content theme. This theme describes statements related to the content of the presentation or abstract, and its categories are self-presentation, clarity and understandability, interest, space and time limit, and sequence of the topics.

Figure 3 shows the emotional theme, which relates to emotions that students raised. The categories identified in this theme are stress, excitement, humor, attracting peers, storytelling, and feedback.

Figure 4 describes the audience diversity theme, which relates to the fact that the students in the course were from various faculties and had different background knowledge. The categories in this theme are professional concepts, simplification, and meeting the challenge.

The results of the study are presented with respect to the two research questions.

Change in Interpersonal Communication Skills Following Participation in the Course—Self- and Peer-reflection

We examined the effect of the course on the participants’ interpersonal communication skills through their self-report, starting with their expectation before the beginning of the course, followed by peer reflections after each presentation, and ending with self-reflections during the course.

Opening Questionnaire

The findings that emerged from the opening questionnaire regarding the expectations before the beginning of the course are presented in Table 3 .

Peer Feedback

We present a quantitative analysis of the feedback peers provided on the abstracts, students had presented. Figure 5 shows data of the Likert scale items on the 486 feedback items that were provided along the six-week timeline during which the abstracts were presented.

Mean change in abstract feedback throughout the semester

A total of a repeated measures was performed to compare the effect of the course during these 6 weeks on the following three parameters: (a) understanding the abstract, (b) learning something new from the abstract, and (c) the interest the abstract creates. There was a statistically significant difference between the six weeks only in understanding the abstract ( F (1) = 16.889, p < 0.00). The gradual increase of understanding the abstract over the weeks indicates that the students learned from their peers’ performances and improved throughout the semester so that each week the abstracts were better.

Self-Reflections After the Presentation

In the next stage, we examined the close- and open-ended questions of the self-reflections that the students wrote after discussing their presentations and abstracts. We analyzed the open-ended questions by dividing the answers into statements and classifying the statements into the themes and categories that were identified previously. Figure 6 lists the four themes, each accompanied by two examples: one related to the self-reflection on the presentation and the other—to the abstract (Table 6 ). Table 7 in Appendix 2 presents all the categories in each theme with a statement example of a self-reflection on the presentation and another example of a self-reflection on the abstract.

The themes in the self-reflection with one example of a self-reflection statement on a presentation and another one on an abstract

Development and Changes in Themes Throughout the Course

Table 4 presents the theme and category probed by each research tool along the course timeline, showing the development process from the opening questionnaire toward the end of the course.

There are five tools, which were used as the course progressed: the opening questionnaire, the peer feedback—presentation and abstract, and the self-reflection—presentation and abstract. A V symbol in a table cell indicates that a category was found to be expressed in the corresponding tool.

Figure 7 presents for each of the four themes the number of categories (number of Vs in Table 4 ) that students mentioned in each of the five tools, showing an overall increase in each category as the course progressed.

The repetition and development of categories during the course

We added the perspectives of the lecturer and teaching assistants to the results from the research tools reported by the student reflections and peer feedbacks. From the lecturer and teaching assistants’ point of view, the course has contributed to the students by improving their interpersonal communication skills. Students’ critical thinking, self-reflection, and peer feedback improved every week. In addition, we noted that the submissions improved from one week to the next, as students learned from comments their peers in the practice group had provided. The improvement along the semester is evident in both peer feedback self-report (Fig. 5 ). The fact that over time the participants’ statements included new categories, demonstrated that the students had developed their analysis, feedback, and reflection skills during the course.

The Effect of the Online Learning During COVID-19 on Students’ Interpersonal Communication Skills

We examined the effect of the online learning during the COVID-19 lockdown on the participants’ interpersonal communication skills through their self-report. We analyzed the data from the standard institutional teaching survey that the students filled in at the end of the course, as well as the statements in the opening questionnaire, peer reflection after each presentation, and self-reflection during the course. We looked for statements regarding the fact that the course was online using Zoom and statements that related to the COVID-19 lockdown and its effects.

Teaching Survey

At the end of the course, students were requested to respond to the standard institutional teaching survey, in which the student ranked each question in a scale of 1 (to a very small extent) to 5 (to a great extent). The survey average results for each question are shown in Fig. 8 . We received 24 responses. The responses demonstrate the respondents’ opinions regarding the course lecturer’s preparedness, organization, clarity, and interest. The respondents (97%) answered that the lecturer arrived ready (average 4.9 of 5.0), organized (average 4.7), and the explanations were clear (average 4.7). The level of interest in the lectures was high or very high in the opinion of 71% of the respondents (average 3.9). The respondents’ opinions regarding atmosphere, student involvement, and relevance of the material studied, with over 80% of the students responding very positively (atmosphere average 4.75, active learning average 4.75). On the relevance of the material studied, over 80% responded “agree” or “strongly agree” (average 4.33).

Respondents’ opinions regarding the course in the teaching survey

Contributions to parts of the course, coordination between lectures and exercises, contribution of homework and course site are also shown in Fig. 8 . Over 60% of the students strongly agreed that there was coordination between lectures and exercises (average 4.33). Over 85% strongly agreed that the homework contributed to the course (average 4.75), and they agreed that the exercises and digital resources contributed to the course (average 3.96).

Although the course was given online during the challenging COVID-19 lockdown, the feedback from the students in the teaching survey was highly positive in all the parameters. The students though that the teaching team came well-prepared, the course was understandable and interesting, and the practice was effective. According to this feedback, it seems that the fact that the course was given remotely online rather than face-to-face did not have a significantly adverse effect on the students’ learning experience.

From the lecturer and teaching assistants’ perspectives on the effect of the online learning, at the beginning of the course, we were concerned that the challenge of developing interpersonal communication skills through online teaching is too difficult to overcome. This concern gradually faded as the course progressed, as despite the physical distance, professional and personal friendships were formed among the students in the group, as well as between students and the teaching team. These friendly relations continued even after the course ended, when it was already possible to meet face-to-face. The online sessions allowed students to experience online communication, which is a necessary 21 st century skill whose centrality increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statements Regarding Educational Technology

As the course was delivered remotely during the lockdown following the COVID-19, the challenge was to develop students’ interpersonal communication skills, giving and receiving feedback, and developing presentation abilities and personal reflections, all through distance learning using Zoom. Table 5 presents for each research tool the number of statements that is related to educational technology. Of the 4403 statements, only 45 (1%) mentioned distance learning, Zoom, or COVID-19. Hence, the fact that the course was given entirely online was not a limitation for students; they succeeded in the learning task even though it was online. The students were able to develop interpersonal communication skills despite the lack of physical closeness, testifying to the success of the process they went through in the course despite the digital media through which it was conveyed. The course success can be partly attributed to the students’ involvement, which was achieved as they gave each other written and oral feedback. This requirement for a bimodal feedback provision required the students to think over what they said and wrote. The course team gave clear instructions and questions that guided the feedback provider what to focus on, e.g., starting with positive feedback and then providing feedback for improving. There was a culture of respect while listening to the feedback. The students noted that it was important for them to experience learning via an online course, as this would train them to master this mode of learning, which is expected to intensify following the COVID-19. They experienced presentations in Zoom, participation in conferences, and respectful interpersonal communication despite the physical distance.

Of the 45 statements related to distance learning, Zoom, or COVID-19 that the students came up with, 17 statements were in the contexts of advantages, 17 in the contexts of disadvantages, and 11 were neutral statements. There were more (29) statements that related to educational technologies at the presentation stage, where Zoom was used, than at the abstract stage (13 statements), submitted through Moodle.

An example for advantage in a statement in the self-reflection on the presentation is as follows: “ In the presentation I realized that I could overcome my fear and speak with confidence. In this respect, I think it was easier for me to perform via Zoom than directly in front of an audience ” (code 4222). An example for a disadvantage statement in the peer feedback to the presentation is: “ Unfortunately, I could not be in your presentation and could not see the recording due to technical issues ” (code 3422 to code 11,421). Finally, a neutral statement example in the peer feedback to the abstract is: “ The abstract is well edited, easy to understand, and its subject is contemporary, very neatly arranged, and the beginning of the subject (on the COVID-19) was very appealing, the key words [were] very helpful in understanding ” (code 9222 to code 7211).

Based on several studies, interpersonal communication skills are a dominant part of 21 st century skills (Hargie, 2021 ; Sahin, 2009 ), and are essential and valued for competing in today's increasingly complex workplace (Zhao, 2019 ). In agreement with our findings, the contribution of a similar course, which was provided to improve students’ interpersonal skills in parallel to content field has also been found to be effective in a study of Lopes and colleagues ( 2015 ). Dmoshinskaia and colleagues ( 2022 ) reported that students were interested in a course content although most of it was presented by the students themselves. They felt it was effective, emphasizing the importance of their active participation and feedback providing. Interpersonal skills development value is rising (Camilli & Hira, 2019 ) as well as working in groups and collaboration (Marbach-Ad et al., 2019 ). Our course “Selected topics in interpersonal communication skills” was found to be effective and beneficial to the STEM graduate students, even though they came from various faculties, degrees, and stages in their research career. Exposure to a variety of research faculties and variety ways of thinking encourages not only the way self-reflection is presented, but also the thinking about different students’ developmental possibilities. In the course, the interpersonal communication skills were developed during class discussions in the exercises, which also facilitates the development of thinking. The facilitation of the practice groups enables the development of interpersonal communication skills, providing and receiving feedback in a respectful and constructive manner and enabling teamwork, where the entire group mobilizes to contribute to the presenter constructive comments to improve their work, thereby contributing to the skills of our institute graduates in the world of employment (Marbach-Ad et al., 2015 ). As described earlier, engineers who wish to do well in their jobs should clearly communicate their ideas and possess good oral, written, listening, and multidisciplinary communication skills (Riemer, 2007 ). The participants of our study, practiced oral communication by expressing thoughts and ideas, present their research in-front of an audience and gave oral feedback to their peers during the meetings. They also gained experience in written communication by writing their abstract, as well as peer feedback and self-reflection, as suggested by others (Casner-Lotto & Barrington, 2006 ). All those experiences are critical communication skills for science and engineering students (Gray et al., 2005 ; Lavi et al., 2021 ).

Exposure to the variety of studies conducted at our institute contributes to the expansion of the participants’ knowledge as well as to their sense of pride, as they are part of the institute. Students could also feel how their research is perceived as unique and innovative and had the opportunity to learn how to tailor the presentation of their research to the general public.

The reported research findings on the alumni at our institute (Lavi et al., 2021 ) showed that interpersonal skills developed at the lowest level compared with scientific-engineering and general thinking skills. We followed the data throughout the course from its beginning, through feedbacks and reflections students provided during the course, all the way to the teaching survey at the end of the course. We found that interpersonal skills and communication skills can be improved as an integral part of graduate studies. The results of the study have demonstrated that interpersonal skills can develop or progress even during a one semester course. It would be worthwhile and interesting to follow the students during several semesters to examine the long-lasting effect of this course. The fact that the course was online due to the COVID-19 lockdown required the course team to adapt in order to ensure that the interpersonal communication skills were developed despite the physical distance. According to recommendations of other researchers (Rapanta et al., 2020 ), the teaching staff in universities have to continue their professional development in order to be able to apply the most up-to-date pedagogical techniques, including the use of online technology. We followed this recommendation and incorporated online technology in the course, not only due to the pandemic, but also to prepare the future engineers and scientists to communicate well with their superiors and peers via similar platforms.

Analyzing the students’ reflections, we see the effect of the course in four themes: visual, content, emotional, and audience diversity. Within each theme, we identified different categories that were developed during the course. Additionally, the lecturer and teaching assistants witnessed the contribution of the course to the students, and specifically to improvement of their interpersonal communication skills, which was evident by the weekly presentations, the peer feedbacks, and their self-reflection.

The limitation of this study is the fact that the results are based on the first semester of teaching the course. Since then, we taught the course in the following semester in a hybrid format. After the third time we will teach the course, we plan to analyze and re-examine the findings, this time from all the three course cohorts. Another limitation is the participants’ background: all are from STEM domains. A future study should examine the effect of this course on students from another university with non-STEM domains, and/or with undergraduate students, in addition to graduate and postgraduate students who participated in our study. It is also recommended to check the effect of this course on interpersonal communication skills when taught face-to-face or hybrid rather than online only.

The current study presented the development and improvement of STEM graduate students’ interpersonal communication skills during a dedicated one-semester online course and their positive feedback on the course.

The contribution of this research is the design, implementation, and favorable assessment of this course that aims to develop interpersonal communication skills among graduate students from a variety of STEM domains. This study highlights the importance of explicitly teaching interpersonal communication skills to a heterogeneous population of STEM graduate students.

Based on the favorable results reported here, we recommend that managements of higher education institutions incorporate teaching of interpersonal communication skills into STEM graduate courses and dedicate a course in the spirit of “Selected topics in interpersonal communication skills” to the curriculum, which follows the design principles presented here. The course can be taught online, as described in this study, or face-to face. Our recommendation is, to the extent possible, to combine online and face-to-face lessons so students get to practice both skills.

Data Availability

The dataset generated and analyzed for the current study is not publicly available due to privacy reasons but is available from the author on reasonable request.

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Yoel, S.R., Akiri, E. & Dori, Y.J. Fostering Graduate Students’ Interpersonal Communication Skills via Online Group Interactions. J Sci Educ Technol 32 , 931–950 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-022-09998-5

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Soft Skills In Research: Effective Communication And Teamwork

Embark on a journey of inspiration as you discover the powerful fusion of Martin Luther King’s legacy and scientific inquiry.

In the context of research, innovation and discovery cannot solely rely on technical expertise. Soft skills, including communication, teamwork, adaptability, and ethical awareness, guide researchers through scientific inquiry. Beyond the confines of laboratory experiments and data analysis, these interpersonal skills foster collaboration, facilitate meaningful dialogue and promote the responsible conduct of research. In this article, we explore the critical importance of soft skills in research, examining how they can enhance productivity, improve research outcomes, and shape the future of scientific advancement.

Understanding Soft Skills

What are soft skills.

Soft skills are a set of interpersonal, communication, and behavioral attributes that enable individuals to interact effectively with others. Unlike hard or technical skills, which are typically job-specific and measurable, soft skills are more about how individuals behave. Examples of soft skills include:

Leadership: Leadership involves more than just giving directions; it’s about inspiring and motivating individuals or teams to achieve common objectives. Visionary leaders provide purpose and direction, while decisiveness enables them to make tough decisions swiftly, even in uncertain situations. Delegation plays a crucial role by assigning tasks to team members based on their strengths and abilities, fostering autonomy and accountability. Additionally, effective conflict resolution skills are essential for addressing disputes constructively, maintaining team harmony, and keeping everyone focused on the task at hand.

Creativity: Creativity is the engine of innovation, generating novel ideas and solutions. Curiosity opens the mind to new possibilities, while imagination allows individuals to envision alternatives beyond conventional thinking. Creative individuals are not afraid to take risks, explore new possibilities, and push boundaries to uncover fresh perspectives and insights. Creativity fuels progress and drives positive change by challenging the status quo and inspiring new ways of thinking and doing.

Critical Thinking: Critical thinking enables individuals to analyze information objectively, evaluate evidence, and make informed decisions. It involves questioning assumptions, recognizing biases, and applying logic and reasoning to draw sound conclusions. Critical thinkers are adept at identifying underlying assumptions, evaluating the credibility of sources, and considering alternative perspectives before arriving at conclusions.

Emotional Intelligence: This is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as empathize with the emotions of others. Self-awareness enables individuals to recognize their emotional triggers and responses, while self-regulation allows for the effective management of emotions in various situations. Social awareness consists of understanding the emotions and perspectives of others, while relationship management skills facilitate positive interactions and collaboration.

Adaptability: Adaptability is a vital soft skill characterized by the ability to thrive in changing environments and circumstances. Those proficient in adaptability demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and a proactive approach to navigating transitions, whether in the workplace or personal life. They embrace change as an opportunity for growth, quickly adjusting their strategies and mindset to effectively meet new challenges. Valued in both professional and personal contexts, adaptability enables individuals to remain productive, engaged, and resilient in uncertainty, contributing to their success and well-being.

Conflict Resolution: Conflict resolution skills are essential for addressing disagreements and disputes in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner. Active listening is crucial for fully understanding the perspectives of all parties involved, while empathy fosters compassion and understanding. Negotiation facilitates finding mutually agreeable solutions, while compromise entails finding common ground and reaching a consensus.

Time Management: Time management skills enable individuals to prioritize tasks, allocate resources effectively, and meet deadlines efficiently. Setting realistic goals provides clarity and direction while creating schedules helps organize activities and manage time effectively. Identifying and eliminating time-wasting activities is essential for minimizing distractions and maximizing productivity.

Related article: Time Management for Researchers: A Comprehensive Toolkit

Networking: Networking builds and maintains professional relationships to leverage connections for career advancement and opportunities. Effective communication is key to establishing rapport and fostering meaningful connections, while actively seeking out opportunities to connect with others helps expand one’s professional network. Building and nurturing relationships over time allows individuals to tap into resources, expertise, and opportunities for growth and development.

Presentation Skills: Presentation is essential for effectively communicating ideas, proposals, or findings to an audience. Public speaking delivers the information clearly, confidently, and engagingly, while visual design enhances the clarity and impact of presentations. Storytelling captivates audiences and makes information more memorable, while audience engagement techniques encourage participation and interaction.

Resilience: This is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and maintain a positive outlook in the face of challenges. Perseverance is to stay committed to goals despite obstacles or setbacks, while optimism fosters a hopeful and positive attitude. A growth mindset embraces challenges as opportunities for learning and growth, leading to greater resilience and personal development.

The Importance Of Soft Skills In Research

Soft skills play a crucial role in research, contributing to the success and effectiveness of scientific endeavors in several ways. While technical expertise is undoubtedly crucial in conducting research, soft skills play a complementary and equally vital role in ensuring success in this field. Furthermore, soft skills encompass a wide range of interpersonal and communication abilities.

By developing and honing soft skills, researchers can enhance their effectiveness, productivity, and overall success in their work. Possessing strong soft skills can open up new opportunities for collaboration, funding, and career advancement, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in their respective fields. Therefore, investing in the acquisition of soft skills alongside technical expertise is essential for researchers seeking to make meaningful contributions to their fields and address complex challenges facing society.

Related article: Funding for Research — Why, Types of Funding, When, and How?

Soft Skills For Researchers

Communication skills.

Communication skills are indispensable throughout the research process, serving as the foundation for effective collaboration, knowledge dissemination, and project advancement. Researchers rely on clear and concise communication to articulate hypotheses, methodologies, and results to peers, advisors, and stakeholders, ensuring alignment and understanding among team members. Particularly crucial in interdisciplinary collaborations, effective communication bridges disciplinary gaps, facilitates idea exchange, and integrates diverse perspectives into cohesive solutions. Researchers adept at communication can navigate these interactions smoothly, translating technical jargon into accessible language and fostering mutual understanding among team members.

Moreover, the impact of good communication extends beyond internal collaborations to external interactions with the broader scientific community and society. Clear and compelling communication of research findings enhances visibility, credibility, and impact. Whether through academic publications, conference presentations, or public outreach efforts, researchers proficient in communication can inspire interest, provoke discussion, and catalyze further inquiry. Ultimately, investing in the development of communication skills not only benefits individual researchers but also advances scientific knowledge and addresses global challenges collaboratively, emphasizing the critical role of communication in the research landscape.

Problem-Solving Skills

Problem-solving skills are integral to the research process, guiding researchers through the complexities and uncertainties inherent in scientific inquiry. In research, challenges are inevitable, ranging from methodological dilemmas to unexpected experimental outcomes. Proficient problem-solving abilities empower researchers to navigate these obstacles effectively, identify viable solutions, and make informed decisions to propel their projects forward. Moreover, problem-solving skills foster a proactive and adaptive mindset, enabling researchers to approach problems with resilience, creativity, and resourcefulness. By cultivating these skills, researchers not only enhance their ability to overcome hurdles but also strengthen their capacity to innovate, explore new avenues of inquiry, and generate impactful discoveries.

Examples of Problem-Solving Scenarios in Research

Experimental troubleshooting : Researchers encounter unexpected issues or inconsistencies in their experiments, requiring them to identify the underlying problems and devise solutions to ensure the reliability and validity of their results.

Data analysis challenges: Researchers face complex datasets with missing or conflicting information, necessitating the development of innovative analytical approaches and algorithms to extract meaningful insights and draw valid conclusions.

I nterdisciplinary collaboration: In collaborative research projects involving experts from diverse fields, researchers must navigate differences in terminology, methodologies, and perspectives to integrate findings and address complex research questions effectively.

Literature review discrepancies: Researchers encounter conflicting findings or inconsistencies in the existing literature, prompting them to critically evaluate the evidence, reconcile discrepancies, and identify gaps for further investigation.

Funding constraints: Researchers encounter budget limitations or funding cuts, requiring them to explore alternative sources of funding, optimize resource allocation, and develop cost-effective strategies to continue their research projects.

Ethical dilemmas: Researchers face ethical considerations or dilemmas in their research, such as conflicts of interest, privacy concerns, or potential harm to participants, necessitating careful ethical deliberation and decision-making to ensure research integrity and compliance with ethical standards.

Technology limitations: Researchers encounter limitations or challenges with existing technologies or tools, prompting them to innovate and develop new methodologies, techniques, or instrumentation to overcome technical obstacles and advance their research goals.

Fieldwork complications: Researchers conducting fieldwork face logistical challenges, environmental constraints, or unforeseen circumstances, requiring them to adapt their research plans, problem-solve on the spot, and implement contingency measures to ensure the success of their fieldwork activities.

Teamwork stands as a cornerstone in research, offering a collaborative framework that fosters synergy, innovation, and collective problem-solving. Research endeavors often entail complex challenges that require diverse perspectives, skills, and expertise to address effectively. In this context, teamwork enables researchers to pool their strengths, leverage complementary talents, and navigate interdisciplinary boundaries to achieve common objectives.

Teamwork also cultivates an environment of mutual support and shared accountability, where individuals collaborate seamlessly, communicate openly, and respect each other’s contributions. By harnessing the collective intelligence and collective effort of a cohesive team, researchers can amplify their impact, tackle ambitious projects, and push the boundaries of knowledge beyond what could be achieved individually.

Examples of How Efficient Teamwork Accelerates Research

Division of Labor: In a research team, members can divide tasks according to their expertise, allowing for simultaneous progress on multiple aspects of the project. For instance, while one team member conducts experiments, another can analyze data, and another can draft reports. This division of labor ensures efficiency and accelerates the overall research process.

Pooling Resources: Through teamwork, researchers can pool their resources, including equipment, funding, and intellectual capacity. By sharing resources, teams can access specialized tools and expertise that may not be available to individual researchers, thereby speeding up the completion of experiments and analyses.

Brainstorming and Problem-Solving: Collaborative brainstorming sessions allow team members to generate innovative ideas and solutions to research challenges. Through open discussion and exchange of perspectives, teams can quickly identify potential obstacles and develop strategies to overcome them, leading to faster progress in the research process.

Feedback and Peer Review: Efficient teamwork involves providing constructive feedback and engaging in peer review processes. By soliciting input from team members, researchers can identify areas for improvement and refine their methodologies or interpretations more quickly. This iterative process of feedback accelerates the refinement of research findings and ensures their accuracy and validity.

Networking and Collaboration: Research teams often collaborate with external partners, such as other research institutions, industry partners, or community organizations. Through these collaborative efforts, teams can leverage additional expertise, resources, and data, facilitating faster progress in achieving research goals and objectives.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking guides researchers in evaluating evidence, analyzing data, and drawing well-reasoned conclusions. In research, where the pursuit of knowledge often navigates complex and ambiguous situations, critical thinking helps researchers approach problems with skepticism, intellectual rigor, and a willingness to challenge assumptions.

By applying logical reasoning, sound judgment, and systematic inquiry, researchers can assess the validity of hypotheses, identify gaps in existing knowledge, and formulate novel research questions that push the boundaries of inquiry. It enables researchers to navigate ethical considerations, recognize biases, and uphold the integrity and credibility of their work. Ultimately, critical thinking underpins the entire research endeavor, driving the quest for truth, innovation, and intellectual advancement.

Examples of Critical Thinking in Action

Reviewing Literature: When conducting a literature review, researchers critically evaluate existing studies to identify gaps, inconsistencies, or areas requiring further investigation. They assess the validity, reliability, and relevance of previous research findings, considering factors such as sample size, methodology, and potential biases. Through this critical analysis, researchers inform their study design and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field.

Designing Experiments: Before conducting experiments, researchers engage in critical thinking to develop robust study designs that address research questions effectively and minimize biases. They carefully consider factors such as control variables, randomization procedures, and sample selection criteria to ensure the validity and reliability of their findings. By anticipating potential confounding factors and addressing them proactively, researchers enhance the rigor and credibility of their experiments.

Analyzing Data: In the data analysis phase, researchers apply critical thinking skills to interpret research findings accurately and draw meaningful conclusions. They scrutinize statistical analyses, examining factors such as effect sizes, significance levels, and confidence intervals to assess the strength of evidence supporting their hypotheses. Additionally, researchers critically evaluate outliers, anomalies, and potential sources of error, ensuring the integrity and validity of their data interpretations.

Identifying Bias: Researchers critically examine their assumptions, biases, and preconceptions throughout the research process to minimize their influence on study outcomes. They strive for objectivity and impartiality in data collection, analysis, and interpretation, employing strategies such as blind or double-blind procedures to reduce bias. By acknowledging and addressing potential sources of bias, researchers enhance the credibility and reliability of their research findings.

Also read: How To Avoid Bias In Research: Navigating Scientific Objectivity

Drawing Conclusions: When concluding research findings, researchers engage in critical thinking to assess the strength of evidence and the validity of their interpretations. They consider alternative explanations, potential confounding variables, and limitations of the study design, weighing the evidence carefully before making definitive claims. By exercising skepticism and intellectual rigor, researchers ensure that their conclusions are grounded in sound reasoning and supported by empirical evidence.

Improving Your Soft Skills

Training and courses.

Enhancing soft skills requires a proactive approach to learning and development, incorporating a combination of self-directed practice, feedback, and structured training opportunities. One practical way to improve soft skills is through experiential learning, where individuals actively engage in real-world scenarios that require the application of specific skills. This can involve volunteering for leadership roles in group projects, participating in networking events to hone communication skills, or seeking opportunities to collaborate with diverse teams to cultivate teamwork and adaptability. Additionally, soliciting feedback from peers, mentors, or supervisors can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement and guide targeted skill development efforts.

Organizations may provide in-house training programs or workshops focused on specific soft skills relevant to their industry or organizational culture. Professional associations, community colleges, and continuing education programs often offer seminars or certificate programs tailored to develop soft skills for specific career paths or industries. By leveraging these training opportunities, individuals can systematically enhance their soft skills, augment their professional capabilities and open up new opportunities for personal and career growth.

Regular Practice And Consistent Learning

Habitual practice plays a fundamental role in improving soft skills, as consistent repetition allows individuals to reinforce desired behaviors and cultivate proficiency over time. Just as athletes train regularly to hone their physical abilities, individuals aspiring to develop soft skills must engage in deliberate practice to refine their interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving capabilities. By incorporating soft skill development into daily routines and activities, individuals can gradually build competence and confidence in applying these skills across various contexts. Consistent practice not only enhances skill proficiency but also fosters a growth mindset, where setbacks are viewed as opportunities for learning and improvement rather than obstacles to progress.

Tips for Cultivating a Habit of Consistent Learning

To cultivate a habit of consistent learning and skill development, individuals can adopt several strategies to integrate learning activities seamlessly into their daily lives. Setting specific, achievable goals related to soft skill improvement can provide motivation and focus for learning efforts. Breaking down large goals into smaller, manageable tasks can make progress more tangible and sustainable.

Establishing a regular schedule or routine for learning activities, such as dedicating a specific time each day for skill practice or scheduling regular check-ins to track progress, can help maintain consistency and accountability. Embracing a growth mindset and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth can also foster resilience and perseverance in the face of setbacks. Leveraging available resources such as books, online courses, workshops, or mentorship opportunities can provide valuable guidance and support for ongoing learning and skill development.

Ultimately, the significance of soft skills in enhancing research competency cannot be overstated. As researchers strive to address increasingly complex and interdisciplinary challenges, the ability to effectively communicate ideas, collaborate with diverse teams, and think critically becomes indispensable. Soft skills not only complement technical expertise but also enable researchers to navigate uncertainties, innovate, and drive scientific progress forward. By recognizing and investing in the development of soft skills, individuals and organizations can foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning, thereby advancing the frontiers of knowledge and addressing society’s most pressing challenges with ingenuity and impact.

Discover insights on how to make learning a habit you enjoy: “ How To Make Learning A Habit You Enjoy “.

Science Figures, Graphical Abstracts, And Infographics For Your Research

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Published: 08 February 2005

A quantitative survey of intern's knowledge of communication skills: an Iranian exploration

Mohsen Tavakol 1 ,
Sima Torabi 2 ,
Owen D Lyne 3 &
Ali A Zeinaloo 4

BMC Medical Education volume 5 , Article number: 6 ( 2005 ) Cite this article

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It is a high priority that health care providers have effective communication skills. It has been well documented that the doctor-patient relationship is central to the delivery of high quality medical care, and it has been shown to affect patient satisfaction, to decrease the use of pain killers, to shorten hospital stays, to improve recovery from surgery and a variety of other biological, psychological and social outcomes. This study sought to quantify the current knowledge of interns in Iran about communication skills.

A cross-sectional study using a self-report questionnaire was conducted among interns. Data analysis was based on 223 questionnaires. The internal consistency of the items was 0.8979.

Overall, knowledge levels were unsatisfactory. Results indicated that interns had a limited knowledge of communication skills, including identification of communication skills. In addition, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of interns on breaking bad news and sex education. The confidence of males about their communication skills was significantly higher than for females. Analysis of the total scores by age and sex showed that there was a statistically significant main effect for sex and the interaction with age was statistically significant. Free response comments of the interns are also discussed.

Conclusions

It is argued that there is a real need for integrating a communication skills course, which is linked to the various different ethnic and religious backgrounds of interns, into Iranian medical curricula. Some recommendations are made and the limitations of the study are discussed.

Peer Review reports

The expectations of the public have been dramatically increased and the majority of them are familiar with their rights in the health care system. As a consequence, it is a high priority that health care providers have effective communication skills. It has been well documented that the doctor-patient relationship is central to the delivery of high quality medical care. It has been shown to affect patient satisfaction, to decrease the use of pain killers, to shorten hospital stays, to improve recovery from surgery and a variety of other biological, psychological and social outcomes [ 1 – 4 ]. Lack of knowledge of communication skills, or an inability to use them effectively, can be distressing and is potentially hazardous for patients. It may also be a cause of stress for medical students arriving on the ward for the first time [ 5 ]. There is a large body of evidence indicating the importance of students' knowledge of communication skills and [ 6 , 7 ] how behaviours learned from communication skills training transfer into the clinical setting and such training is known to have long term effects on students behaviour [ 8 – 11 ].

However, little is known about the importance of communication skills in the practice and training of doctors in Iran, where the culture differs greatly from that of the West. Sensitivity to religious matters is particularly important in Iranian doctor-patient relationships where Islam is more than a religion; it is a way of life. It controls politics, local laws, behaviour and many other aspects of daily life. It gives guidance in all spheres of human activity from birth to death. Therefore doctors coming into contact with religious patients need to be aware that there are numerous potential barriers to good communication [ 12 ].

A major criticism of current medical training in Iran is that communication skills have not been embedded in the curriculum of Iranian medical students, despite the richness and variety of evidence from elsewhere concerning the importance of communication skills. Concerns over poor doctor-patient communication amongst Iranian doctors led to an exploration of the current situation [ 13 ]. In this paper we investigate the knowledge level of interns about communication skills to gain a clearer picture of some challenges relating to health care promotion, especially patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment. Two questions guided the study: (a) How do interns assess their knowledge about communication skills? (b) Is there a significant difference between the level of knowledge among male and female interns?

A quantitative survey was performed at Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS). A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire administered to 235 interns. Anonymity was maintained throughout. The subjects received the self-administered questionnaire with a covering letter explaining the project and the subject's rights. 12 subjects did not return the questionnaire and an additional 7 subjects did not give their age and one person did not give his/her sex. Therefore data analysis was based on 223 questionnaires, but covariate-based analysis on fewer. The subjects were asked to complete the questionnaire without referring to source books.

The questionnaire consisted of three sections. The first section asked students to give personal details including the demographic items age and gender (summarised in Table 1 ). The second section is related to the educational items: subjects studied or attended in a specific course about communication skills (Table 2 ). The third section asked students to rate their knowledge of communication skills and, if they rated themselves higher than 5, discuss the item briefly in the space provided in order to assess their real knowledge with regard to that communication skill. In addition, they were encouraged to provide additional written comments on the questionnaire. The communication skills knowledge scale (CSKS) developed here consists of 10 items about communication skills. Each item is measured on a 10-point scale, ranging from 1 (low) to 10 (high).

The choice of items was based on the communication skills an intern will need. All items were verified and subjected to content validation by three major experts in communication skills. These experts were given copies of the CSKS and the purpose and objectives of the study. They then evaluated the CSKS on an individual basis. Comparisons were made between these evaluations and the authors then made some minor changes within the CSKS. The CSKS had a high internal consistency ( Cronbach alpha = 0.8979).

The validity of the CSKS can only be examined through logical rather than empirical means. Since the CSKS was not compared to a standardised test, it was impossible to obtain a numerical estimate of the validity of the test. However, based on logical means, i.e., a respectable Cronbach alpha and high inter-rater agreements on each item, the authors believe that the test is valid. The questions and responses have been translated from Persian into English for this paper.

The potential score range from the 10-item CSKS (by summing all 10 item scores) is 10 to 100, with 10 indicating low knowledge. Analysis of the total scores produced a mean score of 51.30 [95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 49.05–53.55]. The subjects' performance on the CSKS suggests a knowledge deficit in communication skills. The mean scores for males and females were respectively 53.6 and 48.2 (P = 0.02). The vast majority of interns (78.1%) had not studied a paper on communication skills. When asked whether they had formally attended communication skills courses, 91.4% of interns reported "no". Of the few interns who reported "yes", these interns specified courses such as CPR, injections and semiology (Table 3 ), which are not formal communication skills courses.

The analysis of the scores by topic is shown in table 4 . The possible range of scores for each item was 1 to 10. Mean scores for topics ranged from 2.8 to 6.1. Interns were most confident on "giving and receiving information", and the least confident on "sex education".

A two-way between-groups analysis was conducted to explore the impact of sex and age on levels of knowledge, as measured by the CSKS. Subjects were divided into two groups according to their age (less than 25 years, or 25 years and above). There was a statistically significant main effect for sex [F (1, 212) = 4.90, p = 0.02] and the interaction effect [F (1, 212) = 4.06, p = 0.04) did reach statistical significance. However the effect size was small (eta squared = 0.02). The young male interns were more confident than average, while the young female interns were less confident.

Free responses included the following comments:

' Nobody has trained us about communication skills. Our knowledge in respect of communication skills is very poor. Your items show that we are very far behind other countries. Our universities are not as advanced as other universities' .

'I feel we are not familiar with the ABC of communication skills' .

'A good guide to communication skills needed' .

'I feel communication skills would be an excellent course since it gives us an idea of how we can handle bad news' .

'Attending doctors are not totally familiar with the aims and use of communication skills in the clinical setting' .

'All our courses only focus on biological issues rather than psychosocial issues'

Limitations

There were a number of limitations to this study.

The CSKS has not been normed for a population of interns.

Criterion-related validity of the CSKS was not determined, although content validity was established on the instrument.

Since it is a self-assessed questionnaire, these may be problems with bias, such as prestige bias.

The very high response rate (95%) of this questionnaire may have reflected general interest, or may have resulted from the advantages of self-assessment which itself may improve performance. The results on the CSKS show that basic knowledge of interns in Iran about communication skills is limited. Researchers have reported similar findings in other countries which reveal a deficit in the knowledge of doctors about communication skills [ 14 ]. The importance of communication skills has long been acknowledged in general practice training [ 15 ] and the need to teach communication skills formally, as part of British undergraduate medical education, has also been recognised [ 16 ]. In Iran, interns' knowledge deficiency may be attributed to the fact that interns have never been trained to consult in the general practice setting, and their skills are limited to making value judgements, often using the only available criterion, comparison with their own style [ 13 ]. This approach to a patient is not cost effective and may lead to negative health outcomes such as patient dissatisfaction, poor adherence to treatment and medical errors [ 17 ]. A few students reported their attendance at courses such as EBM, semiology, skills lab or CPR, which have no relation with communication skills training. This indicates that students are not familiar with the tasks of communication skills [ 18 ].

The vast majority of research studies have been conducted on the outcome of communication skills in the practice and training of doctors in western countries. Even here, despite doctors trained in communication skills and the advocacy of the use of a patient-oriented approach, some evidence suggests that there are difficulties in practice [ 19 , 20 ]. However, research has demonstrated that communication skills training intervention using behavioural, cognitive and affective domains can increase not only potentially beneficial and effective interviewing styles, but also alter attitudes and confer other benefits [ 9 , 21 ].

The results of the study show that there were significant differences between males and females with regard to their reported knowledge of the main communication skills. Women were less confident of their skills. The deficit may partly be an artefact of an inadvertent prestige bias of the male students. The deficit is particularly notable in sex education. There are three possible explanations for this. Firstly, in general, Iranian female interns are very shy to ask patients about sexual issues. Therefore they may feel that sex education skills have no implications for their practice and hence pay less attention to sex education training. Secondly, it may be a systematic error in female respondents, i.e. they may be shy to discuss their knowledge about sex education skills rather than lack knowledge. Thirdly, in the past, sex education was regarded as a taboo in Iran and was not available in schools, especially for girls [ 22 ]. This perhaps acts as an inhibitory factor on the basic knowledge of sex education. Within this context, there is no evidence that shows similar results for gender difference on the knowledge of sex education in the practice and training of doctors.

The results on the CSKS suggest that there are areas of weakness in the communication skills confidence of interns, particularly in breaking bad news. While it is well recognised that delivering bad news is a difficult task that requires skills and sensitivity [ 23 ], both female interns and male interns reported that their confidence in breaking bad news is low, especially the female interns. While the interns commented on the need to improve medical students' communication skills, it seems that guidelines on delivering bad news to patients and patients' family members have not been seriously taken into consideration in the practice and training of doctors in Iran. This could be due to interns possessing deep fears regarding delivering bad news to patients' family members, or because they are unaware of the general guidelines about delivering bad news [ 24 ]. Three studies which have attempted to address residents' perception of delivering bad news indicate that residents had experienced discomfort with psychosocial issues related to the conveyance of bad news, such as personal fears and different perceptions of bad news [ 25 – 27 ].

There is a significant difference between the mean score of the interns on breaking bad news. The female interns have reported lower confidence than the male interns. The deficit could be an inadvertent prestige bias of the male students. However, to our knowledge, there is no evidence that underpin such finding. Although Orlander et al's work [ 28 ] demonstrated there were no significant differences between males and females with regard to the type of bad news, residents' knowledge with regard to breaking bad news was not reported by the authors. Therefore, some empirical research is essential.

Given the poor levels of confidence about communication skills, particularly sex education skills, revealed in this study, it is concluded that educational programmes are necessary. In sex education skills training, given the complex interplay of cultural and religious beliefs in Iran, particular attention must be paid to multicultural and religious issues. Therefore, further work is needed on gender education and stereotypes in sex education; learning styles; the 'hidden curriculum'; and how far medical schools make organisational and administrative arrangements on the basis of gender and the implication for female and male interns.

The enthusiastic response to the questionnaires may suggest that medicine is accepting the need for developing communication skills within the medical curriculum. Medical education in Iran must respond to this challenge.

Finally, our findings may be somewhat limited in generalisability because they are derived from only one medical school in Iran. Self-assessment data may suffer from biases such as prestige bias. Despite these caveats, the authors believe the data to be an accurate reflection of current practice in Iran, based on the Iranian authors training experiences, and consistency with previous accounts.

Whilst the approach to this research has been shaped by a government-recognised health need, the authors recognise the need for, and welcome, further examination of these findings from multiple perspectives, especially with regards to ethnicity and social issues. Since not enough attention has been focused on individuals as makers of health as a service rather than customers of health care services, it is strongly recommended, therefore, that medical students be trained in the context of psychosocial issues that may influence health behaviour, as has been indicated by one of the participants. It is particularly important that this type of approach be incorporated into the curricula of medical training. This may assist in transferring from the disease-oriented to the patient-oriented approach and ultimately lead to patients understanding more and taking greater responsibility for their own health.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge Tehran University of Medical science, Centre for Medical Education for their support of this study. Thanks also to the two reviewers whose comments allowed us to improve on our previous draft.

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Mohsen Tavakol

Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Institute for research and planning in higher education, Iran

Sima Torabi

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Owen D Lyne

Educational Development Centre, Tehran University of Medical Science, Iran

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MT and ST carried out the conception, design, initial analysis and interpretation of the data. MT drafted the paper. ODL was involved in revising the draft critically, revising the statistical analysis and gave final approval of the version to be published. AAZ contributed to the collection of data and the reviewing of the manuscript.

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Tavakol, M., Torabi, S., Lyne, O.D. et al. A quantitative survey of intern's knowledge of communication skills: an Iranian exploration. BMC Med Educ 5 , 6 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-5-6

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by Angie Voyles Askham, Content Marketing Intern

"Scientists need to excite the public about their work in part because the public is paying for it, and in part because science has very important things to say about some of the biggest problems society faces."

Stephen S. Hall has been reporting and writing about science for decades. For the past ten years, he's also been helping researchers at New York University improve their writing skills through the school's unique Science Communication Workshops . In our interview below, he explains why the public deserves good science communication and offers some tips for how researchers can make their writing clear and engaging.

How would you descr ibe your role as a science journalist?

I’ve always made a distinction between "science writer" and a writer who happens to be interested in science. That may sound like wordplay, but I think it captures what we aspire to do. Even as specialists, science journalists wear several hats: we explain, we report, we investigate, we step back and provide historical context to scientific developments to help people understand what’s new, why something is controversial, who drove a major innovation. And like any writer, we look for interesting, provocative, and deeply reported ways to tell these stories.

I know you from the science communication workshop that’s offered to NYU graduate students. One of the most important things that I got out of the workshop, at least initially, was training myself out of the stuffy academic voice that I think a lot researchers fall into when writing academic papers. Why do you think scientists fall into this particular trap, and how do you help them get out of it?

Scientists are trained—and rightly so—to describe their work in neutral, objective terms, qualifying all observations and openly acknowledging experimental limitations. Those qualities play very well in scientific papers and talks, but are terrible for effective communication to the general public. In our Science Communication workshops at NYU, we typically see that scientists tend to communicate in dense, formal and cautious language; they tell their audiences too much; they mimic the scientific literature’s affinity for passive voice; and they slip into jargon and what I call “jargonish,” defensive language. Over ten years of conducting workshops, we’ve learned to attack these problems on two fronts: pattern recognition (training people to recognize bad writing/speaking habits and fixing them) and psychological "deprogramming" (it’s okay to leave some details and qualifications out!). And a key ingredient to successful communication is understanding your audience; there is no such thing as the "general public," but rather a bunch of different potential audiences, with different needs and different levels of expertise. We try to educate scientists to recognize the exact audience they're trying to reach—what they need to know and, just as important, what they don't need to know.

What are some other common mistakes that you see researchers making when they’re trying to communicate about their work, either with each other or with the public?

We see the same tendencies over and over again: vocabulary (not simply jargon, but common expressions—such as gene “expression”—that are second-hand within a field, but not clear to non-experts); abstract, complicated explanations rather than using everyday language; sentences that are too long; and “optics” (paragraphs that are too long and appear monolithic to readers). We’ve found that workshops are the perfect setting to play out the process of using everyday language to explain something without sacrificing scientific accuracy.

Why is it important for researchers to be better communicators?

Scientists need to learn to tell their own stories, first and foremost, because society needs their expertise, their perspective, their evidence-based problem solving skills for the future. But the lay public, especially in an era where every fact seems up for grabs, needs to be reminded of what the scientific method is: using critical thinking and rigorous analysis of facts to reach evidence-based conclusions. Scientists need to excite the public about their work in part because the public is paying for it, and in part because science has very important things to say about some of the biggest problems society faces—climate change, medical care, advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, among many other issues. As climate scientist Michael Mann said in a celebrated 2014 New York Times OpEd, scientists can no longer stay on the sidelines in these important public debates.

As a science journalist, part of your job is to hunt for interesting stories to tell. How can scientists make their work more accessible to people like you—or to other people outside of their specific area of research—so that their stories are told more widely?

The key word in your question is “stories.” Think like a writer. What’s the story behind your discovery? What were the ups and downs on the way to the finding? Where does this fit into a larger history of science narrative? Was there a funny incident or episode in the work (humor is a great way to draw and sustain public interest)? Was there a conflict or competition that makes the work even more interesting? Is there a compelling historical or contemporary figure involved that will help you humanize the science? It's been our-longstanding belief that scientists have a great intuitive feel for good storytelling (we incorporate narrative training in our workshops), but just don’t think about it when it comes to describing their own work. The other key thing is to explain why your research matters.

One of the ways that many researchers try to share their work is through Twitter, but I noticed that on the NYU website it says you’re a Twitter conscientious objector. Why is that? What effect do you think Twitter has had on science communication and journalism in general?

I actually think Twitter can be a great tool for science communication, and many of my colleagues use it deftly. I tend to gravitate toward stories that everyone is not talking about, so Twitter doesn’t help much in that regard. The larger reason I’m a Twitter “refusenik,” as my colleague Dan Fagin sometimes calls me, is that I think the technology has been widely abused to disseminate misinformation, intimidate enemies, and subvert democratic norms; I don’t use it primarily for those reasons.

Are there any other tips that you can offer researchers who want to be better communicators and just aren’t sure where to start?

One first step might be to see if your institution offers any communication training and to take advantage of those programs; if not, think about how you might establish a program. We’ve posted a few of the things we’ve learned at NYU on our website ; we’ve also established a publishing platform for science communicators at NYU called the Cooper Square Review , which is a good way for scientists to get experience publishing their own work and reaching a larger public.

Stephen S. Hall has been reporting and writing about science for nearly 30 years. In addition to numerous cover stories in the New York Times Magazine, where he also served as a Story Editor and Contributing Writer, his work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and a number of other outlets. He is also the author of six non-fiction books about contemporary science. In addition to teaching the Science Communication Workshops at NYU, he also teaches for NYU's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program (SHERP) and has taught graduate seminars in science writing and explanatory journalism at Columbia University.

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