ABSTRACT

Improving and maintaining researchers’ academic writing competencies is the central goal of research focused higher education institutions in their endeavour to achieve scientific visibility and excellence in research. This article proposes an in-depth needs analysis validation that would be used as an instrument to fundament, improve and adapt academic writing programs. The project aims to develop academic writing skills based on enhanced interventions focused on identified needs of master and Ph.D. students (N = 33). The need analysis was conducted using an adapted version of the Duszak and Lewkowicz (2008) questionnaire. Results are suggesting that the number of already published articles does not function as an objective predictor for the development of academic writing competencies, both categories (social and hard sciences) aiming in comparable percentage to increase their skills. Investigating students’ needs regarding academic writing process is an important tool to adapt the specific teaching approach and to enhance the learning experience and outcomes.

KEYWORDS: needs analysis, academic writing interventions, research competencies

PAGES:261-281