Presentation fear of NSU students

ENG 105 Research Paper

Presentation fear of NSU students
Submitted to: Rajiv Ashrafi
Submitted by: Abu Saleh Muhammad Saimon
ID# 151 0676 030
Section: 07
North South University

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Contents
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................. 3

Introduction and Background ............................................................................................................. 4

Research Questions ............................................................................................................................... 6

Hypothesis.............................................................................................................................................. 8

Research Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 9

Data Presentation and Analysis ......................................................................................................... 10

Summary of Research Findings ......................................................................................................... 16

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 17

Work Cited .......................................................................................................................................... 18

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Abstract

Presentation is a means of communication that can be adopted to various speaking

situation. It is a practice of showing and explaining the content of a topic to an audience or

learner. Like every university student, NSUer also have to present their idea about specific

topic or subject matter. Presentation is a new term for almost every NSU students. Among

them some students fear presentations. According to that my topic is “Presentation fear of

NSU students.” On the other hand, following my topic and observation I think that “NSU

business students are more afraid of presentation than engineering students because of lack of

public speaking experience. After collecting data through primary and secondary research, I

have analyzed it and make final decision that my claim and assumption of hypothesis is

absolutely correct. So, my hypothesis is accepted.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Introduction and Background

As a student in our academic life we have learnt many things. Students not only learn

something. They have to prove themselves what they have learn. There are several types of

system to asses a student. Test, quiz, viva, etc. are the common assessment system. However,

nowadays there is a new term of assessment system which is widely known as presentation.

Presentation is basically a type of communication (Noer, 2013, para 3). It can be a speaking

situation, or it can be talking to a group or addressing a meeting or briefing a team. Academic

presentation consists of talking or speaking about a topic which is related to academic course

or purposes. It is a practice of showing and explaining content of a topic to an audience or

learner. The main purpose for presentation is expressing the idea or point of view to the

audience that a student learnt from his lecturer or something else.

To give a presentation a student has to have public speaking ability. Speaking to

someone is not that much hard. If it is more than 5 people, some student might get nervous

while speaking. It is very tough to say something publicly in front of a large audience.

Someone might fell shy or someone had embarrassing experience (Mitchell, para 10).

However, the benefit is if someone can say something in front of a large audience s/he can

express his/her own idea to anyone and gain more self-confidence and success. (Torok, 2015,

para. 1). Some students have very good skill of any particular thing or subject matter. S/he

could have different idea which might be used to build new concept or create something new.

But being introvert, they cannot express themselves as well as their ideas. So presentation and

public speaking skill is a blessing for any students because it encourages a student to voice

him/her ideas (Massengale, 2014, para. 9).

Majority of Bangladeshi students are from Bengali medium. Our education system

does not offer any kind of public speaking course or such a course in which a student can

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Presentation fear of NSU students

express him/herself in front of everyone, at least in front of the teachers or their classmates.

For that, high school and college students do not have that much public speaking experience.

They feel this thing when they admit in a university. University is the place where the

authority set a syllabus which is internationally accepted. Here, a student has to take all the

courses in English and they have to attend examination in English. They also have to talk

with their instructor in English. University also expects presentation from their students. So,

Bengali medium students face serious trouble when they admit in a university.

North South University is also offers the same thing. The curriculum is following

North American academic curriculum. The students have to follow the rules and regulations

and the academic guidelines. Presentation is totally a new term for a newly admitted

freshmen student. As most of them come from Bengali medium, they do not have that much

idea regarding presentation and also speaking experience publicly. So, they get nervous and

fears while they are asking to present something in front of large audience (Presentations,

2013, para 3). Both business and engineering students fears presentations. However, I have

noticed that business students fear most.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Research Questions

In my research I plan to investigate why students afraid of presentation. My research

will address the following research questions:

1. What is presentation? Why it is important?

2. What is presentation fear? Why students afraid of presentation?

3. Who fears more: business students or engineering students?

4. What may be the reason behind nervousness for presentation?

5. Is it because of lack of public speaking experience? If so, who does it affect more:

business students or engineering students?

6. What is public speaking? Why people need it?

7. Why do students have lack of public speaking experience?

8. Does lack of public speaking experience responsible for fear during presentation?

In the first question, I am trying to find out what is presentation and why it is so much

important. The answer will provide me sufficient information about presentation. Because,

there are other meaning of presentations. It also provides information about the importance of

giving presentation like why we should adopt presentation skills and what benefit it will bring

to a student.

In second question, I want to know what is the basic meaning of presentation fear. It

will provide more clear knowledge about presentations. I also wanted to know why students

fears presentations. It also gives me the clear idea of the matter responsible for presentation

fear.

Thirdly, I have asked that who fears most: business students or engineering students.

It will give me the clear idea whether it is business student or engineering students.
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Presentation fear of NSU students

Then, I wanted to know why students feel nervous for presentation. The answer will

provide me more clear idea about the reason of nervousness for presentation.

After that I asked another question that is the nervousness because of lack of public

speaking experience? If so, who does it affects more: business students or engineering

students. I wanted to know whether public experience is responsible or not. It might affect the

business students or the engineering students. I am little curious about which majoring

students fears most.

M. I wanted to know whether public experience is responsible or not. It might affect

the business students or the engineering students. I am little curious about which majoring

students fears most.

My next question was what is public speaking and why people need it. I want to find

this answer because it is important to gather knowledge about the topic which is directly

related to research topic. If I understand what is public speaking, it will be easier for me to

understand why people need it and how we can achieve this skill.

Next, I wanted to know why students have lack of public speaking experience? The

answer will provide me the reasons behind this.

Finally, I wanted to know does lack of public speaking experience responsible for fear

during presentation. It will help me to find out whether the public speaking experience

responsible for fear during presentation and make a right decision.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Hypothesis

NSU business students are more afraid of presentation than engineering students

because of lack of public speaking experience. Most of the NSU students came Bengali

medium school. Our education system is such poor that a student cannot learn the English

grammar properly in 12 years. Even very few people can give presentation properly and

speaking publicly in English. Presentation has become a nightmare for newly admitted

fresher of North South University. In Bengali medium curriculum there are no topic like

presenting or public speaking. So, in the very first semester they fall into trouble while

preparing for presentation, writing an assignment and so on. NSU offers some courses from

where students can learn these things. However, those course are not enough. In every

semester newly admitted students do not get those courses and the faculty advisor give them

core course. Majority of them ended up with a poor grade in their very first semester and

cannot remove the fear of giving a presentation.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Research Methodology

To prove my hypothesis whether it is right or wrong I have set a research plan. The

plan is conducting primary and secondary research. I planned to do primary research to

collect raw data which no one did before. On the other hand, I have collect some existing data

to compare and make decision. I planned to do a survey as primary data collection and

finding reference material form online articles, newspapers, journals, books and other

mediums that offer information relevant to my research topic.

For my primary research, I have conducted survey. I have made a questionnaire which

is approved by our honorable faculty. There are two types of questions. Open ended and close

ended. There were 80 percent close ended questions and 20 percent open ended questions. I

have selected 30 students from North South University campus. Among them 15 students

were from business department and rest 15 students were from engineering department. They

give their valuable though while answering the open ended questions and they also provide

the actual answer while answering the close ended questions.

I have taken three days to do this survey at NSU campus. I went to gallery, study hall

and the cafeteria to find my target group. I also went to both the NAC building and SAC

building to conduct the survey. At first I asked them whether they are interested to give me

some time to answer some questions. Then I have asked them what is their department. If

they were from business and engineering department I asked them my questions and filled

them by myself on behalf of them. All of the respondents helped me a lot with providing

information.

Finally, for my secondary research, I have taken existing data from different websites. I

didn’t find exactly what I want, but I have found some relevant data about my research topic.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Data Presentation and Analysis

Data presentation and analysis is the most important part of my research. Here I have

present and explain detailed the meaning of data generated by primary data. I have collected

data through survey and present it through chart for better understanding and taking right

decision. I have surveyed 30 students to collect sufficient data about presentation fear. I

surveyed equal number of engineering and business students. Among the 30 respondents, 15

were engineering students and 15 were business students. The data collected helped me to

draw conclusion about my research topic.

The survey consisted with 80 percent close ended and 20 percent open ended

questions. In the close ended question, I added some statement and I was curious to know that

whether they are agreeing or disagreeing with my statement. Then I also gave chance them to

explain why they are agreeing or disagreeing. There were some rating questions. I putted

those questions for gathering data about their feeling for a statement.

From the survey, I have found one major point that engineering students have more

presentation experience than business students before admit NSU and both engineering and business

students agree that public speaking experience is responsible for presentation fear. Another interesting

thing I have found by doing the research is engineering students fears presentation less because they

have done with presentation development course earlier. Another interesting information came to

light: respondents marked that lack of public speaking experience and nervousness both equally

responsible for presentation fear.

Moving on to my data analysis, I have chosen 7 questions from the questionnaire to make

decision about the hypothesis. Collected data is presented and analyzed below.

My very first question was, “Do you have any presentation experience before admit NSU?”.

Here I putted two options for the respondent; “Yes”, “No”. I got both “Yes” and “No” answer.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Both engineering and business students replied with equal number of answer. 50% said “Yes”

and 50% said “No”. However, The interesting part is engineering students have more presentation

experience than business students. The below bar chart (Figure 1) illustrates the result more clearly.

Do you have any presentation experience before

admit NSU?
8.2
8
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
7
6.8
6.6
6.4
Yes No

Business Students Engineering Students

Figure 1. Bar chart showing respondents presentation experience before admit NSU.

My second question was “Do you take course regarding presentation development?

Here I also putted two options “Yes” and “No”. Respondent answered both “Yes” and “No”.

Maximum students said “No”. Interestingly, engineering students had taken

presentation development course more compared to the business students. 10 students said

that they had done with presentation development course. Among the 10 students, 60% were

from engineering department. The graph “Figure 2” illustrate this answer more clearly.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Do you take course regarding presentation

development?
12

10

0
Yes No

Business Students Engineering Students

Figure 2. Chart represents the result of taken courses regarding presentation development.

Next, I put a statement “Presentation is a nightmare.” Here I put five options

“Strongly Agree”, “Agree”, “Cannot Decide”, “Disagree”, “Strongly Disagree”. No business

touched the option “Strongly Disagree” and no engineering student touched “Strongly Agree”

option.

5 business students agree and 2 strongly agree with the statement. 6 engineering

students agree with the statement. On the other hand, 7 business students “Disagree” with the

statement. 4 engineering students “Disagree” and 1 engineering respond with “Strongly

Disagree”. So, business students more fears presentations and this prove my claim correct.

“Figure 3’ illustrate this more clearly.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

Presentation is a nightmare
8

0
Strongly Agree Agree Cannot Decide Disagree Strongly Disagree

Business Student Engineering Student

Figure 3. Illustrating how much business and engineering students choose strongly agree,

agree, cannot decide, disagree, and strongly disagree.

Then I have asked them “Why do you think presentation is nightmare?” as an open-

ended question. Majority told that the large audience make them nervous and they have less

English skill and for that they are unable to say something instantly.

Then I asked “How afraid you are?” I made a scale 1 to 10. Here “1” means “It is

terrifying” and “10” means “I am confident”.

Business student answered between 1 to 6. That means they feel that presentation is

terrifying. On the other hand, engineering students answered between 6 to 10. They are

confident about presentations. Figure 4 clears this more.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

How afraid you are?

4.5

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Business Student Engineering Students

Figure 4. Rating about presentation fear.

Another rating question I putted on my questionnaire. I asked “Do you like public

speaking?” I made a scale of 1 to 5. Here “1” is “Hate it” and “5” is “Love it”.

Here, business students answered between 1 to 3 most. On the other hand, engineering

students answered 3 to 5 most. So, business hate public speaking. It will be clearer on “Figure

5”.

Do you like public speaking?

7

0
1 2 3 4 5

Business Students Engineering Students

Figure 5. Representation of public speaking fear.

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Presentation fear of NSU students

I also make another statement “Lack of public speaking experience is responsible for

presentation fear”. Here I put five options “Strongly Agree”, “Agree”, “Cannot Decide”,

“Disagree”, “Strongly Disagree”. Everyone answered “Strongly agree” and “Agree”. Rest of

the options remain untouched.

Lack of public speaking experience is responsible for

presentation fear.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Business Studnets Engineering Students

Figure 6. Illustrating the perception about lack of public speaking experience is responsible

for presentation fear.

The above graph says that almost every student “Agree” and “Strongly agree” with

this statement. So, lack of public speaking experience is responsible for presentation fear.

This analysis says that my assumption is right.

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Summary of Research Findings

I have got the survey result analysis and now in research findings I am going to make

a judgment of the hypothesis based on my findings. This is mainly the ultimate result of my

research.

In my hypothesis, I claimed that NSU business students are more afraid of

presentation than the engineering students. I have seen the respondents are agreeing with my

claim. 7 business strongly agree/agree with the statement where 6 engineering students agree

with the statement. So, my assumption is correct according to the judgement of respondent.

Another question proves my claim right. I asked them how afraid they are? Business

student answered presentation is terrifying to them. On the other hand, engineering students

answered that they are confident about presentations.

After that, coming to my assumption, I assume that lack of public speaking

experience is responsible for presentation fear. Surprisingly, all the respondents are agreeing

with my assumptions also. All responded agree and strongly agree that lack of public

speaking experience is responsible for presentation fear.

As my claim and assumption both are right my hypothesis is right.

It can be safe to conclude that business students fears presentation more than

engineering students. This is only because of lack of public speaking experience. If they face

presentation in every semester they will improve their public speaking skills.

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Conclusion

Overall, I have concluded that business students are more afraid of presentations.

Most of the business students are introvert and they did not take any courses regarding

presentation development. Even they do not have that much presentation giving experience

before admitting at North South University. Business students fears presentation more for

lack of public speaking experience. They hate public speaking.

As for suggestion and recommendation, I wished this research could have been done

in a more thorough manner. The number of respondents were very low and the demographic

was limited by a specific institution, North South University. I fell it would be more

interesting if I compare two or more institutions in Bangladesh. Then the idea will be more

clear. I would also find out the Bengali and English medium students perception about

presentation. As the time was short I couldn’t do this. It would provide the idea more

perfectly. Finally, I also hope to find out what steps will remove presentation and public

speaking fear. It would help me to make a suggestion for the students who fears presentation

and public speaking most. Practicing more and more will make a person more confident

about public speaking and presentation fear. Steve Jobs, practice for weeks before delivering

a ninety-minute keynote announcing a new Apple product or service (Miller, 2015, para. 5)

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Work Cited

Noer, M. (2013, Jul 31). What is Presentation? Retrieved from

https://www.bestpresentation.net/what-is-presentation/

Torok, G. (2015, May 27). Why are presentation skills important? Retrieved from

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-presentation-skills-important-george-torok

Presentations, B. F. (2013, Dec 9). 7 Deadly Fears of Public Speaking [Web blog post].

Retrieved from http://bigfishpresentations.com/2013/12/09/7-deadly-fears-ofpublic-

speaking/

Miller, F. E. (2015, June 10). Seven Reasons WHY People Have a Fear of Public Speaking.

Retrieved from https://nosweatpublicspeaking.com/seven-reasons-why-peoplehave-a-

fear-of-public-speaking/

Massengale, J. (2014, Jan 16). 5 reasons everyone should take a public speaking course.

Retrieve from http://college.usatoday.com/2014/01/16/5-reasons-everyoneshould-

take-a-public-speaking-course/

Mitchell, O. (n.d.). The three causes of public speaking fear (and what you can do about

them). Retrieved from http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/nervousness/fear-of-

public-speakingcauses/

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