Genre Competence as a Means of Developing Cognitive and Activity-Based Components of Research Competence of a Modern Engineer

Abstract

Research competence of future engineers is an integrative characteristic of a personality, which implies mastering methodological knowledge, research techniques and readiness to use them in professional activity. Research competence consists of the following components: motivational, cognitive, activity-based and reflective. The study focuses on the development of cognitive and activity-based components of the competence. The initial stage of the study involved an assessment of a scope of knowledge including theoretical basis and methodology, necessary for conducting research (cognitive component) and research skills. The skill-set included an ability to work with sources on the topic of research work, to write primary and secondary scientific genres, to prepare and give oral presentation (activity-based component) acquired by bachelor programs graduates who were starters of a master program. The next research stage was to evaluate the knowledge and skills relevant to the cognitive and activity-based components of research competence acquired by the master students who had completed the course on academic writing aimed at forming and developing genre competence in scientific sphere. The evaluation was carried out through respondents’ self-assessment questionnaire. The final stage of the study entailed a comparison of the outcomes of two questionnaires. The course content and structure are briefly described in the article. The findings of the study demonstrate an improvement in the respondents’ level of competence in terms of the studied research knowledge and skills that confirms the effectiveness of the course aimed at forming and developing genre competence in scientific sphere.KeywordsGenre competenceResearch competenceAcademic writing course for master studentsEnglishRussian