A Needs-Analysis of Psychology ESP Textbooks of Iranian Undergraduate and Graduate Students: Focus on Islamic Azad University-STB-A Mixed-Methods Study

Aghaei, Vahid; Mohseni, Ahmad; Saed, Maliheh; Janani, Naser

doi:10.22034/jespp.2024.217575

A Needs-Analysis of Psychology ESP Textbooks of Iranian Undergraduate and Graduate Students: Focus on Islamic Azad University-STB-A Mixed-Methods Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Vahid Aghaei ¹

Ahmad Mohseni ²

Maliheh Saed ³

Naser Janani ⁴

¹ Department of English Teaching and Translation, Faculty of Persian and Foreign Languages, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

² Department of English Language, Faculty of Foreign Languages, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of English Language, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran

⁴ Department of English Language, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Shahid Sattari Aeronautical University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/jespp.2024.217575

Abstract

In both ESP and EAP, the issue of needs analysis should be taken into account since it is at the service of course designers to design a course with employing the best methodologies and resources given needs of learners of each field. There is no previous research using mixed method approach to analyze psychology ESP Textbooks of Iranian universities. The main objective of this study was to conduct a needs analysis of psychology ESP textbooks among Iranian undergraduate and graduate students with a focus on Islamic Azad University-South Tehran Branch (STB). To achieve the aim of this study, the researchers selected 38 psychology ESP students from STB through convenience and purposive sampling. They were at both B.A. and M.A. levels. The researchers administered an adapted version of the needs analysis questionnaire in online format and selected five psychology ESP teachers to be interviewed. The results of the quantitative part showed that most of these students believe that their textbook mainly focuses on grammar, vocabulary and reading. They reported that they need a textbook for developing their productive skills (writing and speaking). In addition, the results of the qualitative part indicated that it is essential to develop the psychology students’ all four language skills. ESP psychology teachers also believe that language teachers who teach English to psychology students should have psychology knowledge, as well. They also regarded mastering English is critical for psychology students. The outcomes of this study can be useful for curriculum developers, ESP teachers and ESP students.

Keywords

aviation students

aviation vocabulary

student-centered approach

text-based approach