Academic and Research Skills

This report discusses the importance of academic and research skills for personal and professional development. It covers topics such as strengths and weaknesses, setting targets for self-improvement, key points of information from different sources using active listening skills, and information from different sources using reading strategies. The report also includes a research plan and findings on a personal development plan.

Academic and Research skills

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Own strength and Weakness ...........................................................................................1
1.2 Setting targets for self improvement................................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
3.1 Key points of information from different sources using active listening skills...............2
3.2 Information from different sources using reading strategies...........................................3

INTRODUCTION
Academic skills is termed as development of key potential in academic career which is
required for personal and professional development within enterprise. There are various kinds of
studies needed to be carried out by individuals in their academic career in which they have to
undertake the research (Adedokun and et.al., 2013). Research skills imply to attain knowledge
and abilities of conducting research. Present report is based on analysis of own strengths and
weaknesses to identify skills along with the development of targets for self-improvement. In
addition to this, different skills such as note taking, paraphrasing and summarising skills have
been determined which are achieved at the time of study. Further, an academic research project
has been carried out by using various primary and secondary methods. At last, personal
development plan has been made to demonstrate the findings and creating an action plan for
improvement of skills.
TASK 1
1.1 Own strengths and weaknesses
Personal skills are considered as the competencies which are necessary to be attained for
achievement of personal and professional development. In this report, I have clearly determined
by own strengths and weaknesses which I have achieved in academic career and key area which I
need to improve for achievement of growth.
Strengths
 Excellent communication and soft
skills which I have developed by
communicating with different
superiors, through participation in
seminars and reading books.
 Good in research skills such as data
collection, data analysis and sampling
because I have carried out various
researches on different topics.
 Effective in oral and written
communication and I have achieved
Weaknesses
 Lack of appropriate technical
competencies.
 Faced difficulties in taking various
interviews and communicating with
different people.
 Less effective in paraphrasing and
summarising skills.
 Less effective in listening and
understanding the key content which
creates difficulties in drafting reports.
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these skills through drafting of
academic reports, research paper and
other materials (Whittaker, 2012).
1.2 Setting targets for self-improvement
For development of skills and competencies, it is essential to analyse the ways for
improvement of skills in an appropriate time duration.
Specific: Participation in different technical courses and practical training for 3 months in
order to my technical knowledge and competencies to use different types of software. Further, I
will also take guidance from superiors for taking interview and carrying out survey to be
improved by research skills. In order to develop effective listening skills, I will participate in
different seminars and conferences along with class room activities to improve my English
language skills.
Measurable: Target for improvement of technical skills will be completed within 3
months and I will achieve an appropriate score in my technical course.
Achievable: Objectives of improvement of technical competencies have been achieved
as I will make appropriate efforts to learn different software and systems. By analysis and taking
guidance from colleagues as well as superiors, I will be able to improve paraphrasing and
summarising skills (Devi and et.al, 2012).
Realistic: Objectives of undertaking various computer course for three months is realistic
as there are different institutions that offer computer courses for development of technical
competencies among individuals. Carrying out research on different topics is also realistic and
helps in improvement of paraphrasing and summarising. There is requirement of interpretation of
findings in every research on the basis of data collection.
Time bound: Target formulated to attain technical competencies will be achieved in three
months. Further, paraphrasing and summarising skills will be improved within 2 months.
Further, listening and understanding skills of English language will be improved by participation
in seminars and conference in 3 months.
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TASK 2
3.1 Key points of information from different sources using active listening skills
Note taking is an important skill which is required for collection of information and
carrying out study in an effective manner. There are various methods through which new and
academic sources have been used to carry out research. By using effective listening skills in class
room lectures, I have developed skills for making notes as it helps in learning and analysing the
information effectively. I have faced the speaker effectively and also kept proper eye contact on
the speaker to gain crux of information which is provided in class room. For example: In class
room lectures on leadership, there are various theories of leadership have been determined by
speaker and I have concentrated on various key points of these theories which are presented. I
have also noted those key points for further analysis. Proper organisational structure diagram has
been made to analyse the flow of authorities and responsibilities in organisation. No interrelation
has been made in between the lectures.
3.2 Information from different sources using reading strategies
There are various reading strategies which can be applied by the scholar to develop
effective note taking skills. Proper reading and understanding of important information is useful
in carrying out research in an effective manner. I have applied various reading strategies in order
to achieve expertise in note taking. First strategy is activation background knowledge about
study which has been carried out in the class lectures. Research has provided information that
better comprehension will occur when students are engaged in activities that bridge their old
knowledge with the new (Bryman and Bell, 2015). For development of note taking skills, I have
also participated in various classroom activities and made presentation to determine the key
points of study. In addition, I have also framed questions before and after reading notes to
improve my comprehension.
Another reading strategy is to analyse the structure of text which is books, articles and
journals which are provided by speaker in class room activities. Further, understanding the
patterns in which material is presented has allowed me to comprehend the information letter.
Visualization is also an important reading strategy which gives stress on importance of
visualizing materials (Laidlaw and et.al, 2012). For attaining these skills, I have made visual
images while reading text which provided support in effective comprehension. Last reading
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strategy is summarizing which leads to improve and enhance the comprehension. Through this, it
has become easier for me to analyse the concept and gain knowledge.
TASK 3
Research plan
In order to select target market for appropriate products and service, it is essential carry
out research to understand demand and value of products in market. In this context, for
carrying out research I will formulate an appropriate plan to determine different steps for
successful accomplishment of objectives.
Setting aims and objectives: In order to carry out research, first aim and objectives will be
created which provided clear direction for carrying out study in effective manner.
Survey: Pilot survey will be conducted to current trends and requirements of products in market.
10 respondents will be interview from two different classes for identification population in
which products have more chances to achieve high demand (Miller, 2014).
Segmentation strategies: Various segmentation strategies will analyse for selection of
appropriate strategy which helps in finding potential customers.
Customer preference: Effective customer preference will be analysed to understand requirements
of customers. Potential capabilities of target market to buy products will also be analysed for
setting appropriate prices for products and services.
2.2 Process used for carrying out research from different sources of primary and secondary
information.
There are various primary and secondary information which helps in accomplishment of
research effectively. Primary method of data collection implies to gathering of fresh information
to analyse demand of products and services. In this context, for collecting information about
demand of products and services through primary methods.
Primary information
Questionnaire: A questionnaire is document containing various questions related to research
topics and high academic skills. I will also make a questionnaire containing related to products
requirements and substitute in market (Travis, 2017).
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Interviews; These are also analysed primary source of getting information which implies to
taking interview from selected respondents. In this research, I have selected 10 customers and I
will also take their interview for getting analyse demand of new product in market.
Secondary information
It is also considered as information which is already gathered and provided by different
scholar in their research which help in accomplishment of research effectively. For getting
secondary information, I have studied various journal, article and books related to gather
information and selection of target market for products and services. Internet surfing will be
carried for collection of information directly.
First draft of research work
In First draft of research, I have carried out secondary research in order to get useful
information, An structure of carrying out of research has been formulated in the first draft which
back ground of study, aims and objectives, rationale and literature review. There are various
market reports, online article, literatures, research paper and articles have been identified in
context of targeting customers for products and services (Collis and Hussey, 2013). High product
purchase will tend to raise recognition of customers within enterprise. I have also carried of
analysed of different literature in order to analyse information about demand of products and
service in market among customers. Appropriate research methodologies will be determined that
needs to be used for carrying about this research.
Listing the sources used
There are various which I have used to carry out this researcher such as:
Primary sources: Questionnaire, interview and observation will be carried for gathering
information. Along with this, Emails and company website have also been used to collect
information.
Secondary source: Various journals and articles have been studied to gain information about
different sources.
Final draft, produced to professional standard
The research project will be produced as per professional standard and all the
information will present in an appropriate structure of research. Various graphs and charts will
be used to provide visual presentation of data collected and analysed. Primary and secondary
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information will be determined in separately. Secondary information which is collected from
literatures, books and journals have been cited properly (Arnold and et.al, 2012). Various
important findings upon the demand of products and service will also be presented to
management in the form of report.
TASK 5
Findings upon personal development plan.
Targets for personal
development
Short terms and long
terms targets
Ways to achieve target
and activities required
to perform
Analysis progress
Improvement of
technical
competencies
(Personal skill)
3 months Proper training
sessions, computer
course and practical
session will be
attempted to achieve
these skills. Superiors
helps will also be
taken to understand
use of different
software.
Proficiency of using
technical software and
other technologies will
be measure analyse the
outcomes.
Paraphrasing and
summarising skills
(Academic skills)
2 months Various research
carried out by different
scholar will be
analysed to understand
the ways of
summarising the
research project
(Barrie, 2012).
Feedback from
superiors will be taken
to analyse the
improvement in skills.
Listening skills
(English language)
1 months Participation in
various seminars and
conference which are
Analysis of results and
capabilities of note
making will be
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organisation by
university will be
taken to develop
effective listening
capability.
analysed to understand
the improvement.
Action plan, making notes for further actions required for improvement.
In order to develop competencies and skills I will also undertake an actions plan which involve
various aspects such as:
 Setting appropriate goals: Proper goals and objectives will be developed for
improvement of these skills. SMART will also be effectively created for development of
various important business concepts.
 Making notes: Through effective listening skills proper notes have been prepared for
learning and gaining knowledge (Lipnevich and Roberts, 2012).
 Development of skills: appropriate skills will also be develop for accomplishment of
stated objectives.
CONCLUSION
In this report, it has been concluded that there are various important academic and
research skills are required to be achieved by professional for personal and professional
development. Effective note making skills will be developed through proper recognition and
attentiveness in class room activities. Technical skills will also be developed by undertaking
various important courses and their various important skills have been developed effectively.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adedokun, O.A., Bessenbacher, A.B., Parker, L.C., Kirkham, L.L. and Burgess, W.D., 2013.
Research skills and STEM undergraduate research students' aspirations for research
careers: Mediating effects of research self‐efficacy. Journal of Research in Science
teaching, 50(8), pp.940-951.
Arnold, D.H., Kupersmidt, J.B., Voegler-Lee, M.E. and Marshall, N.A., 2012. The association
between preschool children's social functioning and their emergent academic skills.
Early childhood research quarterly, 27(3), pp.376-386.
Barrie, S.C., 2012. A research-based approach to generic graduate attributes policy. Higher
Education Research & Development, 31(1), pp.79-92.
Bryman, A. and Bell, E., 2015. Business research methods. Oxford University Press, USA.
Collis, J. and Hussey, R., 2013. Business research: A practical guide for undergraduate and
postgraduate students. Palgrave macmillan.
Devi, V., Abraham, R.R., Adiga, A., Ramnarayan, K. and Kamath, A., 2012. Fostering research
skills in undergraduate medical students through Mentored Student Projects: Example
from an Indian medical school. Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 8(3), pp.294-
298.
Laidlaw, A., Aiton, J., Struthers, J. and Guild, S., 2012. Developing research skills in medical
students: AMEE Guide No. 69. Medical teacher, 34(9), pp.754-771.
Lipnevich, A.A. and Roberts, R.D., 2012. Noncognitive skills in education: Emerging research
and applications in a variety of international contexts. Learning and Individual
Differences, 22(2), pp.173-177.
Miller, J., 2014. Building academic literacy and research skills by contributing to Wikipedia: A
case study at an Australian university. Journal of Academic Language and Learning,
8(2), pp.A72-A86.
Travis, T.A., 2017. From the classroom to the boardroom: The impact of information literacy
instruction on workplace research skills. Education Libraries, 34(2), pp.19-31.
Whittaker, A., 2012. Research skills for social work. Sage Publications.
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