Study and Research Skills Assignment: A Comprehensive Overview

This assignment provides a comprehensive overview of essential study and research skills. It begins by addressing the importance of citations and the avoidance of plagiarism, emphasizing the need to respect the work of others. The assignment then explores the process of searching for and evaluating both primary and secondary sources, highlighting the significance of source reliability and critical analysis. It also delves into practical techniques such as mind mapping and paraphrasing to organize information effectively and avoid copyright infringement. Furthermore, the assignment discusses the importance of academic writing style, synthesis, conciseness, and redundancy, offering guidance on how to present research in a clear, concise, and scholarly manner. The references included showcase the breadth of research on these topics. The assignment covers a wide range of key concepts that are fundamental to academic research.

STUDY AND RESEARCH SKILLS

Table of Contents
1. Citations and plagiarism..............................................................................................................3
2. Searching for sources...................................................................................................................3
3. Evaluating a primary source.......................................................................................................3
4. Evaluating a secondary source.....................................................................................................3
5. Mind map.....................................................................................................................................4
6. Paraphrase....................................................................................................................................4
7. Academic style.............................................................................................................................4
8. Synthesis......................................................................................................................................5
9. Conciseness and redundancy.......................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6

1. Citations and plagiarism
I have always believed that presenting someone's work as their own and taking credit for the
same is serious case of injustice. Recently i have come to know that there is a specific term
present for the same, plagiarism. In academic research this is one of most serious obstacle that
one needs to overcome in order to achieve success. Hence, according to Houghton et al.
(2013, .15), in order to relate to a certain topic requires the provision of citations. These citations
can be the names of the author collaborating together to analyse and observe the specific topics.
This also helps the researchers to pay their proper respect and maintain the dignity and reputation
of the fellow researchers.
2. Searching for sources
In order to delve into the depths of a topic, it is necessary to find proper sources of information
and data which can be used successfully by the current researchers to justify the actions taken up
in the research. Hence, searching for the right sources is very crucial as it helps in data mining
the effectiveness and impact of the research that is conducted (Whit-Glover et al. 2016, p.300).
Without a proper source of information which needs to be valid and reliable, the research would
contradict itself and hence will become a fallacy rather than a research.
3. Evaluating a primary source
Evaluation of the primary source of information is done by identifying the authors who had
designed the research and their status in the society. An author who is not recognised by the
audience, their research might be able to give an inkling into how the researcher approached the
topic and what evidences they had while justifying their approach. According to Adedokun et al.
(2013, p.941), it is also important and necessary to understand the logic of the underlying
strategies and arguments for the same. The reference frame will also help the new researchers to
understand what values and ideas had influenced the preceding researcher. The facts presented in
the source need to be tallied and verified. By analysing their relevance with the other referral
sources, it can be easy to understand of whether the chosen source can be termed as reliable or
credible.
4. Evaluating a secondary source
The secondary sources of information are those particular issues that develop when a researcher
is tasked with developing its first research-based interpretation. I close the gaps and deficiencies
present in the source by utilising a monograph. In case the source is too simple, as a researcher, I

have the freedom to undertake critical analysis and comparison of the various individual topics
described in the source. Debating also helps in developing the academic skill of questioning and
reason among the researchers (Dabbagh et al. 2015, p.163). Questioning the logic behind the
debated topic is crucial because it helps the researchers to evaluate the validity and reliability of
the source. By undertaking case study approach, the principles and arguments used in the
secondary source are subjected to scrutiny and by determining the appropriateness of the
implemented principles and arguments can be useful for either modifying it or completely
removing it.
5. Mind map
As noted by Carteret al. (2016, p.371), the mind map is a mental diagram that is used to visually
organise the different information that is present in a scenario. As an academic research, I have
found that Mind Map can be very useful in conducting research as the help in providing the
guidelines as well as the structure of the research the distributor inducted in respective of the
topic chosen. This hierarchical visualisation connects the various projection of a single concept
which is helpful in supporting the central topic. The main ideas are directly linked to the body
while the other ideas pertaining to the topic are considered as sub-branches of the main topic.
6. Paraphrase
As a researcher, I understand the pain of being written off and valued less due to the fact that
someone presented my work as their own. Hence, in order to respect those whose data and
analysis of the problem have been selected for the research project and also to avoid copyright
infringement, I express the underlying vision expressed by the Preceding researcher in my own
words and at the same time align them with my specific research title in order to provide greater
clarity while evaluating and analysing the research title. According to Kyoung Ro et al. (2017,
p.100), paraphrasing is nothing but the rephrasing of the lines from a research article in order to
appropriately define the contents of my research.
7. Academic style
As an academic research, the mode of writing style implemented by me while writing a
dissertation is academic style. Best style of writing is chosen as it helps in focusing on the central
theme and providing information as arguments to support and debate the research undertaking.
This kind of style of writing minimises repetition and the sole objective of undertaking academic
style of writing is to inform the readers of the central theme rather than entertaining them with

hilarious facts (Liu et al. 2015, p47). I was the chosen the academic style of writing as my
intellectual boundaries in terms of the research area can be clearly defined by using this style for
writing research.
8. Synthesis
In academic research, synthesis is the term used to define that piece of writing which is used to
combine information from more than two or more sources. This is done by writing a well written
explanation which helps in summarising the points that help in explaining the different facets of
the research. In words of Rus-Calafel et al. (2014, p.83), this kind of academic synthesis results
in developing an argumentative and critically evaluative statement which helps in killing two
birds with a single arrow. By undertaking academic synthesis, i have been able to critically
analyse and assess the various elements of an academic research.
9. Conciseness and redundancy
The true mark of a great academic research is the style of writing. The writing needs to be
vigorous and I have to undertake special care so as to not incorporate any unnecessary and
irrelevant data or words. As observed by Grat et al. (2015, p.85), the writing is a functioning
machine and an extra part will only bog it down and hence, and as an academic researcher it is
crucial that I understand how much flowery language can be eliminated to directly answer the
questions in a precise manner without making repeating any justification more than once.

References
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Research skills and STEM undergraduate research students' aspirations for research careers:
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Carter, D.F., Ro, H.K., Alcott, B. and Lattuca, L.R., (2016). Co-Curricular Connections: The
Role of Undergraduate Research Experiences in Promoting Engineering Students’
Communication, Teamwork, and Leadership Skills. Research in Higher Education, 57(3),
pp.363-393.
Dabbagh, N., Kitsantas, A., Al-Freih, M. and Fake, H., (2015). Using social media to develop
personal learning environments and self-regulated learning skills: a case study. International
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Gray, S., Coates, L., Fraser, A. and Pierce, P., (2015). Developing research skills across the
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Houghton, C., Casey, D., Shaw, D. and Murphy, K., (2013). Rigour in qualitative case-study
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Kyoung Ro, H., Lattuca, L.R. and Alcott, B., (2017). Who Goes to Graduate School? Engineers’
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