Academic and Research Skills Report: Evaluating Personal Development

This assignment is a comprehensive self-assessment report focusing on academic and research skills. The student begins by identifying their strengths, which include strong interpersonal skills, time management, and excellent research abilities. Conversely, weaknesses are pinpointed as decision-making, prioritization, problem-solving, and academic presentation skills. The report then outlines a SMART objective to improve academic presentation skills within six months. The assignment further delves into the importance of note-taking skills, detailing various methods and their applications in academic and professional settings. A significant portion of the report describes a marketing research project involving the launch of a new cosmetic product, including data collection through questionnaires and analysis of customer behavior. The student also reflects on the research process, highlighting the steps involved and the importance of aligning objectives with methodology. Finally, the report concludes with a personal development plan that outlines short- and long-term goals, strategies for achieving them, and timelines for review, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement in various skill areas.

ACADEMIC AND
RESEARCH SKILLS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
TASK 2...........................................................................................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Academic and research skills play a vital role in order to enhance the individual's skills
and knowledge to complete particular work task. Formulation of personal development plans of
particular person helps in reviewing self skills that help in measuring the progress of actions
(Wong, 2011). The report highlights my strengths and weaknesses and evaluate my SMART
objectives so that improvements can be made if it is necessary. On the other hand, there are
number of skills related to academic, personal and English language aspects so that final
objectives and aims could be accomplished. There are short and long term objectives that have to
be met with efficiency.
TASK 1
Every individual is different from each other in terms of their strengths, weaknesses
hence it is necessary to assess them so that proper steps can be taken place. In order to measure
owns targets it is required to draft SMART objectives which will assist in checking whether they
are helpful in achieving final goals or not. If not proper improvements are necessary to be made
in expeditious way (Gross and Latham, 2012). To carry out all the process initial step is to asses
personal skills and than categorise them in strengths and weaknesses so that proper decisions can
be taken place in this regard. My Strengths and Weaknesses are as follows:
Strengths:
 My strength include interpersonal skills as I can effectively communicate with other
individuals and can share my views, thoughts properly with them. This help me to adjust
in number of conditions where it is necessary. These skills are used in day to day life as
we have to interact with number of people and consist of listening, communication,
understanding and emotional management. This skill aids me to work in team as I can
communicate with different kinds of people properly.
 My another strength include time management skills that include completing my work
tasks in proper time period. It helps me to get effective outcomes of the whole work
process. There are number of activities that have to be completed in single day hence, I
have the ability to manager my time in effective manner.
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 I have excellent research skills that help me to examine number of factors that are present
in surroundings and have direct or indirect impact on the decision making process. There
are number of concepts that are present and have to be researched rightly so that my
objectives can be met out in proper time period.
Weaknesses:
I possess some weaknesses that hinder my overall growth and development hence, I have
to make proper attention on it to make continuous improvements and remove my weaknesses at
sustainable level. Some of my weaknesses are:
 I do not posses decision making skills and lacks in various places where I have to take
important decision on various aspects. I could not able to prioritise my complete work
tasks therefore, I do not reach to my effective targets that have been set.
 My another weakness involve I could not able to solve my problems easily as I become
hamper quickly. I could not able to solve number of problem and issues that arises in my
way. I lack in problem solving skills.
 I lack in academic presentation skills that need to be improved.
SMART Objectives
I have to improve my academic presentation skills in 6 months, this is my target that
have to be achieved by me in effectual manner. This skill will help me to deliver my presentation
in front of audience. It is required to evaluate my target is smart or not through formulating
SMART Objectives which are described below:
 Specific: My target is to improve my academic presentation skills in 6 to 7 months.
 Measurable: It can be measured through my performance after 6 months.
 Achievable: it can be achieved through attending various workshops that deliver number
of tools and provide guidance regarding usage of proper body language, visuals in
drafting presentation.
 Realistic: This skill will help me to accomplish positive outcomes in my academic sector
and assists in carrying out my presentation in efficient way.
 Time: I have to accomplish my target in 6 months.
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TASK 2
Every individual must contain note taking skills in which recording of relevant and
materialistic information or data is involved. This skill enable to gather all important information
from number of sources that are available. This skill play a vital role in students' life as they have
to note down material related to their courses. Listening skill is interrelated to it as an individual
have to note down all those things which they listen so that ultimate work could be achieved in
effective and efficient manner (Shapiro, 2011). For example, I have attended lecture related to
marketing subject and hence I have to make notes so that it would help me to study in future time
period.
On the other hand, this skill help me to present the collected information or data in
summarised form so that it can be easily understood in future time period. Apart from it, note
making skill is very much essential at presentation and meeting procedure where it become
necessary to note down all relevant and important information so that it can be used in decision
making process (Thiry, Laursen and Hunter, 2011). There are various other methods that are also
present in this regard which involve T-notes, Cornell and outline methods. All these procedures
are applied in order to enhance the note making skills. Students have to learn these skills in
adequate way and is utilised in various areas that include at presentation time, carrying out
communication process in summarised form so that proper message or information is delivered
to other individual (Stagg and Kimmins, 2012). The impact of brief information poses positive
results as it is not difficult to understand and final results can be met out in proper time period.
Skills required to
learn and
enhance
Requirements Sources Time Required Application
Note taking skills This skill is
required to make
notes of all
important and
relevant
information so
that it could help
There are number
of sources
through which
this skill can be
enhanced like
attending work
shops, internet,
3 to 5 months This skill is
utilised during
delivering
preservation,
carrying out
study.
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me to reach my
target and achieve
my results.
books, journals.
Individual have to
choose the best
option from
number of
sources.
TASK 3
My academic research project involve that I have completed marketing project in which I
have launched my new product into the market place. For this, I have conducted research from
number of sources that are available. Basically, there are two types of sources which are present
that are primary and secondary. Primary source involve collecting the first hand information by
ourselves through surveys, observation method, filling questionnaire etc. on the other hand,
secondary sources involve gathering information or data from already collected source that are
newspapers, books, journals etc.
I have launched a new cosmetic product in my marketing project and have to conduct
number of activities to complete my work task. I have to gather information in order to examine
the behaviour of customers in market place and carry out my research study according to it. It is
not easy to launch a new product in the market place therefore, market research have to be
conducted in order to take the effective decision. I have drafted questionnaire that contain
number of questions that have to be filled by respondents that are present in market place. The
sample size I have selected is of 100 clients and that are women. Therefore, I have make use of
primary source (questionnaire) to collect my data of research study.
There are some step that have to be followed in order to the research plan in effective and
achievable mode (Bhatia, 2014). Every research aims to achieve the set objectives and purpose
so that final conclusion can be made comely. The steps that have to be carried out are described
below:
 Aims and objectives
 Methodology to be used
 Nature and Types of resources required
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 Strategies to be adopted
 Assigned budget
 Market development plan
To carry out the research process I have visited number of residential, localities and
recorded the responses of women by making them fill the questionnaire form so that final
decision can be taken place about the research study. I have also draft marketing plan that
include sequence of actions to be carried out.
Findings:
After performing the research study I have find out that women are satisfied with the new
cosmetic product that will be introduced in market place. Initially the cost of product will be low
so that customers can get attracted towards them and results in satisfying their needs and wants.
On the other hand, I also find out that research is a complex task process that pertain number of
interrelated activities to be performed by researcher in order to full fill the basic aims.
TASK 4
I have find out number of skills that need to be improved and enhance with passage of
time so that final objectives can be accomplished in set time period. It is necessary to measure
the progress by drafting personal development plans so that steps need to be conducted and
results in fulfilling the targets. I have mentioned various skills that are my strengths and
weaknesses so that it can be examined effectively and final steps can be taken place. I have taken
number of steps that include attending workshops, applying tools and techniques so that my
overall performance and productivity gets increased in sustainable level.
My
personal
developmen
t
targets?
Short or
long term
target?
How will I
achieve my
targets?
Date of
review
Progress
made
towards
target
Further
action
required
Actual date
of achieving
target
Academic
Presentation
skills
It is a short
term target
I will
indulge
myself in
8 July, 2018 I have
started
making my
Supervising
my work
from
8 December,
2018
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attending
number of
workshops
that are held
to improve
the
presentation
skills. As
well as I
will do
regular
practice for
presentation
so that I
could
improve my
skills in
proper
manner.
presentation
and achieve
ability to
present it in
prospective
manner.
teachers at
my college
so that they
can deliver
feedbacks
for further
improvemen
ts.
Interpersona
l skills
It is a long
term target.
In order to
improve this
skill I will
carry out
number of
exercises
that will
improve my
interpersona
l skills. I
will also
consult
1 July, 2018 I could able
to interact
effectively
with number
of people
and could
work as a
team
member
where
individuals
of diverse
Communica
te with more
and more
people.
1 March,
2018
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number of
journal,
seminars,
newspapers
so that I
could gain
relevant and
materialistic
information.
personalities
work
together.
Time
management
skills
It is a short
target.
I will
schedule my
whole work
process in
time table so
that time is
allotted to
every
activity.
5 August,
2018
I could able
to manage
all my work
routines in
proper
manner and
results in
achieving
final targets
at proper
time period.
I could
consult to
me friends,
collogues to
review my
time
management
skill so that
they could
provide
suggestions
if required.
5 October,
2018
CONCLUSION
From the above prepared assignment it has been concluded that there are number of
academic and research skills that need to be present in an individual to carry out number of work
task and activities in effective and efficient manner. This assignment highlights strengths and
weaknesses that need to be evaluated in order to develop personal development plans. This plan
help in measuring the level of performance so that proper steps could be taken to enhance
lacking skill. Apart from it, note making skill must be present to present the information or data
in summarised form.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Shapiro, E.S., 2011. Academic skills problems: Direct assessment and intervention. Guilford
Press.
Wong, B. ed., 2011. Learning about learning disabilities. Academic press.
Stagg, A. and Kimmins, L., 2012. Research skills development through collaborative virtual
learning environments. Reference services review. 40(1). pp.61-74.
Thiry, H., Laursen, S.L. and Hunter, A.B., 2011. What experiences help students become
scientists? A comparative study of research and other sources of personal and
professional gains for STEM undergraduates. The Journal of Higher Education. 82(4).
pp.357-388.
Bhatia, V. K., 2014. A generic view of academic discourse. In Academic discourse (pp. 31-49).
Routledge.
Gross, M. and Latham, D., 2012. What's skill got to do with it?: Information literacy skills and
self‐views of ability among first‐year college students. Journal of the Association for
Information Science and Technology. 63(3). pp.574-583.
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