Report: Developing Academic and Research Skills for Research

This report details essential academic and research skills necessary for successful project completion. It begins with an introduction emphasizing the importance of academic and personal skills in research, followed by an assessment of time management skills, identifying strengths, weaknesse...Read More

ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH SKILLS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................1
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................2
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
While conducting research, various skills are required. A person may possess different
skills and knowledge that is required in conducting research. The results of research depend on
skills that are possessed by a person (AlHassan and Wood, 2015). It is very important that person
must have proper academic and personal skills so that he or she is able to conduct research in
smooth way. In addition to this, it is essential to analyse current skills so that strengths and
weakness can be identified. It will help in making improvements in academic skills. This report
will describe academic skills that are required in research project. In addition, it will show how
research aims and draft are developed.
TASK 2
I learned a course of time management in project. It was related to how to manage
activities in a research project. In this, I also learned about different techniques and methods
through which activities can be developed. The assessment is explained below:-
Strengths Weaknesses
 I can easily develop time
management plan for a research
project.
 I am able to assign and allocate time
frame to each activity.
 I am easily able to assign task and
roles to others.
 I am not able to handle big research
projects.
 I get nervous while developing time
management plan.
 I am not able to communicate my
problem with others.
Opportunities Threats
 I want to improve my
communication skills so that I can
speak confidently.
 I also want to work in big research
 I may not be able to analyse time for a
project. The delay in project can incur
more expenses.
 I may get tough competition from

projects so that I can become a good
researcher.
 Along with this, I want to learn
various new courses.
experienced and qualified researcher.
Hence, by doing this assessment, I need to develop objectives so that I can grad
opportunities and removing my weaknesses. It will also help me in improving my skills and
knowledge in time management plan. In addition, objectives are based on developed using
SMART techniques that are shown below:-
 To attain high level of seminars and training sessions related to time management.
 To improve time management skills within 3 months
 To take part in research projects so that learning can be applied there
By achieving these objectives, I will be able to enhance my skills and knowledge. In
addition, I will gain some experience by working research projects. It will help me in becoming a
successful researcher in the future.
TASK 3
The above course that I learned helped me in a particular project that was related to
marketing of product. For this, I conducted research that helped me in finding out about target
market, what strategy can be followed, how product will be promoted, etc. In addition, I
developed a research plan that is as follows:-
Research aim: - To market the product in new market by applying different marketing strategies
Market research – this is done to find out possible target market for the product (Torres and
Jansen, 2016). In this, three elements are considered that is as follows:-
 Segmentation – It helps in segmenting the market on various factors that include
demographic, psycho graphic, etc. With this, it becomes easy to promote products by

developing strategies. In addition, it helps in focusing on specific segments. The motive
behind this is
 Targeting – After segmenting the market, people are divided on the basis of gender, age,
etc. It helps in further making segmentation of market. In this product is marketed to
those people by implementing various strategies.
 Positioning – It shows how products image is set up in the minds of consumer. This
means that at what place product must be placed so that it is easily available to people.
The place selected must be proper so that it can attract large number of people.
Market analysis – In this, the overall market information is analysed. It helps in giving
information about market condition, competitors, marketing trends, etc. With this, it becomes
easy to promote products (O'Sullivan and Dallas, 2017). In addition, in this related information
is analysed.
Analysing strategies – In this, various marketing strategies are analysed so that appropriate ones
can be implemented. It helps in providing a base through which new product can be launched in
the market. For example- Ansoff matrix can be followed that is described below :-
 Market development – It refers to launching of product in new market. It means that
existing products can be introduced in new market to attract people.
 Product development- It refers to developing new product for the existing market. It is
implemented when there is change in customer taste and preference.
 Diversification – In this, new product is launched in new market. It is the most risky
method for growth (Dweck, Walton and Cohen, 2014). It can be implemented when
target market is completely different.
 Market penetration- in this, current market position can be strengthened by making
changes in promotional strategies. This can be done by changing target customers in
existing market.
Resources – After developing plan, resources that are required can be determined. It is important
to do this as it helps in allocating resources to activities accordingly. In addition, it helps in

proper implementation of plan. However, execution of plan is entirely dependent on availability
of resources.
Research method –this method will be used is both primary and secondary method. In this data
is collected from previous research, articles, newspapers, etc.
Evaluation and control – It is the last step in which marketing plan activities are evaluated and
controlled. It helps in proper implementation of plan. In addition, with this performance of plan
can be measured by comparing it with set standards (Mills and Paulson, 2015).
TASK 5
It was very important for me to improve my academic skills so that I can conduct
research more effectively next time. It will also help me in finding out weak areas and improving
it. For this I have developed a personal and professional plan that is as follows:-
Learning
Objective
Current
Proficiency
Target
Proficiency
Development
Opportunities
Criteria For
Judging
Success
Time Scale
Personal Skills
Time
management
skills
I was not able
to complete
research
activities on
time.
I need to
enhance my
working
efficiency so
that I can
complete
project in
time.
I can develop
schedule or
Gantt chart
that will help
me in
completing
activities
accordingly.
Managing
time frame
with list of
tasks prepared.
2-3 months

Professional Skills
Decision
making skills
I need to
improve my
decision
making skills
while
collecting
data
Want to
improve this
as it will help
in collecting
specific and
precise data.
I need to
analyse
previous
research,
articles etc.
By evaluating
outcomes of
various
research
project
1 month
Academic Skills
Presentation
skills
I was not able
to present
research data
in appropriate
format. This
affected my
performance
I must
improve this
skill so that it
will help me
in career
development
For this, I
must start
making
presentation.
In this, I must
use graphs,
charts, etc. to
present data
findings.
By taking
feedback from
other
researchers
4-5 weeks
Summarising I was not able
to summarise
research data
in proper
manner. This
affected
research
results.
I need to
improve it so
that results are
not affected.
I should read
previous
research,
articles, etc.
By taking
feedback from
others
3-4 weeks

For achieving goals that are mentioned in PPD, an action plan is developed. It will help in
analysing current level of skills and developing strategies for improving it. The action plan for
achieving goals that are determined in PPD is given below:-
Skills Current level How to improve
Time management 2 By making timetable before
conducting research. It will help
in allocating time frame to each
activity. With this research can
be conducted.
Presentation skills 3 By analysing previous research,
articles and practising
presentation of data
Summarising 4 This can be improved by reading
previous research and getting
idea of how data is summarised.
CONCLUSION
This report concludes that for conducting research, different types of skills and
knowledge is required. Researcher must have proper skills so that better results can be generated.
The skills that are learned can help in career growth. In addition, it is shown that how research
draft is developed in order to promote a new product. In the last it is concluded how PPD can
help in improving personal and academic skills. In this action plan is also included in it.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
AlHassan, L. and Wood, D., 2015. The effectiveness of focused instruction of formulaic
sequences in augmenting L2 learners' academic writing skills: A quantitative research
study. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 17, pp.51-62.
Bastalich, W., Behrend, M. and Bloomfield, R., 2014. Is non-subject based research training a
‘waste of time’, good only for the development of professional skills? An academic
literacies perspective. Teaching in Higher Education, 19(4), pp.373-384.
Mills, M. and Paulson, E., 2015. Leveraging Resources Across Units and Universities to Address
Academic Literacies and Research Skills in Ontario Graduate Students.
O'Sullivan, M.K. and Dallas, K.B., 2017. A collaborative approach to implementing 21st century
skills in a high school senior research class. Education Libraries, 33(1), pp.3-9.