University Report: Academic and Research Skills and PDP Development

This report delves into the realm of academic and research skills, providing a comprehensive self-assessment of the author's strengths and weaknesses. It outlines SMART objectives designed to address identified areas for improvement, alongside a detailed personal development plan (PDP). The report explores the importance of note-taking, offering strategies for enhancement and discussing different methods like the Cornell method. Furthermore, it examines various research methods, differentiating between primary and secondary research, and includes a sample research plan focusing on the impact of digital technology on small businesses. The report also contains a questionnaire example used in primary research to gather relevant data. Overall, the report provides a holistic view of academic and research skill development, covering various aspects from self-evaluation to practical research methodologies.

Academic and
Research Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Academic skills are an approach which applied for learning and generally critical to
success in schools. It insists with an ability to find information, critically read and evaluate it
from various sources, i.e. primary and secondary. Whereas research skills refer an ability to
design, apply and disseminate research by applying various theories and tactics. Both skills
support students through advance their competence and confidence level while performing any
task or activity (Allen, Donham and Bernhardt, 2011). The present project is going to be
described strength and weaknesses of an individual and based on same SMART objectives are
made up. Furthermore, PDP will also developed to attain these objectives.
TASK 1
Self-learning plays a vital role in individuals' life which help them to accomplish all work
and assigned tasks effectively. While making any learning plan it is essential for people to
determine their strength and weaknesses thus to improve them as per the time passes. In this
relation, preparing a personal and professional development plan them people to grab better
future opportunities and take imperative decisions related with improving career growth and gain
quality of life. With this assistance, we can meet our aims and targets in a certain time frame. All
this can be done through conducting a subject research, collecting information and interpret the
same to know my skills and competencies. Below is given some of my own strength and
weakness -
Strength Weaknesses
As an extrovert person by nature, strong inter-
personal skills is one of my major strength
which helps me to communicate and interact
with others. These kinds support people to get
various opportunities in career. In addition,
effective communication skills also help me to
communicate with my friends or colleagues
thus work can be done in appropriate manner.
Although, inter personal skills encompasses
with – leadership, management, empathy,
My major weakness is I am not as a good in
academic English language skills which
impacts negatively on my research and note
taking abilities. I does not have good research
skills which can affect my future studies.
Having less command upon this skill
sometimes I get failed to address the problems.
This also put an adverse impact on my
personality as well as de cisions which I have
been taken in past.
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articulate, attentiveness, collaborate etc.
(Beckman, 2011).
I always remain flexible towards any situation
which supports me to take instant decision and
do work in proper manner. With this skill, I
can focus on each area of study and take
necessary actions.
Another strength is I does not believe in
rumours or gossip; it helps me to get more
practical knowledge about environment and be
realistic. This skill helps me to be ambitious
and optimistic to attain my career aims and
objectives.
Due to my poor problem-solving skills, I
cannot identify solutions of given statements.
Through which I cannot attain my career goals
and objectives. On the other hand, my
emotional nature is also my biggest weakness
which may break concentration level towards
work.
SMART objectives links with four dimensions -
 S – Specific (or Significant).
 M – Measurable (or Meaningful).
 A – Attainable (or Action-Oriented).
 R – Relevant (or Rewarding).
 T – Time-bound (or Trackable).
Following is given SMART objectives of an individual, such as -
 To improve academic English language skills within 6 months.
 To enhance research skill within 8 months.
 To improve problem solving skill in 7 months.
 Enhance abilities to get a straight forward nature within 4 months.
TASK 2
Note taking
Note taking is a practice of writing down pieces of information in appropriate manner.
This is necessary skills for students which helps them to take notes and integrate information
from numerous sources. Although, taking notes and reviewing them later positively affects
individuals; learning and success. Research shows that students who take notes remember more
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material and can perform better in tests (Chemers and et. al., 2011). Taking notes forces people
to engage their brain thus to identify what is important and then begin to organize that
information into a comprehensible format to decipher later. This process is far which is simply
but require some kind of heavy brainwork. Below is given certain tips should be followed by
taking notes, such as -
 Create tips in a format which suits you and it should be sourceful
 Be clear and concise
 Notes will be linked with previous knowledge
 Prepare notes as per the time, date, name etc. thus to arrive them in future easily.
Along with this, there should be a relation between what is being read and what has been
hear in classroom while preparing notes. Although, if people are uncertain what that it was they
should go to their professor amid available time and request them to explain again that topic. On
the other hand, if students are getting involved in any research then they should gain potential
information of area of concern. Thus, the concept of note taking help individuals to make notes,
listen others and read the content at the time of needed for obtaining adequate information.
There is required certain skills while taking notes that should be improved by individuals;
it will provide them long them benefits. To improve note taking skills people can formulate a
plan with its time frame that is stated as beneath -
Key points of
information
Learning
requirements
Sources Time frame How to improve
Active reading
skills
Keep on linking
with research.
Read as much as
possible.
Think and
evaluate what you
are reading
Newspapers,
books,
magazines,
articles, journals,
blogs etc.
3 months Outlining
important notes is
one of the best
techniques to
improve reading
skills. Outlined
information helps
to provide brief
summary of topic.
Listening skills Active listening Attending 2 months Listen others
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skills will help
me to make notes
in proper manner
at the time or
after lecture.
When you are
listening keep to
rephrasing in
short as fast as
possible. It will
also improve
vocabulary of
people.
lectures, listening
audio of
professors, watch
videos etc.
more and more
and then make
notes accordingly.
For this, people
can attend
seminars, group
meetings etc.
Strategy of note taking - Cornell Method: This tactics of taking notes is most popular among students. Cornell
methods classified into three distinct parts, such as – general area, notes in margin and
prepare a short summary. This method is used by students to keep and maintain records
of topics covered by professors in lectures, afterwards, note will be made in margins then
concluded it in last (Ewing and at. al., 2012).
 Split page method: It is similar as Cornell Method it is a principle of itself. In spilt page
methods, students can divide page into two parts, i.e. primary and secondary ideas. While
lectures, all notes all made at one place but it need some adjustments for long run.
Although, the method aids in better use of their study times at a time of using notes.
On the basis of these kind of strategy I prepare notes on 4PS of marketing that help me in
denoting appropriate strategy in respect of market. The information of these notes are determine
market research aspects as -
 Product – In my lecture sessions I keep notes about products that assist me in
determining key factors of an organisation. Through this I can analyse product and
services of a specific organisation.
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 Price – These kind of notes determine me that the pricing policy which are basically
adopted by different organisation in order to selling their services on specific amount.
 Place – Notes about this factors determine me the locations on a which an organisation
operate their business.
 Promotion – I keep notes on the promotional approaches that determine me the planning
strategy of the organisation in respect of promoting their services in target market.
TASK 3
Numerous people conduct a research for gathering effective information in particular
areas or topics so as to improvise own skills and competencies. There is something which helps
individuals to keep successful in market competition and aids them to obtain career goals and
objectives. A good researcher knows how to use both primary and secondary sources in their
writing and to integrate them with career goals and objectives in cohesive manner. Following is
given main research methods as well as a example of research topic that assist in determining
information gathering approaches as -
Article topic for research – To analyse impact of digital technology on Small business
organisations.
Research plan
Tile and Introduction of research In this section, researcher determine the project tile that
requires to cover properly.
Research aim and objectives This section assist in determining aim and objective related
to the topic through which, researcher can gather
information by secondary methods.
Literature review These section is basically overs through research question on
which researcher gather information through secondary
sources. These solutions based on author's view points and
opinions.
Scope and limitation of research This will includes the description of the scope of research
Methods of research This will the appropriate methodology that implemented in
the research. On the basis of these approaches, researcher
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can gather information through primary and secondary
sources.
Data interpretation This section determines the interpretation based on
questionnaire practices.
Recommendation and conclusion This section is determine final recommendation which are
based on overall research and its outcomes as well.
References
Primary research – Primary research is a research which is conducted to meet unique of
specific goals of individuals. This fundamental research is designed through focus groups,
surveys, observation and interviews. Along with this, primary research provides information
which has never been gathered; basically, the research is organised when previous data is not
linked with present situation (Hassanbeigi and et. al., 2011). Although, it is time consuming and
expensive technique but provide better and suitable results as the aim of primary research is
identify problem statement and give answer accordingly. Usually, the research can be done
through statistical methods as per the relevance of individuals' needs and wants. In this process
questionnaire approach determines most appropriate information as -
Questionnaire
Q1) Are you aware with the concept of digital technology ?
 Yes
 No
Q2) Does digital technology helps in maximising business profitability and growth ?
 Yes
 No
Q3) What are the benefits of digital technology for a small scale organisation ?
 Easy to access
 Time saving
 All of the above
Q4) What are the challenges of digital technology ?
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 Expensive
 Required additional skill
 All of the above
Secondary research – Research that comprises with evaluation, interpretation and
summarization of primary research is known as secondary research. In this, data is gathered from
already available sources as there is no need to analyse and interpret data. Thus, researcher is
only required to figure out data as per his or her area of interest. Along with this, in secondary
research individuals can collect information through government agencies, labour union,
associations, media etc. and data can assemble through previously published newspapers,
journals, magazines, pamphlets, newsletters, encyclopaedias, reports etc.. Secondary business
approaches has been analysed through articles and books in such manner as -
As per the views of Martin muhleism, 2018 digital platform is recasting as the
relationship between customers and workers. By implementing these kind of approaches an
organisation can easily enhance their working practices for the success of the organisation. On
the basis of these kind of practices, an organisation can easily implement new and innovative
ideas in the firm.
However, while collecting research on particular topic investigator needs to formulate an
appropriate plan which provides directions to accomplish all tasks and activities in systematic
manner. In this relation, students can also prepare certain strategies and policies thus to arrive at
better conclusion. There is given certain stages which must be followed by doing any research -
 Formulate research aims and objectives
 Research strategy
 Resource allocation
 Outlined activities
 Research support
 Preliminary studies
On the other hand, certain features are included while formulating a research plan. Main stages
are required to follow in research plan -
 Overview of research plan
 Having an adequate title
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 Identification of aims and objectives
 Formulating a research strategy
 Innovation and approaches
 Tracking budget
 Analysing progress
 References via sources
 Review entire findings
 Have narrative
TASK 4
For booming up my academic and research skills, I have started to concentrate on
improving my certain abilities; it leads me to disseminate problems and increase critical thinking
as well. Along with this, I also have to verify the information which has gathered previously and
then make required alterations as per changes. I also used web browsers and internet sites that
gives me updated or adequate information in context of all situations. This database helps me to
obtain effective knowledge which I can implement in my project work so that outcomes will
accompanied in persuasive manner. Along with this, I also have to prepare a personal and
professional development plan by considering all my skills with their time frame.
Skills which
is learned.
Current
proficiency/targ
et proficiency
Why it was
required to be
learned
Sources
required to
learn skills
Time taken to
learn
Did applied
somewhere in
working
Academic
English
language
skills
6/10 Having strong
knowledge of
English
language skill
assist in
gathering
information
related to
research
practices.
Through
online and
offline
sessions,
coaching
classes and so
on.
6 months While working
on research
practices as
well as on note
taking
approaches.
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Interpersonal
skills
8/10 Having strong
communicatio
n, leadership,
management
etc. skills
supports me to
interact with
other as well
as I will also
enable to do
any task or
activity in
proper
manner.
I need to
attend
personality
development
classes,
seminars,
reading
newspapers,
listening
audio.
I can
implement this
knowledge in
real life and
get benefits.
4 months While
performing in
project, I can
utilise my
interpersonal
skills; it
supports me to
manage entire
work in
systematic
way.
Problem
solving
skills
5/10 Helps me in
making
imperative
decisions and
seize better
opportunities
Attend group
meetings, play
sudoku and
other
brainstorming
activities.
7 months Take initiates
at workplace
and find out
better solution
of any
problem.
Research
abilities
6/10 It supports me
to get strong
knowledge on
all areas of
study and
identify issues
that can affect
my work in
future.
Following data
analytical
tools and
appropriate
research
methodologies
.
8 months. As a
marketing
student, I can
apply this skill
for obtaining
better
marketing
information.
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CONCLUSION
From the above information, it gets comprehend that research and academic skills play a
crucial role in growth and viability of people; it helps students to obtain career goals and
objectives effectively. The report has stated, own strength and weaknesses of an individuals and
SMART objectives are prepared to attain them. It is essential for people to improve their note
making skills thus to revise the work whenever it is required. At last, a PDP also developed to
improvise own skills and capabilities.
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