Academic and Research Skills Report - Professional Development Module

This report delves into the realm of academic and research skills, emphasizing personal development as a continuous process. It begins with a self-assessment of strengths and weaknesses, followed by the formulation of SMART goals to enhance skills, particularly in leadership and presentation. The report then explores note-taking techniques from both oral and written sources, highlighting the importance of paraphrasing and summarizing information. A significant portion is dedicated to market research, outlining a research plan for introducing a new perfume, including data collection methods (primary and secondary sources) and their respective advantages. Finally, the report concludes with a reflection on the personal development plan, detailing progress and future actions to achieve set targets. The student demonstrates an understanding of research methodologies and the importance of continuous improvement in academic and professional settings.

Academic and Research
Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1. Accessing own strength and weakness. ..............................................................................1
1.2. SMART Goals......................................................................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
2.1. Notes acquired from both oral and written sources. ...........................................................2
2.2. Paraphrasing and summarizing information........................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
3.1. Market Research Plan. ........................................................................................................3
3.2. Different sources of collection of data.................................................................................4
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................5
4.1. Reflection.............................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Personal development is a lifelong procedure. It is the manner for people to access their
skills and qualities, consider their purpose in life and set goals in order to achieve and increase
their potential. It is step ahead for betterment of personality. In order to carry out all-inclusive
research it is very significant for the person to have adequate research and communication skills.
This present report will include strength and weaknesses as well it will also include monitoring
of the progress. Furthermore, the importance of note taking is also discussed in this report.
Academic research will also consider in this report. Addition to this, research will be conducted
with the help of primary and secondary research both.
TASK 1
1.1. Accessing own strength and weakness.
In order to develop as well as encourage skills and traits in the personal development it is
very essential to identify own strength and weaknesses.
STRENGTH WEAKNESSES
 I have good listening skills.
 I am good at communicating and
interacting to others.
 I have strong command on my English.
 I have good teaching skill.
 I have good forecasting skills.
 I have good understanding skills.
 I am flexible in accepting and changes.
 I am highly creative and innovative.
 I have time management skills.
 I handle stress effectively.
 I have Positive image in society as well
as in my office (Ardiany, Wahyu, and
Supriatna, 2017).
 I am lagging in note taking skills.
 I don't have aptitude skills.
 I focus more on topic related to work
which aid in increasing productivity.
 I am unable to develop technical skills.
 I don't have patience.
 Leadership skills in not present in my
personality.
 I don't able to give presentations.
 Lack of negotiating skills.
 I don't have effective delegation skills.
 I have to develop management skills
(Adib Hajbaghery and Eshraghi Arani,
2018).
1

1.2. SMART Goals.
In order to upgrade the strength and improve the weakness, it is very essential to make
and prepare SMART goals. Majorly there are two types of goals i.e. long term and short term
goals. From the self assessment, it was identifies that there are so many weaknesses like note
making, aptitude, technical skills, negotiating skills and many others. All these weaknesses
should be overcome But initially I want to improve my leadership skill which is my long term
goal and improving my presentation skill is my short term goals. Both goals will be achieve by
setting SMART goals.
SMART goal is a criterion which is used to guide in achieving the targeted goals. It is new idea
which stand for- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound.
Specific- It is very important for clearing and specify the goal what is to be achieved. In
one time, so many goals are not achieved so it should be classified in long term and short term
first. Leadership skills is very crucial skills which is very necessary and improving my
presentation skills. So these all goals are specified what is to be achieved (Melender, 2017).
Measurable- As per these criteria it is very important that goals which is targeted should
be measurable like we can track and evaluate our progress. For example, leadership goal is
measured by taking feedbacks by subordinates and improving presentation goals is measured by
giving presentation in the office and ask about the progress.
Achievable- According to this element of SMART criteria, it is very essential to that
goals which is set should be achievable in set time. Leadership goal can be achieve by handling
some situations so this goal can be achieved within in one year.
Relevant- In order to upgrade, goals which is set should make a sense. Leadership goals
can be achieved by alignment of overall business goals and improving presentation goals is only
be achieved by justifying language and overcoming audience phobia.
Time-Bound- This is the most important aspect as without time management, nothing can
be achieved, nor short time and nor long time goals. In order to achieve goals, it is very essential
to set the schedule.
TASK 2
2.1. Notes acquired from both oral and written sources.
In academic research, it is very essential to have note taking skills. One who carry or
conduct any research it is very important to note down each and every points. For example- note
2

taking includes taking notes from textbooks, labs, lectures, seminars group discussion and many
other sources. In this present assessment, note taking is done by two sources i.e. oral and written
source.
Oral Sources- Oral sources in academic research is effective as it effective than other
sources. Notes are taken from attending seminars, workshops, lectures and campaigns. It is the
best way to collect the information when individual has good listening capacity.
Written Sources- Written sources are those sources in academic research which is
acquired by reading journals and books. Individual can write notes by reading books and
journals, In written sources, there is evidence remain, one can check again the written notes. In
written sources, active reading is very essential.
2.2. Paraphrasing and summarising information.
Paraphrasing includes putting a passage from source material into own words. I have
good note taking skills which is helping me in paraphrasing and summarising the information
(Laletas, Goodyear and Reupert, 2018). I have attended a seminar on the importance and needs
of training and development programme. From that seminar, I write all the points which is
important for my personality and for my company too and I able to make understand my
manager about each and every point which is important for organising training and development
program. In oral sources of note making, listening skill is very much essential.
Paraphrasing and summarising can only be done by reading books, articles and journals. I
am good at note making from written sources as well. It is very essential to have best reading
skills in note taking form written sources. When I am going to US, I have visited a library and I
read a book of leadership management which written by Warren Bennis. The book was amazing
and full of techniques and knowledge to build a good leadership. From this book, I have written
notes which is essential for my personality so that I can develop leadership quality and make my
subordinates to build a good leadership style in them from my written notes.
TASK 3.
3.1. Market Research Plan.
It is very important for researcher for conducting market research to prepare a plan for
market research. The researcher should describe the motive and aim of research, where should be
the data collected and where is the research focused on (Uzer, 2018). In this present study, the
market research plan for current research plan is described below-
3

Research Aim
Market Research to introduce new perfume in the market.
Identifying Data needed for Marketing-
Actions
Data Collect is the most essential process in market research as it is the procedure of
gathering and measuring information. In order to obtain and reach the aim and objectives of the
research, it is very important to gather data in effective way. In the current research, the audience
which are targeted will be customers of London who frequently buy perfumes from different
shops.
Data Collection
Data Collection is most important stages of conducting research. Data collection is the
procedure of evaluating and gathering information (Purser, 2018). To make the research
successful it is very important for researcher to collect efficient and reliable data. There are two
methods of collection data which are primary collection of data and secondary collection of data.
These data are collected by relevant sources to identify the problem of research, test the
hypothesis and measure the results. Primary sources are observation, survey, questionnaire and
secondary sources of data includes book, journals, articles etc. Data collected from primary
sources are much more reliable than data collected form secondary sources.
3.2. Different sources of collection of data.
In order to conduct the research, there are various sources of collection of data, majorly,
primary and secondary sources of data is been used for the analysing the research (Sarkar and
Guha, 2017). The procedure of collection data for carrying research is describes as below-
Primary Source- Primary sources of collection of data is direct evidence about an event,
object, person or art of work. Primary data's are more reliable than secondary data. Primary data
is time consuming as it is collected by the researcher himself. Primary data is used to gather
those informations which are factual. For example, survey, questionnaire, observation and many
others. Researcher has made survey regarding the use of perfumes by customers living in
London. Researcher has chosen one city of London and conduct survey in order to enhance
effectiveness of the study of research. Primary collection of data is very costly as well as it is
also called as raw information.
4

Secondary Source- Secondary sources of collection of data is that which is collected
from other sources. It is the data which is collected by someone else and use by researcher to
make the study effective. It includes books, articles, journals, government sources like U.S.
Census Bureau and Media and many others. This data is less reliable than primary source of
collection of data. The most beneficial advantage of it is less time consuming as well as it is less
expensive. Secondary source will furnish depth understanding of the topic (Rashid and Rashid,
2018).
TASK 4
4.1. Reflection.
In order to carry out extended research of market, it is very necessary and essential for
me to improve my weaknesses and heighten my present strengths. In this context I will reflect on
the personal development plan which is prepared below that depict how I will get the better of
my weaknesses.
My
personal
Developme
nt Target.
Short or
long term
target.
How will I
achieve
target?
What
activities do
I need to
understand
achieving
my
objectives?
What
support do
I need?
Date of
review
Progress
made
towards
target
Further,
required
information
Actual date
of
achieving
targets
I will
improve my
summarisin
g skills.
Short term Through my
efforts and
my practise
of
01/05/18 I have
begun
previous
research
Not
requirement
of any
information.
01/06/18
5

summarizin
g, I will
summarize
the research
project
effectively.
For
improving
my
summarizin
g skills I
need
support and
guidance
from my
seniors.
paraphrasin
g it so that
comprehensi
ble
understandi
ng can be
done.
(Rivera,
and Erney,
2015)
I will
improve my
note taking
skills.
Long Term I can
achieve my
goals by
doing more
practise. I
will make
use of
digital
technologies
. I need
support and
guidance
from my
supervisors.
01/05/18 I will start
writing
notes of
earlier
research and
lessons.
Not
requirement
of any
information.
01/10/18
6

I will
improve my
communicat
ion skills.
Short Term I will
improve by
making
communicat
ion by
interacting
communicat
ion with my
friends and
family
(Nurdianing
sih, and
Purnama,
2017).
01/05/18 I will also
take
feedbacks
from people
whom I
interact. By
taking
feedback,
my
communicat
ion skill will
improve my
communicat
ion skills.
Not
requirement
of any
information.
01/06/18
I will
improve my
management
skill.
Long term I will
improve
management
skills by
reading and
applying
principles of
management
.
01/05/18 I will take
feedbacks
from
collogues
about my
management
skills.
Not
requirement
of any
information.
01/11/18
CONCLUSION
The above report stated that communication skill is very essential for human being.
Beside this, Personal development also plays a vital role in academic research, it is very essential
to have note taking skills. One who carry or conduct any research it is very important to note
down each and every points. Moreover, SMART goal is a criterion which is used to guide in
achieving the targeted goals.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adib Hajbaghery, M. and Eshraghi Arani, N., 2018. Assessing Nurses’ Clinical
Competence from Their Own Viewpoint and the Viewpoint of Head Nurses: A Descriptive
Study. Iran Journal of Nursing, 31(111), pp.52-64.
Ardiany, M., Wahyu, W. and Supriatna, A., 2017, September. Enhancement of Self Efficacy of
Vocational School Students in Buffer Solution Topics through Guided Inquiry Learning.
In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 895, No. 1, p. 012118). IOP Publishing.
Laletas, S., Goodyear, M. and Reupert, A., 2018. Parental Mental Illness: Cross-Sectional
Analysis Of Family Focused Practice within the Early Childhood Sector. Journal of Child
and Family Studies, 27(5), pp.1650-1660.
Melender, H.L., 2017. Development of evidence based practice in academic service
partnerships: Experiences of working life representatives from social and health care
sectors. Nurse education in practice, 23, pp.23-29.
Nurdianingsih, F. and Purnama, Y.I., 2017. THEMATIC PROGRESSION PATTERN: A
TECHNIQUE TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’WRITING SKILL VIEWED FROM
WRITING APPREHENSION. Script Journal: Journal of Linguistic and English
Teaching, 2(2), pp.237-247.
Purser, A., 2018. ‘Getting it into the body’: understanding skill acquisition through Merleau-
Ponty and the embodied practice of dance. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and
Health, 10(3), pp.318-332.
Rashid, A. and Rashid, A., 2018. Academic Policing via Top-Down Implementation of Turnitin
in Pakistan: Students’ Perspective and Way Forward. Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan
Studies, 6.
Rivera, A. and Erney, N., 2015. Using The Jolly Phonic Songs And The Bakery Phonic Game
To Improve Pronunciation Skill In The English Language Learning With Students Of 7th
Year Of Basic Education At Luis Humberto Benítez Costa School. Academic Period 2013-
2014 (Bachelor's thesis).
Sarkar, S.R. and Guha, A., 2017. The present status of Interpersonal Management skill of
Secondary level school students. International Journal Of Scientific Research And
Education, 5(06).
8

Uzer, Y., 2018. The Impact of Minimal Response Strategy on the Students’ Speaking Skill to
the Tenth Grade Students of State Senior High School 10 Palembang. ELTE Journal
(English Languange Teaching and Education), 6(1), pp.1-7.
9