Developing Academic & Research Skills: A Performance Review

This report assesses academic and research skills, beginning with a SWOT analysis to identify personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, followed by a Performance Development Plan (PDP) to enhance skills and meet professional objectives. The report emphasizes improving communication skills through communication theory and mastering note-taking techniques for better information retention and academic performance. It also details the execution of an academic research project, including a research plan, draft, and list of sources, all produced to a professional standard. The conclusion reflects on personal and academic skill development throughout the process, highlighting key learnings and areas for further improvement. This resource is ideal for students looking to enhance their academic and research capabilities.

Academic and Research Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................1
Assess own strengths and weakness............................................................................................1
Performance development plan...................................................................................................3
Theory of communication............................................................................................................5
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................6
Note taking...................................................................................................................................6
Mastered in note taking skill........................................................................................................6
Examples of note taking..............................................................................................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
Carry out an academic research project...........................................................................................8
Research plan...............................................................................................................................8
The first draft of your research work...........................................................................................9
A list of all the sources..............................................................................................................10
Produced to a professional standard..........................................................................................11
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Academic skills comprise of the competencies that are made up of core skills such as
effective academic writing, presentation skill along with referencing and underpinning vital skills
like critical thinking and reflective practises (Papadopoulos, 2021). The research skills basically
comprise and refers to the ability of an individual to effectively search and locate the useful
information along with the skill and competency to extract, organises and evaluate vital
information from raw sets of facts and data. The current report is based on assessing own
strengths and weakness through SWOT analysis along with PDP and communication theory.
Further, Note taking and carry out an academic research project are also included along with
reflection on personal and academic skills.
Task 1
It has been analysed and reviewed that the important aspect of having successful study
comprises of effective analysis and review of own personal skills and competency level along
with determining about the arears of personal development. Having improvement in own skills
and competencies is an ongoing process that includes review and action plan based on current
level of skills and analysing applied future learning and career goals (Maddens and et. al., 2021).
Thus, to ensure effective personal development and higher career and employability level it is
vital to assess own strengths and weakness along with reviews areas of improvement for meeting
future goals and objective.
Assess own strengths and weakness
Use of SWOT analysis has been made to have an effective assess and analysis of the own
strengths and weakness along with determining the possible threats and opportunity. Use of
SWOT analysis is effectively provided assess to own strengths and weakness along with
effectively pursuit an individual towards their career gaols through leading better insight about
personality strengths and weakness along with possible opportunity and threats in future.
Strengths Weakness
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 Having effective writing comprises of
English language skills and number
skills are my main strengths that
supports better grade within my
academics.
 Effective time management is also my
strength as it tends to make me more
discipline and punctual in my day to
day work and ensure timely completion
of the assigned activities.
 Effective intellectual skill with my
colleagues and organisation of
resources in efficient manner are also
my vital strength that supports effective
networking and better management of
resources and assets to accomplish my
set goals and desires in most efficient
manner.
 Having high level of patience along
with sense of prioritization of activity
that supports improved research and
analytics skills are also my strength.
 Note taking along with summarising
and paraphrasing is also developed
within me as a key strength that
supports improved academic
performance and better career role
development (Kim and et. al., 2021).
 The management of people is my
biggest weakness as I found it most
difficult and challenging to ensure
better collaboration and coordination
among the people that presents a sense
of ineffective communication (Yu,
2021).
 Lack of confidence and issue in talking
with larger number of people
comprising of research skill is also my
weakness that affects my overall
growth and expansion level.
 Ineffective leadership skill is also my
one of the weakness that leads to
ineffective influencing and motivation
power and creates many challenges for
me.
 Ineffective team working and
management is also my weakness.
Opportunity Threats
 Availability of job roles in large
companies mainly in relating section
 High level of competition has been seen
for vacant job roles in the current
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are creating many job opportunities for
me.
 Availability of option of online and
digital form of training has been also
creating many opportunities for me
through leading effective development
in my skills and personal competency.
business environment that is creating
many targets for my career
development.
 Difficulty in negotiating for flexible
working condition in senior job role is
also a prevailing threats that is creating
higher level of stress (Al-Shamri and
Bint, 2021).
Based on the above SWOT analysis it has been analysed that my writing and note taking
skills are my strengths that supports improved academic results as a student while effective time
management and higher patience level are also my strength. Further, it has been assessed by me
that management of people and lack of confidence are my main weakness along with ineffective
leadership and team working skills. On the basis of above stated opportunity and threats
following targets has been set by me for my better self-improvement and career development:
 Focusing more on note taking and summarising skills to supports more effective research
and academic performance during the current course.
 To enhance my communication and leadership skill to have higher employability
competencies for higher job roles (Keen, Adams and Simpson, 2021).
 To develop improved team working skill which support better management of people to
have enhanced job opportunity and career development.
Performance development plan
It provides an effective tool for an individual for improving and supporting better
development of skill and key competencies through outlining efficient strategy to achieve and
meet the set professional and personal objectives.
Learning
Objectives
Success Criteria Actions Time scale Implementation
To develop note
taking and
summarising
skills
Being able to
effectively take
notes while
listening and
Focusing and
emphasising in
better reading
and learning in
1 months Implication and
use of various
efficient
techniques
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reading to ensure
better
understanding
and remembering
of key facts and
vital concepts
during the study.
more focused
manner to
effectively
analysis and
review a concept
to note down all
the vital points.
comprises of
writing within
the phrases
instead of full
sentence that
boost up the
speed of note
taking would be
made. Along
with this making
notes in my own
words has been
also made by me
that supports
better underdoing
of the facts and
also leads to easy
language and
better
understanding
level.
To enhance my
communication
and leadership
skill
Supports higher
influencing and
motivation
power to direct
people towards
better
achievement of
goals.
Developing
improved
underdoing about
various
leadership
theories is an
effective action
to improve
leadership skill
(Mills, Roper
4 months Use of online
training and
practical
experience of
working with
successful
leaders can be
implicate to
effectively
develop the
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and Cesare,
2021).
leadership skills
and traits.
To develop
improved team
working skill
Effective team
working skill are
vital and needed
to perform higher
job roles and
accomplish the
objectives
provided in team
which supports
better
coordination and
collaboration
with team
members.
Efficient
understanding
about team
management
theory such is
Tuckman and
Belbin Theory
can be taken as
vital action.
6 months Implicating
support of online
classes to learn
team
management
theory could be
made along with
gaining
knowledge about
the Gantt chart
and WBS tools
that supports
improved work
bifurcation and
coordination
while working in
teams.
Theory of communication
It has been analysed and seen that I need to improve and focus on development of
communication skill to have improved research and academic skills. The communication theory
provides an efficient and effective way to develop my communicate as it supports a proper way
of talking about along with analysing the key elements of events and listening along with vital
process with supports improved commitments that form efficient combination (Zeeshan,
Siddique and Idrees, 2021). Theory of communication supports a way and map to make me more
navigable and also supports tool to answer empirical, conceptual and practical communication to
have improved research and study. The communication theory supported improvement in my
verbal communication through making me able to listen the person and understand the meaning
in effective manner. Theory of communication also supported improved written communication
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within me through enhancing my ability of reading and writing the vital information and points
based on their proper meaning. Thus, an analysis can be made that theory of communication has
supported more efficient communication skill by the way of effectively dealing with the
technology of the transmission of information (as through the written word or a computer)
between people, people and machines, or machines and machines (Papadopoulos, 2021).
Task 2
Note taking
Note taking basically are the practice and skill of the writing down the vital pieces of
information in most systematic and logical way that supports better review of facts and higher
understanding level. Note taking is one of the most crucial and vital skill for all students as it
supports effective underlying and keeping the records and systematic notes of the lecture and
discussion made along with outlining the main and ley points about a topic from a book or other
sources for future reference and preparation. It is vital and significant for every student and
individual to master in the note taking skill to conduct effective study as it helps in focusing on
the main points and lead to better understanding of a concept (McManus and Rook, 2021). It has
been also seen and reviewed hat good note taking skills also improve the active listening along
with supporting improved comprehension of the material and better retention and review of the
information in future. Along with this, the effective note taking still are also vital during a study
for both to synchronous and asynchronous material as it help and support better learning and
remembering of facts that one hear, read and see.
Mastered in note taking skill
During the current course of study, I had mastered in the note taking skill as it helps in
keeping me alert and more active towards the facts and information discussed during the course
work and also supports improved engagement within the study. Further, mastering in the note
taking skill also leads and emphasis on the better organisation of the information during the
study along with supporting and creating a condensed form of records and documents based on
current study. During the current course work I had mastered in the note taking skill through
having leverage in my own learning style based on one size fit of the class notes and discussion
along with staying more organized in noting down the crucial and vital points based in the big
picture of the concept (Pretorius and Macaulay, 2021). Further, through implication and use of
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various efficient techniques I had master the note taking skills that comprises of writing within
the phrases instead of full sentence that boost up the speed of note taking also reflects the main
points in more systematic and better manner. Along with this, making notes in my own words
has been also made by me that supports better underdoing of the facts and also leads to easy
language which can be effectively remembered and recall by me in future. Together with this,
having an efficient structure of the note comprises of proper heading and subheadings and
numbered lists has been also made by me that supports effective note making along with the sue
of symbols and highlighted section of the main points and diagram that supported mastering in
note taking skills during the current study.
Examples of note taking
Proper notes are made by me on notebook and provided documents during the active
listening from variety of sources. Note taking skill from listening sources requires active
listening skills which comprises of the ability to accurately receive and effectively interpreting
the message that has been communicated by the speaker. Effective listening skills supports
systematic approach to take notes and review notes in an immeasurable way through leading and
supporting higher understanding and remembering level in context of the lectures (Maddens and
et. al., 2021). Further, to ensure effective note taking from the listening and oral discussion, use
of small phrases and symbol has been made by me that boost up my speed to take notes of all the
vital points.
Further, I had also noted key points of information from a variety of sources using
reading strategies that comprises of remaining more focused while reading along with effectively
organising the ideas at the time of reading to ensure better records keeping based on critical
thinking and effective analysis of the text that has been read. Along with this, engaging more
effectively in reading and drawing links between the presented text while reading also supports
more effective note taking along with making use of symbols, structure and diagram to more
effective presentation and analysis the context and information while note taking at the time of
reading (Yu, 2021). Further, an effective note making also comprises of suitable use of the
paraphrased and summarised information that consists of most vital and efficient information and
noted and recorded by me in my note books. Along with this, use of clouds and MS office has
been also made by me for effective note making that helps in storing and maintaining records of
the vital information that has been reviewed and analysed by me during the current course study.
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TASK 3
Carry out an academic research project
Research plan
Research plan can be describe as the process which is consider by an individual in order to
conduct a research practices in significant manner. it is essential that a researcher have accurate
plan so that all activities of the research could be performed in significant or accurate manner
(Egamnazarova and Mukhamedova, 2021). This is consider as the accurate part of academic
writing the provide in depth information about the research topic. in this, research plan is
developed in order to investigate the different promotional activities which should be consider by
Marks and Spencer company in order to increase sales of products and services in target market
area. This research plan is for marketing practices and this plan will assist in finding accurate
information about different aspects of promotional practices along with its impact on
organisational sales. It is essential that researcher have proper plan in order to conduct research
activities in effective and efficient manner.
An outline of the process you used for carrying out your research from different sources of
primary and secondary information
There are different steps which is includes in the research process as well as use different
sources of information is appropriate manner. Several steps are mention below in detail –
 Develop research aim and objective – This is the first step which should be consider by
an individual in order to successfully complete research practices. It is crucial that
investigator has correctly understand the topic of research so that they can develop
proper research aims and objective (NM and Pujar, 2021).
 Find accurate sources – There are different types of resources that could be consider by
researcher in order to find accurate information. Sources are majorly classified into
primary and secondary sources. Primary sources can be describe as the approach of data
collection which is collected for the first time. It is important that find original
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information and find relevant information about topic. Where as secondary sources
consist of all those information that is available through primary data. This includes data
which is already collected by other research.
 Evaluate sources – Once different sources of data collection have been identified it is
crucial for researcher to evaluate these sources. In this research investigator is
considering both primary and secondary sources (Yundayani and Ardiasih, 2021).
Primary sources are beneficial for gaining in depth information about the topic as well as
gathering accurate information. Where as secondary sources are cost effective approaches
and it will assist in saving time of researcher.
 Determine finding and results – When accurate data and information has been gathered it
is crucial for researcher to determine its finding and analyse results in appropriate
manner. This is essential part of research as it will lead to have direct impact on outcome
of the research.
 Presentation of research – This is the last step of research and in this investigator needs to
present research and collection information to appropriate stakeholder. Information that is
collected in this research needs to be correctly presented to Marks and Spencer company
so that they can take accurate decisions (Alawiyah, 2021).
The first draft of your research work
Aims of research - to investigate the different promotional activities which
should be consider by Marks and Spencer company in order to increase sales of products and
services in target market area.
Objective of research
 To determine different promotional activities.
 To analyse effective promotional activities that will help Marks and Spencer company to
enhance sales of products and services in target market area.
Questions of research
 What are different promotional activities.
 What are effective promotional activities that will help Marks and Spencer company to
enhance sales of products and services in target market area.
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In this research questionnaire survey has been considered form 30 customers of Marks and
Spencer company.
Questionnaire
Name –
Age –
Contact number –
1. Do you have understanding about promotional activities?
 Yes
 No
2. According to you which is the most effective promotional activity that will assist in
increasing sales of products or services in targeted market area?
 New paper advertisement
 Digital media marketing
 TV advertisements
3. Do you feel that digital media marketing should be consider by Marks and Spencer
company with the motive of increasing sales and profitability?
 Yes
 No
4. As per your views what are various advantages of digital media marketing for
organisation?
 Increase sales
 Provide information
 Attract customers
 Enhance profitability
 All of the above
A list of all the sources
There are different sources that has been used by researcher in order to find information
and data about the topic. The major sources which are used in this research are mention below –
 Questionnaire – In this research, a proper questionnaire has been developed with the
motive of gaining views of 30 respondents. Respondents of this survey are customers of
10

marks and Spencer company who are willing to share their views regarding organisation
and its promotional activities (Tomi, 2021).
 Internet data – This source has been consider in order to determine secondary
information. There are various articles and blogs on internet that has been used to find
relevant information.
Produced to a professional standard
Primary data
Theme 1 – Understanding about promotional activities
5. Do you have understanding about
promotional activities?
Frequency
 Yes 25
 No 5
Interpretation – Through this it has been analysed that most of the respondents that is 25 out of
30 have ideas about promotional activities.
Theme 2 – The most effective promotional activity that will assist in increasing sales of products
or services in targeted market area.
6. According to you which is the most
effective promotional activity that will
assist in increasing sales of products or
services in targeted market area?
Frequency
 New paper advertisement 5
 Digital media marketing 20
 TV advertisements 5
Interpretation – It has been identified that out of 30 respondents 20 feels that digital media
marketing is most effective way of promotional for increasing sales in targeted market area.
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Theme 3 – Digital media marketing should be consider by Marks and Spencer company with the
motive of increasing sales and profitability.
7. Do you feel that digital media
marketing should be consider by Marks
and Spencer company with the motive
of increasing sales and profitability?
Frequency
 Yes 20
 No 10
Interpretation – as per the above collected data it has been analysed that 20 respondents out of 30
consider that digital marketing is effective for Marks and Spencer company with the motive of
increasing sales and profitability.
Theme 4 – Various advantages of digital media marketing for organisation.
8. As per your views what are various
advantages of digital media marketing
for organisation?
Frequency
 Increase sales 5
 Provide information 5
 Attract customers 5
 Enhance profitability 5
 All of the above 10
Interpretation – As per the collected information it has been analysed that majority of
respondents feel that there are various advantages of digital media marketing such as increase
sales, providing accurate information, attract customers and enhance profitability.
Secondary data
 To determine different promotional activities.
As per the views of Shreyasi Ghose (2021), it has been determined that there are several
forms promotional activities. This includes personal selling, sales promotion, advertising,
12

direct mail, digital marketing, public relation and so on. all of these promotional activities
are effective as well as includes its own advantages and disadvantages.
 To analyse effective promotional activities that will help Marks and Spencer company to
enhance sales of products and services in target market area.
According to the views of Macy Storm (2021), it has been determined that digital marketing
can be consider as the most effective promotional activity that will lead to enhance overall sales
of products and services in target market area. Digital marketing is very cost effective way and it
will provide opportunity to Marks and Spencer company to conduct marketing practices in less
cost.
Task 4
While conducting this project I have gained information about different aspects that will
assist me in future career development. I have analysed that there are various skills which needs
to be within an individual in order to successfully conduct its business practices. Through this I
was able to analyse various elements and aspects that will assist me in improving my overall
performance and capabilities. I have determined that there are several areas of academic and
research practices that should be performed in significant manner. In this project I have
conducted four major task and through the assistance of these task I was able to improve my
academic and research skills (Ariffin, Darus and Abd Halim, 2021). While studying in Diploma
in business communication and skills I gained information about significance of effective
communication skills. I have determined that communication is one of the crucial skills of a
person which needs to be enhanced by an individual with the motive of transferring right and
accurate information to other. Effective communication skills can be refer as the potential of a
person to convey message and ideas to other in appropriate way so that other person can gain
right information. Business communication and skills will help me in conveying my ideas to
seniors and other co workers in appropriate way as well as help in reducing misunderstanding.
Through this project I have analysed several aspects of communication such as theory of
communication, oral communication, communication in writing and so on. this project way
majorly classified into four important task. Through the classification of these task I was able to
smoothly carry out all task and complete it in right time frame. In first task I have analysed my
own skills and capabilities that assist me in conducting different task in appropriate way.
13

Through this I have determined that some of my skills are my strength that lead to have positive
impact while conducting activities. where as there are some skills which could be consider as my
weakness. Due to my weakness my potential to perform better and effective is reduced. I have
determined that self analysis in very important for self development. I have analysed that I have
effective writing and number skills (Alawiyah, 2021). This is one of the crucial skills that needs
to be within a student or individual to perform academic and research activities in significant
way. My time management skills are very strong and due to this skills I was able to complete all
task and activities in correct time frame. With the assistance of effective intellectual skills I was
able to successfully coordinate with my co workers and colleagues. I have analysed that note
taking is one of the crucial skills that needs to be with in individual so that they can perform
academic or writing practice successfully. Through the assistance of effective note taking skills I
was able to write important points so that correct information is gathered. While conducting this
project I have analysed that there are some weakness that has negatively affected my
performance. This includes lack of management skills, leadership skills or ineffective team
working potential.
CONCLUSION
From the above report I have analysed that there are different aspects of academic and
research skills that needs to be consider by an individual in order to successfully perform
required practices. Theory of communication is significant for providing right direction to
communication effectively. It has been identified that written and oral communication play
crucial role in transferring or collecting information. It is important that research process in
correctly performed in order to attain objective.
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REFERENCES
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NM, A.R. and Pujar, S.M., Skill Development and Librarians: A Study.
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Alawiyah, N.A., 2021. The Influence of Hypnoteaching Method to The Students’ Speaking Skill
(The Experimental Research At 8 Grade Of Mts Al-Inayah Academic) (Doctoral dissertation,
UIN SMH BANTEN).
Tomi, H., 2021. IMPROVING CHARACTER BASED READING SKILL BY APPLYING SQ4R
METHOD OF THE TENTH YEAR STUDENTS OF SMK NEGERI 2 KLATEN IN ACADEMIC
YEAR OF 2020/2021 (Doctoral dissertation, Universitas Widya Dharma Klaten).
Ariffin, K., Darus, N.A. and Abd Halim, N., 2021. Learning English online: the questions of
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Schmidt, M.W. and et.al., 2021. Virtual reality simulation in robot-assisted surgery: meta-
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